Help with horse leaning - I can't seem to crack it

[Gorgeous George]

Hi guys, I’ve not been on here much lately, moving house, on holiday, too much work – you know the kind of thing! I wanted some help with George please, he has always been one to lean on my hands and go on the forehand and I seem to make some progress with him and then take 2 steps back and just can’t seem to crack it

He is a big lad (16.3 shire x) and can be unbalanced, although his balance, especially in the canter has really improved this year . However he does still lean, especially on the right rein and I know it is something to do with the way I ride but I just can’t seem to get it right.

I do have lessons, but can’t afford to have many, so in between times things seem to go to pot . When I’m schooling, I try not to go large too much, and spend lots of time doing different size circles, serpentines and changing the rein lots and lots, as well as transitions – but I probably don’t do enough of those. I tend to ride with quite short reins and I suspect my problem is that I hold on too tight to the reins in an attempt to stop George stretching his neck and nose out longer and longer and don’t use my legs enough, but I just can’t seem to get it right.

So if anyone has got any helpful advice, exercises etc. I would really appreciate it. I’m not a very co-ordinated rider but would just love to be able to put together some consistent prelim tests and know that George was comfortable too .

Just as an aside he has had his back, teeth and saddle checked recently and all ok, and I ride him in a kk ultra loose ring lozenge snaffle (but I don’t know if it’s right as he can soften in a mullen mouth eggbutt as well!) with just a cavesson noseband on his bridle.

Sorry, that went on a bit, cookies and cake if you’ve got this far!

 

[Kat]

The important thing with a horse that leans is not to give it anything to lean on, it will soon learn that it will land on its nose!

Easier said than done but you absolutely HAVE to avoid getting into a tug of war with him.

Take a pull when you need to and then let go. Be quite exaggerated while you are schooling until you get used to the idea. I ride a mare that will lean given half a chance and sometimes I have to really give a tug, let go, give another one, let go, until she softens, then I use a light contact but when she starts to lean again she gets a tug again, eventually she gets the idea and the time she is soft increases.

Some bits are better than others for horses that lean, what you are using is fine, but you could try a twisted snaffle or cherry roller if he is a real confirmed leaner as he will find it difficult to lean on either of these as they will rotate when he grabs hold.

 

[ThePony]

Like Katt says, he can only lean if you you let him. Mine is also a dreadful leaner and will lean given any opportunity - you just have to deny them the chance!
Like you, I find circles, serpentines and transitions very helpful and practise these with my instructor so I know how to get them right.
Transitions within paces are also really good - in walk we get on a circle and get a nice forwards walk (if she leans then I sqeeze and straight away let go with the inside rein) once that is established for a circle or two, then using only your seat slow the walk right down until just a moment before halt, then a clear transition into a forward walk - all the time keeping a contact with a soft inside bend and keeping him from leaning with just a little sqeeze when needed. For this to work though he must be responsive to your leg. If he doesn't respond to a squeeze then back up with a flick with a schooling whip (helps you leave your hands where they are and backing up your leg at the same time). Don't worry if he gets into a huff and goes off in trot - you are after a forwards response to your aid so this is good! Just make sure that you don't nag, but always ask and make sure you back up an aid that is ignored - every time.
At first it will be hard for him to do this for too long so after a decent bit of work allow him to walk and stretch out on a long rein - only allowed in a forwards walk though, no slopping along! Along with that in walk it is also good in trot. In both walk and trot on a circle you can leg yield him out onto a bigger circle. That is helpful too.
Don't give your reins away but do ride with a light contact and the instant you feel him go to lean just give a little sqeeze - no yanking or sawing with hands though! You are teaching him to have the strength and confidence to take the contact but also to carry himself and be soft - he can't do this with someone tugging at his mouth!
I wouldn't fiddle with your bit, sticking one in that is just uncomfortable may stop him leaning, but you will have the devils own job having him take a contact and you may well just find you have a very light horse going along behind the bit. Might be pretty but is incorrect and useless!

 

[ossy]

I am also dealing with a horse that likes to lean on me. Generally your horse is "leaning" as he is using your hands to help balance himself, he does not yet have the ability to self cairrage and therefore feels heavy in the hands. To rectify this the horse needs to work more with the hind legs underneath him and rasie his shoulders up off the forehand and carry is head and neck himself, but they need a lot of muscle development to do this. There are a few excerises I do that generally encourage straightness and self carriage and should help with the leaning.
1. Lots and lots of transitions, my instructor calls them the push ups of the horse world. They don't have to be full gait transitions I do lots of slowing the trot right down then pushing on then slowing down, now my horse is better I do lots and lots of these very discreetly whenever I feel my horse comming down in her shouders.
2. to try and ecourage straightness I aim to ride in a shoulder in position (my horse goes with quarters in) and asking for the shoulder in position just puts her a bit striaghter and again she comes up at the frount. So just try think where their feet are following and aim to correct it.
3. the third thing I do is lots of work off the track and pratice keeping her straight I keep a wide hand and put my legs on and off as approprate to encourage the hind legs to go striaght then once I feel I am in control of the strightness and start doing a few give and retake the reins to encourage the horse to hold her position without the pressure from my contact, yes they will hollow for the first while but aim for maintaining the striaghtness first and then as you progress try to maintain the outline and strightness. I'm now doing some give and retakes in shoulder in so there are lots of different variations to adopt and move on to.

Hope that all makes sense, didn't relise I had waffled for quite so long

 

[cyberhorse]

Not much more to add really as the posts above have some very good advice regarding the type of schooling work you need to do. The main point is that the horse has to be up from your leg before you can achieve anything. You need to ride him into the bridle and be light with your hands. It is better for the time being if he is a bit in front of the vertical providing he is light and not leaning. When my horse is having a bad session for going on the forehand we also do plenty of rein back to trot transitions which helps get him off the forehand to continue work.

I would also focus on improving his strength and ability for self carriage. Do lots of long and low work too and I would think about investing in a pessoa training aid. Another trick for the time being if he is having a bad week for getting hold of the bit and leaning would be to occasionally work him in a waterford that way he has nothing to get hold of and lean on. However do not use it often and get dependent on it as you need to be achieving good work in a snaffle.

 

[Gorgeous George]

Thank you there is lots of good advice and ideas for me there I will definately be trying to put it into practice when I ride this evening. I also need to be more patient and consistent as I'm sure we can get there in the end. I do have a pessoa which I use and G goes well in, but I should probably make a point of using once every week.

Thanks again

 

[ThePony]

The pessoa can be really useful, but I wouldn't assume that just because he is in it he is working properly. My mare can go along beautifully in it, but is terribly on the forehand regardless of how forwards she is with her paces and how it is used. Although her strength along her topline needs work, she is very flexible so can 'cheat' it! She is loose lunged once a week, schooled twice (once in a lesson and once as a practise) and a couple of long hacks. It does take a while but you will get there, you just have to make sure you are really consistent with your riding.