horse leaning on one rein...

[noodle_]

My horse constantly leans on her right rein and refuses point blank to bend or even go straight!! - to the point her backside is falling in (she refuses to bend - always has)

Her saddle/back/tack etc has all been checked recently - shes going to have a massage/physio again soon (even tho shes fine in herself)

I have started using draw reins a few days ago because of this, it made a massive improvement, she actually goes like a normal horse, even when i take them off.... except this leaning thing.... I dont use draw reins to draw her head down as such, literally just a balance for her.

So what can i do to help this right rein...? her refusing to ride in a straight line.? Am sorting out some more lessons but lack of £ is a little difficult atm.

Shes a gem in other ways, her canter is coming on lovely - she will walk to canter but we have a dressage test in feb and i would actually like to get placed....

thanks

 

[LouS]

Take the draw reins off.

Lots of lateral work to loosen her up. You can start to ask her to flex gently, she'll be very, very stiff if she has always gone like this.

I long line everything on a circle (lunge with two lines) with no gadgets and it is excellent to develop self carriage, balance, the right muscles etc.

Concentrate on getting her working forwards and make sure you don't fix your hands, have an elastic contact and lift your hands up. If she's falling in/out use your legs to push her shoulders back out and guide her with your hands. She is probably finding it very hard if she has always been allowed to go like this. I would be inclined to get her checked by a vet/chiro/saddler etc if she won't even walk in a straight line.

 

[noodle_]

sorry should have said - walks spot on!!

she bends/goes straigh - anything.....


its trot and sometimes canter shes a witch

 

[Ginger Bear]

I had this with my boy for a bit where he was even jack-knifing and falling out all over the place.. The cause was me, yep, it was as simple as getting to grips with my seat bones and asking correctly.. I found with my horse that once I get it right he will get it right every time.

 

[noodle_]

thanks ive tried for 12 months (hence draw reins)

she does get it eventually (sometimes)! but not consitent

she was getting much better with draw reins - and in walk shes literally perfect

but ask for trot its like "do one"....

 

[Boulty]

I've had a lot of problems with my gelding falling in and being stiff on the left rein and also real difficulties with getting him to keep his neck straight. Problem was and is me; I wasn't sitting straight (got a little better with this but can't afford regular lessons right now so have to rely on videoing myself to see any progress on this), I have a nasty habit of bending my wrists as opposed to elbows and I don't use anywhere near enough left leg. Have to say of all the changes it is oddly the picking up on my over-reliance on my reins as opposed to legs that seems to be helping the most. Interesting that she's perfect at walk but I guess when you throw speed into the mix you make any niggles worse (also balance issues at greater speeds sometimes)

 

[noodle_]

thanks.

i will try again without draw reins and see how we get on

shes very ignorant to my leg and my instructor a while back suggested a little pair of spurs... so will cast the draw reins aside and try spurs next time to make her listen to my leg, sit up straight and be light with my hands see if that helps
thanks

 

[noodle_]

any more suggestions/exercises?

 

[Tammytoo]

Have you had yourself checked out by a chiropractor? It was suggested to me by a trainer and despite me saying I was sure there was nothing wrong, I had no pain etc. it turned out my pelvis was out of alignment, which meant my leg drew up on one side, one shoulder was higher than the other, so my right hip dropped......!!

I looked fine but my horse said otherwise.

Might be worth getting yourself checked out as well as your horse.

 

[noodle_]

Have you had yourself checked out by a chiropractor? It was suggested to me by a trainer and despite me saying I was sure there was nothing wrong, I had no pain etc. it turned out my pelvis was out of alignment, which meant my leg drew up on one side, one shoulder was higher than the other, so my right hip dropped......!!

I looked fine but my horse said otherwise.

Might be worth getting yourself checked out as well as your horse.

I do have a dodgy back - so your probably right there

wont do any harm to get myself looked at