Exercises to improve suppleness/bending to the left.

[HayleyUK]

Schooled last night, and got completely soaked! Unhappy pony!!

We had 3 exercises to work on, baby leg yield off the 3/4 line, circling and moving her out away from the inside leg through some flexion to the inside, and working on 15/10m circles off the long side.

Pony was fairly receptive, starting to show some nice bend/flexion to the right with a degree of consistancy however, the left rein was a completely different story! I *could* get an offering of flexion for a few strides, but then lost it, got it, lost it and so on...

Tried some leg yield, and got a nice evasion .. as I put my leg on to ask for some movement away from it she was running through the hand. Half halts were just met with her sticking her nose out and ignoring me.
She offered the slightly running tactic in my lesson, but the half halt stopped her.
I know she's doing it because its easier to evade/run through my hand than it is to bend as its much more difficult for her on the left.. but its not acceptable!

I ended up back on a big circle chipping away at the degree of bend, but if anyone can suggest any exercises I could try, I'd be grateful!

 

[galaxy]

Are you sure you are sitting central? A lot of people are weaker with their left leg than their right, so twist and through their weight out to conpensate which makes it very hard for your horse to bend and yeild that way.

What is the she like on the lunge? Is she even on both reins? Have you had her back checked etc recently?

 

[HayleyUK]

Are you sure you are sitting central? A lot of people are weaker with their left leg than their right, so twist and through their weight out to conpensate which makes it very hard for your horse to bend and yeild that way.

What is the she like on the lunge? Is she even on both reins? Have you had her back checked etc recently?

I think I'm central, no ones pointed out I'm not but I'll get someone to help me check tonight when I ride.

When she evades, I tend to hang on to her outside shoulder through the rein and make it more difficult for her to bend left, but if I don't she runs through my hand and doesnt bend. I stick my left leg on as well, which just gives her something to lean/push against. Catch 22!! I need to stop holding & sticking I know but its difficult when she's running/evading.

She's the same on the lunge, but is slightly better as I'm not hindering her by holding the outside rein. She's still not as constistant/bendy though.

No back issues, her teeth are due 4th Feb but thats just routine.

 

[Kenzo]

I've always found that a month of carrot stretches seems to loosen them up more, which you can see and clearly feel the benefit from when your schooling them, you will start to them notice the difference in the lunge, also nose to stirrup streches once you have warm up slightly first, tends to help, if you do have time try doing it 3 times a day, simple but very effective if you stick to it.

 

[HayleyUK]

I've always found that a month of carrot stretches seems to loosen them up more, which you can see and clearly feel the benefit from when your schooling them, you will start to them notice the difference in the lunge, also nose to stirrup streches once you have warm up slightly first, tends to help, if you do have time try doing it 3 times a day, simple but very effective if you stick to it.

Fantastic!
I did some streches last night for some pony nuts. I'll crack on tonight with some prior to working her and after a session just to loosen her back off a bit.

Would you do them equally to both sides, or just the less bendy side?

 

[Kenzo]

Fantastic!
I did some streches last night for some pony nuts. I'll crack on tonight with some prior to working her and after a session just to loosen her back off a bit.

Would you do them equally to both sides, or just the less bendy side?

I would do them both sides, if she's already more supple on one side, it's not going to do any harm on doing the gentle stretches on that side either because you won't exactly be stretching that side if she's supple there, she could be tight but actually in her right shoulder which is why she's not bending quite as well to the left, or is it that she over bending when your working her on the right rein? have a think about it next time your riding, also look at how straight you are when riding (see if your elbow have the se bend, your wrists and hands are even).

You may also notice if you have a good luck, providing you have good enough light, looking down her back (from her bottom if you stand on a something) look around the wither and shoulder area, see if she's muscled up more on one side.

Don't over stretch and don't do any stretches without making sure her muscles are warmed up slightly first otherwise you'll do more harm than good.

Make sure the angle of the head and neck remain the same when you ask her to bend to each side (you may notice that she may have to change the angle slightly because she finds it more difficult) but in time it will improve.

Look up either on the net, a good book or ask a pro for series of stretches if you are not sure, just to ensure you are doing them correctly but you will certainly notice a difference in time.

 

[HayleyUK]

Thanks! I'll have a play tonight.

I did them a while back after being shown by my vet and physio so should be fine. Food orientatied pony helps!