Horse leaning on the bit and refusing the bend... HELP

[AlDestoor]

Hi all,

I think I'm posting this a bit prematurely to be honest and out of fustration.

So my mare has only just starting schooling. Moved to a yard with more facilities so she hasn't done a single thing other than hack in her entire life.

Problem is, shes super soft on one rein and then really stiff on the other.

I'm trying the whole contact on the outside and bringing inside rein out and loose to encourage her bending. Sometimes shes perfect but then yesterday, I had the worst ride out of her I've had. It was a mixture of her being too nosy out of the gates of the indoor and then her not bending.

Came away feeling deflated as I had such a good ride on her on Monday.

I suppose I've just been out of the schooling lark for a few years but this is her third week and I feel like I take 1 step forward then the next session I feel rubbish and she doesn't ride well.

I'm changing her bit to a Verbidend (already ordered) to see if shes happier in that as she leans loads. She's due her back and teeth at end of the month as well so see if that makes a difference.

I suppose I'm just looking for a little moral support to keep going.

 

[Fiona]

Not sure if I have any suggestions but I can definitely sympathise x x

My Connie has had contact issues ever since he had sharp teeth a few months ago, I feel like I'm back to the beginning with him, after making great improvements over the phase year 😣

Do you have lessons?

I'm planning one next week to hopefully get us started off again.

Fiona

 

[blitznbobs]

I think when you start schooling horses you always feel like this because schooling horses is one step forward 2 back ... it takes time. Teaching a horse lateral bend takes time and consistency takes more time, the best advice I’ve ever been given is ‘ride the horse you’ve got that day’ it the horse is struggling go back a step and consolidate work you have already done... like anyone they have to be confident with the basics before you go on... you wouldn’t expect a child to learn 1+1 one day, long division the next and calculus the following week... it’s ok for your horse to make mistakes as long as you are consistent in your riding then the training will come.

 

[maya2008]

Can you get someone to video you? Bending and straightness come from the quarters, you need to know that the inside hind leg is stepping underneath the horse correctly before you worry too much about the front end of the horse. Likewise, a horse that leans on the hands may well be avoiding using its quarters to carry itself.

Inside leg to create the bend, outside leg to control the quarters and stop them swinging out. Lots of transitions and pole work to loosen up the quarters and transfer the weight behind.

 

[Red-1]

If she is blocking on the left rein then it is probably stemming from the hind legs rather than originating in the mouth. But, as we feel it I the mouth, we use the left rein more, and the horse becomes defensive and blocks the mouth even more.


I had this with mine, mostly because I am weak on one side, so my horse had become lazy on one side (or more accurately I always asked the right leg for more work than the left, as my left leg is weak, and the horse complied!) and so was not as good at turning, so I used more left rein, so she blocked me...


It was easy sorted though, we went on a cow working clinic (as in western riding) and with the emphasis on loose reins, turns round objects, turns on the haunches to track a flag and then actually herding and cutting cows, she had a purpose to learn to use her body correctly despite my left leg being duff and me not being quite straight in the saddle.


Of course, I am trying to straighten up, but meanwhile we took the issue out of her mouth and gave her an urgent problem to solve by learning to use her body for her own purposes.


Since the course finished our schooling is improved beyond recognition.

The course was in East Yorkshire, near the M62.

 

[JillA]

Forget the front end and concentrate on the back - she leans because (apart from the fact that she can only lean on a solid contact?) she is on the forehand. Transitions and half halts to begin with, then 20 metre circles, as she sounds as though she can't manage smaller. As she gets more balanced, and manages the 20m well enough you can begin to reduce the circle size and start on serpentines and shoulder in. Always steer with your body and legs rather than your hands and she will get there

 

[tda]

If she is blocking on the left rein then it is probably stemming from the hind legs rather than originating in the mouth. But, as we feel it I the mouth, we use the left rein more, and the horse becomes defensive and blocks the mouth even more.


I had this with mine, mostly because I am weak on one side, so my horse had become lazy on one side (or more accurately I always asked the right leg for more work than the left, as my left leg is weak, and the horse complied!) and so was not as good at turning, so I used more left rein, so she blocked me...


It was easy sorted though, we went on a cow working clinic (as in western riding) and with the emphasis on loose reins, turns round objects, turns on the haunches to track a flag and then actually herding and cutting cows, she had a purpose to learn to use her body correctly despite my left leg being duff and me not being quite straight in the saddle.


Of course, I am trying to straighten up, but meanwhile we took the issue out of her mouth and gave her an urgent problem to solve by learning to use her body for her own purposes.


Since the course finished our schooling is improved beyond recognition.

The course was in East Yorkshire, near the M62.

That sounds great fun, could you let me know the contact details. I have a duff right leg too.

I know it's boring but transitions, transitions, speed within the pace, and don't try too hard. A glimpse of eyelash on the long side is a start ☺

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Some horses will have a weaker side which becomes more evident when schooling in circles. The majority of people all lead and do things from one side of the horse too.

Your horse maybe leaning as they ard finding it difficult to engage their hindquarters and therefore falling into their forehand. As she matures and gets stronger behind this should lessen. Obviously the checks are important too to ensure she is comfortable when working.

Which rein is the worst? The right? And her "refusing" to bend is more likely that she finds its difficult rather than her being awkward.

 

[AGray825]

My mare is exactly like this... lovely and soft one side and super stiff the other side (comes from years of being ridden in a fake contact... not using her backend and previous rider using a bit to get her head in)

We're still not 100% there and she's fighting it every step of the way, but after a couple of months we're now at the point where we're straighter (no pretty arched dressage neck or anything, but her heads no longer cocked to one side as she goes round the school at 100mph)

It's taking lots of lessons with my instructor, doing polework with her, lots of bending exercises, lots of transitions and not focussing on what her head and neck look like so much, just focussing on what her hind end is doing. Oh and lots of patience.

I also found that giving her some schooling days where she could have a bit of fun (having a good canter session, setting up some jumps) made her more willing to try at the slower stuff.... but that may be just my mare!

 

[eahotson]

If she is blocking on the left rein then it is probably stemming from the hind legs rather than originating in the mouth. But, as we feel it I the mouth, we use the left rein more, and the horse becomes defensive and blocks the mouth even more.


I had this with mine, mostly because I am weak on one side, so my horse had become lazy on one side (or more accurately I always asked the right leg for more work than the left, as my left leg is weak, and the horse complied!) and so was not as good at turning, so I used more left rein, so she blocked me...


It was easy sorted though, we went on a cow working clinic (as in western riding) and with the emphasis on loose reins, turns round objects, turns on the haunches to track a flag and then actually herding and cutting cows, she had a purpose to learn to use her body correctly despite my left leg being duff and me not being quite straight in the saddle.


Of course, I am trying to straighten up, but meanwhile we took the issue out of her mouth and gave her an urgent problem to solve by learning to use her body for her own purposes.


Since the course finished our schooling is improved beyond recognition.

The course was in East Yorkshire, near the M62.

Wow that sounds fascinating.

 

[southerncomfort]

Our new pony was stiff as a board on the right rein when we got him. He couldn't turn a corner on that rein, instead he kind of drifted sideways around the corner.

We've been working through the Straightness Training exercises and it's made a huge difference to him to the point that on the lunge you can't see any stiffness on that rein at all although we still have a bit to work on under saddle.

I think the idea above of using a fun discipline that helps them work correctly is also a really good one.

 

[Red-1]

That sounds great fun, could you let me know the contact details. I have a duff right leg too.

I know it's boring but transitions, transitions, speed within the pace, and don't try too hard. A glimpse of eyelash on the long side is a start ☺

http://www.guyrobertsonhorsemanship.co.uk/

She was going 'nicely' before, but it was a bit push and pull. I did a horsemanship week, 4 hours riding a day (well, we did a day with just 1/2 hour riding and less on others as she is a baby. I did not pick a contact up all week, but when I did at home she was all fixed! Not by me telling her what to do, but by her working out what works for her.

 

[SEL]

Mine had gets herself completely solid on the right hand side (underlying physical issue) and needs regular physio to help her.

She'd look good in western tack with her colouring and she'd enjoy bossing cows around so I'm wondering if that's a future job for her!! Off to follow linkies

 

[Pinkvboots]

Most horses have a stiff side a bit like us both my horses are weaker on the left rein because I am so its worth getting an instructor to make sure you are riding the same on each rein, a common fault which I sometimes do is on the left I drop the outside right rein and I have a weak left leg so it all gets a bit rubbish on the left rein as my inside leg is not as strong either.

you could try some counter bending it often helps to get the correct bend, I just do it along the longside of the school and just put them into a counter bend for half of the school then straighten for a few strides then before you get to the corner ask for correct bend, you can also do it on a 20 meter circle I do half a few circles in counter bend then I find the correct bend comes easier, lateral will also help your horse to become supple shoulder in and quarters in is a great way to get the horse to be supple through the ribcage.

 

[LaurenBay]

As well as all the tips and advice for ridden, I would also do some stretches with her on the ground to help supple her. Carrot stretches to the side, head between the legs, nose to tail etc.