Hanging on right rein

[Jo C]

Need some ideas please on why and how to help my pony who is hanging on the right rein. Back and teeth checked recently, haven't had saddle checked yet but would that make him hang on one side? He gets better once he is working and softer in front but it starts off making my arm ache. I have been doing lots of transitions and flexion work moving into some lateral ie shoulder in and leg yield which seems to help but any other ideas please on exercises or causes?

 

[Tierra]

Are you stronger through one side than the other (as a rider i mean)?

Does it make any difference as to what rein you're on? Or, do you work him more on one rein than the other?

Is he using it as an evasion tactic through the opposite shoulder? For example, if you're circling to the right and he hangs on the right rein, does he ever evade through his left shoulder?

Ive been having a problem with mine doing this recently. He's rather full of himself and is hanging on the right rein, not really working into the left rein contact but then using it all as a chance to evade. (In my lesson yesterday he was hanging off the right rein and then scooting off through his left shoulder when circling and like yours, he was fine once he was worked in).

Make sure you work him evenly to both sides and whichever rein he's not working into correctly, really use the opposite leg. (So for me, he was hanging on the right rein, not working correctly into the left rein and to compensate required strong use of my right leg and im talking seriously strong

).

Make sure you aren't over using the rein he's hanging on - which is my problem - I work him more on the right rein and i have a weaker outside hand which seems to be the cause of the problem.

 

[Jo C]

I would say I am stronger on my right side so yes that would all make sense, I broke my left hand a few years ago so am maybe using my right hand more to compensate. I will try using the opposite leg more as he does have a tendancy to evade with his shoulders. Thanks for you help, I have a lesson tonight so will bring it up there as well. Do you think it sounds like a schooling issue rather than a pain issue though as my only worry is something is not quite right?

 

[Dutch]

The saddle could make him to do that, by overcompensating.

Also, have someone look at you from behind when you are riding, are you sitting straight?

I would suggest doing a lot of suppling work with him, if he pulls on the right right, give the right rein forward and flex him to the left! That will soon get rid of the problem as your hand wont be there to hang on to!

Diana

 

[Jo C]

From memory I sit slightly to the left I think (trying to remember when I watched the video of myself), will get my instructor to check tonight. I will try the suppling ideas as suggested, thanks for you help. Also I think I will try and get my saddle checked as then I will have explored all those options and will know that it is just down to schooling issues(probably reschooling me rather than him

)

 

[Tierra]

Saddle is obviously something to check, but its perfectly possible that its a schooling issue also.

I didnt realise quite how badly my horse was evading through his left shoulders until my lesson yesterday when he actually shot off down the school full speed each time I was circling to the right

It's very common for a rider to be stronger to one side and have a tendency of using one rein more than the other (particularly if you've injured your wrist in the past)

Just mention it to your trainer and see what they think also. On a good note... its very easy to correct once you're aware whats happening

 

[Jo C]

Thank you Tierra - its encouraging that I am not the only one!

 

[Tierra]

Nope

And it creeped up on me out of nowhere! I honestly wasnt aware it was happening until my lesson yesterday. He was already fresh but *generally* he's an angel

Trainer told me to work in as usual to show her how we had been getting on.

Warmed up in walk as usual with loads of laterals and he was perfect. Took canter and he started doing 1 time tempi changes down the long side that absolutly weren't being asked for and I couldn't stop him doing them

(He has *always* used changes in canter as a "weapon" )

Trainer told me to circle (we were on the right rein) and ride forwards more to stop him changing.... got to the arc of the circle off the track and he took off in 5th gear down to the other end of the school straight out of his left shoulders.

Repeated this 3 times

Trainer got on him for a while but noticed immediatly he was hanging on the right rein (my inside in this case) and ignoring the outside contact

If the ground could have opened up and swallowed me, I would have been quite happy at this point

Oh well, at least Im aware of it now

 

[Jo C]

Oh dear, well we are not that bad - at least I don't think we are although I'll let you know after my lesson tonight. As you say at least you are aware of it now and can work on it but I know how frustrating it is.

 

[clipclop]

If you are losing him through the shoulder (I lose mine like this) I was given a great tip to imagine your outside rein is "closing the trap door". I find visulaising on something like that helps take my focus away from the problem and thus everything improves dramatically.

That is the only other thing I can add to the already great advice you have been given.

 

[Jo C]

Thank you Bonzabean I will try that one also.

Everyone here are is helpful and willing to give advice it's great!

 

[TarrSteps]

No living thing is completely symetrical and you and your horse are no exception!

Calm, forward, straight . . . the cornerstones of riding. And they are the cornerstones because they are both essential and applicable to everyone. And, as already alluded to, because even a very subtle problem in any of these three areas will rear it's head eventually.

So if you put a crooked person on a crooked horse . . . well, there's bound to be some lack of straightness! It's a continual process to address it and there are a million possible causes but it's something everyone struggles with so luckily there is tons of information on how to go about it.

I'm sure your trainer will be able to help you figure out exactly what's going on.

The most frustrating thing is once you figure out what dynamic is getting in the way of your straightness goal it will drive you absolutley crazy! Suddenly you will feel every time you deviate and curse yourself for letting it happen. This can be maddening but it's part of the process of retraining yourself and perfectly right and normal.

One thing that might help you pinpoint exactly how your horse is not straight (the pulling is merely a symptom) is to do some basic ground exercises. Move the horse's shoulders and quarters both left and right, making sure each leg can step over the other fluidly. (Most horses will prefer to cross the same leg over the other one no matter which direction it is moving.) Move the horse sideways off your hand applying pressure where your leg would be. Watch carefully to make sure everything is not only equal but possible - you might be surprised at the result! If you find a hole then fix it and make sure to practice until it's second nature.