Horse leaning left - driving me nuts!

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Kiko

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My horse will not take up a contact in both reins, be it in the school or on a hack and I'm getting pretty tierd of my left arm particularly getting pulled and in effect, it's twisting my back and I won't be able to ride for much longer if it carries on. I do find it strange as I am a naturally right handed person!

I make sure as much as possible that my contact is even and he will always lean left and take the left rein only, what can I do to overcome this?

His saddle seems fine bit I might get it checked again incase, the dentist is up on Friday and he has regular Physio (every 3 to 6 months). His left rein is always the more difficult one, we struggle a bit with left canter etc, which we have got alot better at. The Physio usually finds a bit of tightness here and there and nothing ever to worry about.

He is currently ridden in a French link fulmer, which I find he leans alot in, and perhaps I need a stronger bit. He is quite a heavy 16.3 warmblood and skinny me at 5ft8 I don't have alot of strength against him!! This leaning left has gone on for a while now and i'm trying lots of different exercises in the school, it helps but doesn't cure the problem.

Any ideas anyone? Thanks in advance :0) x
 
How long since he last had his teeth done? My mare is done annually but the last time it made a massive difference to her schooling after the dentist. She often takes more of a hold on the right and can be very light in the left rein but almost evened out overnight :) Still have to encourage her to take the left but it's much easier.

I wouldn't be in too much of a panic until that has been sorted :D
 
Don't take this the wrong way BUT are you def straight? What breed is he and how long have you had him? x
 
He was last done in June so I'm hoping that will help massively! Although I'm not that optimistic as this is more of an ongoing thing for over a year :0( I shall see
on Friday. Thanks for your reply :0) x
 
I can only assume I'm straight, I've had lessons with quite a few different instructors to gain opinions and haven't had a comment about my how straight I am, I get 'sit up' quite alot as tend to hunch over with his leaning. I see an osteopath once a month to to keep me in check. Am just a bit stuck with what else I can do.
 
Sorry forgot to answer your other questions! He is 8 and I've had him for 3 and half years now. He is a Dutch warmblood x (I think crossed with ID or welsh) x
 
I think you need to get a better instructor & focus on doing exercises to help get him supple and ensure you are riding evenly.
If he is badly one sided and you have had him since he was a baby then what you have been doing to date to fix this isn't working and you need a new approach. I hate to say it but you will almost certainly be riding unevenly, if only because he is making you do so.

A good instructor can give you a ange of suppling exercises to even him up and make him stretch along his right side. You could also work on the lunge, in side reins to get him evenly into the bridle on both reins, again a good trainer can help you with this.
 
Thanks SM. Know of any good instructors in the Kent area? I've gone through quite a few now!

I totally agree, I think I'm not straight because he isn't and I haven't been able to correct it, or had the right instruction possibly. argh such a headache!

Thanks for taking the time to reply x
 
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