Falling out through shoulder

[luane1]

Some help please. We have a new youngster, bought him at the Goresbridge Sales 3 weeks ago and we took him to his first competition today he was calm and jumped very well apart from the fact that he hasnt a clue with corners and also falls out through his shoulder very badly, my daughter came off at a dog leg 5 strides which he did in 4.5 and then couldn't decide to jump it or not cos he had wiggled all the way there, as it was a training show she got on again and went clear from then on at 1m.
What exercises would you do with him to help the corners and the falling out.

 

[Foxford]

I can't think of any exercises offhand. Just be very ready with the outside hand and leg to correct him as soon as he tries it on. Carry the whip in the outside hand. My instructor also told me to work with an outside flexion on his bad rein. His nose was in the fence so he couldn't fall out without smashing into it.

This horse scraped my knee against the fence once, I've still got the scars! Hope you can sort it out, mine is much better now he knows he can't get away with it.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

You horse is falling out through the shoulder because he is unbalanced in his paces. To create better balance you need to do loads of transitions, initially he will fall off canter into trot & similarly from trot into walk. But as he does more & more he will make the transition more smoothly.

Additionally you need to teach him leg yielding, this will get him to swing his legs through & under him & this will improve his balance & carriage. Likewise teach him to do shoulder fore. This will also get him better balanced.

As his balance increases you can eventually trot a 20 mtre circle to start with & then gradually spiral into maybe a 15 mtr circle to start with & out again. As he gets better balance you will be able to go into 10 mtr etc...& eventually you'll do it in canter. At the end of this he will be able to turn his corners better......this will take time, don't expect it to happen over night......but when he does get to understand & his balance improves it will be like riding a totally different horse. Good Luck

 

[HenryandPeta]

To Toby's post I'd also add that sepentines are a great training aid. make sure you ride the corners accurately and really ask him to bend round your leg and away from your outside leg on the turns

 

[luane1]

Thanks guys - I realise he is totally unbalanced and will continue to work with him on the flat before we do any more rounds, he wasnt bad at all just made him hard to steer and he has the habit of fixing himself on a jump and if he is not exactly straight it can be the wrong jump which makes it exciting!! Will get some pics of him up soon as he is very handsome