Getting the right bend

[x_Fiona_x]

My 5yo mare works in a lovely outline and im so chuffed with her, the only problem is when I do circles, serpentines or even just walking a straight line on the right rein my 5yo wont bend correctly.On the left rein she bends nicely and when we ride a straight line (like down the center line for example) her neck is straight and her head directly in front. However on the right rein, when on a circle she bends to the left rather than the right and if we ride a straight line her head is always to the left. I would guess it has something to do with balance, but im not sure. Also on the left rein she responds to my inside leg and bends or moves over, whereas on the right rein she speeds up as if she doesnt understand. Does anyone have any tips on how to get her to bend? also what kind of exercises help with balance or is this something that just comes with time? She has been coming on so well recently, and I would like to try intro dressage with her, but obviously she needs to bend better first. Thanks in advance.

 

[BFG]

I would make sure there is no medical reason as to why she doesn’t want to bend to the right.

If everything is good then i would say it stems from your right leg, are you left handed by any chance?

If you right leg is a little weaker then it might not be asking the same as your left leg. I would try (in walk) asking her to increase and decrease a circle so from 20m down to about 10m then push her out with your leg gradually back to 20m (watch she doesn’t fall through her left shoulder).

Try and think about her bending round your leg not just positioning her head if that makes sense, you are looking for a true bend through her whole body and not just through her neck.

She also might just find it harder to carry her weight on her right hind so i would work on strengthening her hind quarters with transitions and hill work if you can when out hacking .

Hope some of this helps, however it sounds like you are doing a wonderful job already. Well done.