Getting horse to bend GRR

Also op if it's feeling like a grr situation to you that may not be helping things. You could have a lunge lesson and just leave the reins on for emergencies.

I have a canter issue with pony on right rein so I am not even trying to get canter on that rein. If she happens to take that leg when out hacking or after a jump I keep going but schooling wise I feel she needs to bend and flex correctly in trot first so I am concentrating on that.
 
Jenna1406 said:
Ambush on my position :(

This is getting worked on BUT the whole problem doesnt lie with me. I admit that my position needs alot of work and has done since she got me of and I broke my wrist, cracked ribs and broken confidence. So, it is a working progress at the moment
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Sorry it feels like an ambush. But I can guarantee that 99% of the problems you are having will be down to you the rider.

Do you ever have the opportunity of riding other horses?
 
TigerTail said:
Whats she like bareback?

Just because she's had the same saddle strapped on her since youve had her doesnt mean its ok!!! Horses are incredibly stoic when it comes to pain....
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She is much and such the same bareback, ok in walk but will try it on when you try to trot.

I am not saying that it is ok but the saddle has been checked, her back has been checked, I have multiple different people ride her and she can be the same.
 
amymay said:
Sorry it feels like an ambush. But I can guarantee that 99% of the problems you are having will be down to you the rider.

Do you ever have the opportunity of riding other horses?
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Yes, I ride my friends horse but my position is completely different on him and I sit up etc

My position on my mare has been a "fear" factor for a long time and i am trying to resolve this now by trying to get my confidence on her :(
 
Not an ambush at all. The reference to polite is from another thread, it was something an old boss once told me, the original version contains a lot of swearing & is far blunter, so not a dig at you. And I don't mean every problem is purely caused by your position. But I do think that if a rider corrects positional faults, a lot of the horses issues will improve themselves as a result, leaving less to work on in terms of the horses way of going. And that's something that I believe in general, however minor the riders faults, not just for you & your horse.
 
littlelegs said:
Not an ambush at all. The reference to polite is from another thread, it was something an old boss once told me, the original version contains a lot of swearing & is far blunter, so not a dig at you. And I don't mean every problem is purely caused by your position. But I do think that if a rider corrects positional faults, a lot of the horses issues will improve themselves as a result, leaving less to work on in terms of the horses way of going. And that's something that I believe in general, however minor the riders faults, not just for you & your horse.
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Sorry, it has just been a long colourful journey that myself and my mare has been on and I am now determinded to sort her and me.

I do believe that my position affects her greatly and I need to put in the work (which I am trying to do).
 
kirstykate said:
Try another instructor, simples:p
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lol - The lesson I am going to have on monday is only my third with my current instructor and he has helped loads in the short time (my position was worse).

I just like to hear other ideas of exercises that I can do on my own that I may not have heard before, its nice to have something new to try.
 
There are several possible causes of this.

You are crooked or carry some stiffness which is causing it.
She has some pain somewhere and bending that way prevents or reduces it.
She is just stiff.
She is not getting the right signals from you.
Her tack is causing her discomfort.


Agree with Be Positive re straightness.

Horses actually find it easier to strike off on the correct leg if they bend the opposite way. This is why many western riders teach canter strike off with some counter bend. However for English riding, this is incorrect, as you obviously know. If you are certain there is no physical cause for her to be doing this, then I would do some lunge work with her to establish correct bend on a circle in canter. You can do this with or without a training aid such as the pessoa, degouge, or chambon. Use a roller and clip the lunge line to it by feeding it through the bit ring and back to the roller. This will encourage her to bend to the inside rather than the outside. Alternatively, and even better, use long lines so you are able to create bend with two reins. Do a couple of sessions like this a week and she will soon learn to canter with a correct bend on a circle without the weight of a rider. It will then be easier for you to ride it correctly.
 
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OP for your hips - reins in one hand and remove stirrups, hand on thigh just below hip, make a circle with your hand ie forward/out/ back/ down, keeping leg attached to hand so the circle comes from your hip (whole leg comes away from saddle), its just easier to think of the circle coming from your hand. Hope that makes sense. Do both sides in halt and walk.

If its too hard due to your stiffness, start by lifting your legs one at a time (moving on to both together as you get stronger) from the hips sideways out away from the saddle. It's a small movement of an inch or two, not the splits, though that's what it feels like the first few times.

Bending - If your left leg is stronger and has more pressure on her sides than your right one, you're bending her round your left leg the whole time hence the bad bend on corners. Yes you're right to make the other leg stronger, but you can also release the left leg. Open your knee a little (or perhaps a lot on corners) bringing it out away from the saddle, which will open your hip and release the pressure down that side of the horse therefore allowing her to bend round your inside leg on turns to the right.

Have a feel and look of your hips in halt. Are they even or is your pelvis twisted? Your left leg could feel stronger because your left hip is permanently further forward than your right. If you are twisted, is it the same when you're off the horse ? If its only on the horse it could be a psychological twisting up through fear, a physical tightness of that hip, or a wonkey horse trying to put you where it feels comfortable having you. If you're twisted off the horse too you maybe need physiotherapy or something.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
OP for your hips - reins in one hand and remove stirrups, hand on thigh just below hip, make a circle with your hand ie forward/out/ back/ down, keeping leg attached to hand so the circle comes from your hip (whole leg comes away from saddle), its just easier to think of the circle coming from your hand. Hope that makes sense. Do both sides in halt and walk.

If its too hard due to your stiffness, start by lifting your legs one at a time (moving on to both together as you get stronger) from the hips sideways out away from the saddle. It's a small movement of an inch or two, not the splits, though that's what it feels like the first few times.

Bending - If your left leg is stronger and has more pressure on her sides than your right one, you're bending her round your left leg the whole time hence the bad bend on corners. Yes you're right to make the other leg stronger, but you can also release the left leg. Open your knee a little (or perhaps a lot on corners) bringing it out away from the saddle, which will open your hip and release the pressure down that side of the horse therefore allowing her to bend round your inside leg on turns to the right.

Have a feel and look of your hips in halt. Are they even or is your pelvis twisted? Your left leg could feel stronger because your left hip is permanently further forward than your right. If you are twisted, is it the same when you're off the horse ? If its only on the horse it could be a psychological twisting up through fear, a physical tightness of that hip, or a wonkey horse trying to put you where it feels comfortable having you. If you're twisted off the horse too you maybe need physiotherapy or something.
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Thank you that is some good exercises for myself to loosen up, thank you. Think i will need to copy and paste and print it off lol.

I have never really noticed a difference when I am off the horse but I might just go for a walk up the corridor to see if I feel uneven :D

Thank you so much Sugar_and_Spice
 
Put your hands on your hips and physically look at where they are and how they move. Pay attention to your length of stride with each leg and the footfall, and check the bottom of your shoes for uneven wear. Stand with your back against a wall naturally, do both your feet point forwards? Does your heels, bottom and shoulders touch the wall evenly both sides? Or are you twisted somewhere? You won't feel uneven if you're used to feeling that way.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
Put your hands on your hips and physically look at where they are and how they move. Pay attention to your length of stride with each leg and the footfall, and check the bottom of your shoes for uneven wear. Stand with your back against a wall naturally, do both your feet point forwards? Does your heels, bottom and shoulders touch the wall evenly both sides? Or are you twisted somewhere? You won't feel uneven if you're used to feeling that way.
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I have a very hollow back which doesnt help my position

But I will do this when I am at home, people might think im strange doing it at work lol.

Again thanks Sugar_and_Spice
 
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