horse isnt turning properly

[axe1312]

my horse is constantly cutting corner, he wont turn when i ask, he does it when he wants, he wont bend the right way round the corner, he wont ride straight down the sides of the menage, i cant get him to turn to go over a jump/pole, he either turns too early or too late. im really struggling with him. is it all my fault? im still a novice, maybe advanced, kinda in the middle. but i just dont know what to do. people have said its a rider error, more leg, bend him etc. but he doesnt respond, ive tried everything. he falls out on a circle, will bend to far when turning, falls in around the corners. what can i do? is it me or him? any advice? hes not a young horse, hes 14, been there done it. ish btw

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Do you have an instructor? The best person to help is someone experienced who can actually see what is happening.

 

[shortstuff99]

Have you got an instructor? What do they say?

 

[axe1312]

Do you have an instructor? The best person to help is someone experienced who can actually see what is happening.

yes but its difficult as he has to be transported, but the few times ive been she said to use my leg in the corner, and it didnt help. but the other stuff he didnt do when she was there. i have a good rider at my yard who has the levels to teach, but dislikes it, she also said more leg. but it doesnt help, im close to quitting, as i just want to have fun, but its turning into stress

 

[Barton Bounty]

Sounds like it may be confusing with the aids. Are you sitting deep enough?

 

[webble]

Is this same with an experienced rider? If so check saddle fit and have a chiro/ physio check him

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Have you tried putting ' furniture' in the school? Something like a cone just inside the track so that you have to ride around it. That will help your horse to understand what you want and support you to get him where you want to go. I wonder if your reins are allowing him to evade your leg aids but without seeing what is happening no-one can say, really. Can't you find an instructor to go to you,?

 

[axe1312]

Sounds like it may be confusing with the aids. Are you sitting deep enough?

yes i believe so, maybe not perfect in sitting trot, but rising trot and canter i think i sit okay

 

[axe1312]

Is this same with an experienced rider? If so check saddle fit and have a chiro/ physio check him

he had the physio. im getting someone experience to ride him in a few days

 

[axe1312]

Have you tried putting ' furniture' in the school? Something like a cone just inside the track so that you have to ride around it. That will help your horse to understand what you want and support you to get him where you want to go. I wonder if your reins are allowing him to evade your leg aids but without seeing what is happening no-one can say, really. Can't you find an instructor to go to you,?

no we cant. we sometimes use blocks in the corners, which sometimes helps, other times he just dodges around them. riens, meaning too long? or using them too much?

 

[Barton Bounty]

yes i believe so, maybe not perfect in sitting trot, but rising trot and canter i think i sit okay

PAS made a good suggestion, try putting obstacles in the way so he has to outside and move round. Id use grooming kit, jackets anything you can find

 

[axe1312]

PAS made a good suggestion, try putting obstacles in the way so he has to outside and move round

i do that alot, but he has started falling in on the long sides too, i cant fill the menage with objects. i suppose ill wait and see how he gets on with the yo. but also im going to try another thing, riding him more forward, its hard as the menage is 20x40

 

[Barton Bounty]

i do that alot, but he has started falling in on the long sides too, i cant fill the menage with objects. i suppose ill wait and see how he gets on with the yo. but also im going to try another thing, riding him more forward, its hard as the menage is 20x40

Id practise riding in circles, figure of eights , get him bending and suppling up

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

no we cant. we sometimes use blocks in the corners, which sometimes helps, other times he just dodges around them. riens, meaning too long? or using them too much?

Probably too long or otherwise not supporting him. You need tocontrol his shoulders. Are you truly riding him from the inside leg into the outside hand?

 

[Barton Bounty]

You can still practice schooling out hacking, thats how I do stuff, we canter round corners etc get him bending properly

 

[axe1312]

Probably too long or otherwise not supporting him. You need tocontrol his shoulders.

how short should i have them. i mean he either pulls on them, or purposely makes them longer. i just constantly feel like im doing something wrong

 

[axe1312]

try my best, we only really have roads

You can still practice schooling out hacking, thats how I do stuff, we canter round corners etc get him bending properwe only

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

how short should i have them. i mean he either pulls on them, or purposely makes them longer. i just constantly feel like im doing something wrong

You really need an instructor, or someone else who can see what you are both doing. Have you tried lifting your outside hand to invite the shoulder to move out?

 

[little_critter]

I wouldn’t necessarily go for more speed. Take things back to walk, test his understanding and reaction to your inside leg.
He will be able to feel your leg (he can feel a fly land on him) but he either doesn’t understand or finds it easier to ignore.
He may well have stiffness or have developed a way of going that means that suppleness is difficult for him (I’m not saying he’s lame, I’m saying he may have developed incorrect musculature from working incorrectly which is impacting his ability to work correctly)
You need to find a way to gently encourage working correctly so his body forgets how to move badly and learns to move well.
Time spent walking circles (with truly correct bend) will help him, but it will be hard for him to change how he moves. Don’t expect him to be able to change overnight.
However, teaching him to move correctly can only be good for his future soundness.
Maybe take a look at Straightness Training or other trainers of that ilk.
I can thoroughly recommend someone in my area but that might be nowhere near you.
@sbloom could probably recommend some resources too.

 

[Kaylum]

Have you had his teeth checked, tack, bit checked. Are you doing stretches with him. Some horses aren't happy to do constant circles it's hard work for them. How big is your school?

 

[ponynutz]

Does he/you know leg yield? Would doing a bit of that get him thinking more 'off' your leg and understanding what you're specifically asking him for?

 

[scats]

You need a good instructor to help you.

 

[ycbm]

You really need an instructor, or someone else who can see what you are both doing. Have you tried lifting your outside hand to invite the shoulder to move out?

And lifting your inside hand to prevent the inside shoulder falling in.

Not at the same same time of course, and only as a short term measure.

But yes you really do need an instructor and a better one than those you've been using so far.
.

 

[southerncomfort]

When my pony was young and unbalanced, it was easier for him to cut corners, fall in through his shoulder etc.

Two things I found that helped:

Putting poles on the ground, 2 in each corner and 2 each on the long sides. Made it easier for him to see where he is supposed to go and helped me keep him straight while he was growing muscle and finding his balance.

Opening my knees slightly. This helps your lower leg to sit quietly against his side. It meant that I could make corrections more quickly and again, acts as a guide and helped keep him straight.

Might also be worth doing some straightness training or similar with your horse.

Ultimately you do need lessons though. It's not about getting a stronger rider to sort him out for you. There is potentially some miscommunication going on here between you and your horse that you might need help with.

 

[axe1312]

You really need an instructor, or someone else who can see what you are both doing. Have you tried lifting your outside hand to invite the shoulder to move out?

no i havent, as he already looks to the outside/bends that way, and i didnt want him to bend anymore

 

[axe1312]

Does he/you know leg yield? Would doing a bit of that get him thinking more 'off' your leg and understanding what you're specifically asking him for?

yes hell do yed yeilding whenever except when hes falling in or out

 

[axe1312]

Have you had his teeth checked, tack, bit checked. Are you doing stretches with him. Some horses aren't happy to do constant circles it's hard work for them. How big is your school?

20x40

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

no i havent, as he already looks to the outside/bends that way, and i didnt want him to bend anymore

Looking to the outside is helping him to evade, try moving his shoulder out.
But the very best thing you can do is find a good instructor. What happens if you ride a different horse, do you have similar problems?

 

[sportsmansB]

Can you try in walk doing small circles around something (ideally a jump) - that will make him look at the thing hes going around, which will help you create the inside bend along with your inside leg on the girth, and then if you have your outside leg on he shouldn't fall out. Remember to allow your outside rein to follow the bend to the inside, or else you are not allowing him to do it.
Once you can go around the jump with the correct bend to one side, you can do it to the other, and then ride small figures of eight.

In a smaller school, you can ride right up to the corner in walk and then make a conscious effort to bend around 90 degrees slowly with the right bend in each corner, doing a small circle in each corner.
Keep a short stick in your inside hand and think of it like a post he has to go around, you can hold it against his neck (don't hit him with it)

He has maybe just learned that he doesn't have to do corners and bending properly, so why would he? Its harder work for his inside hind leg to support proper bend.

It really does sound like you are talking slightly different languages at the moment and need someone experienced and patient to help.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Looking at your other posts it seems you are a teenager getting to know your first horse, that isn't a youngster himself & that you have owned him a few weeks. Did you ride him at the viewing, or did your parents/instructor ride him? Do you know how much schooling he has had with previous owners?
You must have people around you to have got this far - instructor, people to drive you to lessons & viewings etc etc? There will be a lot of little adjustments to make & help from real people who watch you ride will be needed. It can take quite a few months and a lot of help, to get to know a new horse.

In the short term AND NOT IN PLACE OF GETTING REGULAR HELP IN THE REAL WORLD it sounds like he is carrying his weight too much on the forehand and leaning on the bit.

how short should i have them. i mean he either pulls on them, or purposely makes them longer. i just constantly feel like im doing something wrong

This will affect his balance and make cornering hard work for him. If you practice getting his weight onto his hind legs, he will be generally lighter to ride, more mobile and "steerable". You could practice half-halts and transitions. (But don't get up-tight or bored with it, relax together & do some hacking while help arrives! )

Like this

How to Stop Your Horse From Leaning on the Bit ⋆ How To Dressage

Leaning on the bit is the common description for any horse that puts an undue amount of his own weight on the bit whilst being ridden.

howtodressage.com

But don't keep going round and round in circles trying to get something right that neither of you is enjoying. It can help to do something else for a while & then both of you can come back to it fresh.