Horse no mouth left rein.

[D_Som]

Hi all, haven't posted on here for a long time but I could do with some advice.

My horse is pretty much dead on the left rein. Her right rein is much better, she becomes very soft and light. However if she tanks off with me on the left rein (which she can when she's fresh) there is 0 control and i cant even turn her in a left circle. I have had her teeth checked. I did this straight away as i noticed her spitting out balls of hay when i first got her. Her teeth were a mess but she has always done this even since having her teeth done. She is not due to be done yet but once lockdown is over I am going to get her checked again. Again, the same with her back - she will be checked once my physio can come.

She was broken in at 5 and pretty much done nothing until I got her at 12. I have had her approx 9.months now. She is a very nervous horse anyway so i try to sit as quietly as possible. I wont hack her at the moment as she also finds this quite nerve wracking and i dont fancy a hospital visit at this moment in time. I do not have access to a school so only ride in fields. Any tips on exercises i can.do with her? Also any bitting advice? I currently ride her in a french link full cheek fulmer.

Do you think a calmer supplement would help to chill her out abit?

You are probably wondering why on earth i would buy such a problematic horse! But i wanted a cheap to keep, strong hunter which she is but day to day riding is completely different with her.

Thanks in advance.

 

[be positive]

Stiffness of this type usually comes from further back and not the mouth, she is probably stiff on her right side, preferring to hollow that way rather than stretch to the left, they then tend to brace and it feels as if the mouth is dead when it is really the neck bracing against you.
This needs a fair bit of input from you, ideally the first step being getting her checked by a vet to ensure there is no physical reason for her stiffness, it could well be as far back as her hocks so get a proper check done not just her mouth, if nothing is found then get a decent physio to treat her and give you a range of suitable exercises to do.

Any work you do while waiting to get the vet/ physio should be aimed at getting her truly straight, not allowing her to bend to the right as an avoidance to being straight and encouraging her to use her core, as she is nervy it will all be beneficial although often the reason they are nervy is because they have some underlying pain, I would not be surprised if she has arthritic hocks, at the age she is they would be the obvious starting point, in fact it might be worth asking the vet if you could do a bute trial before they come out as it is not an emergency and if she responds this could give you a starting point when they do come out, if she does not respond it does not rule out pain but if she does it you know there is definitely pain somewhere.

 

[TheMule]

I agree that if she struggles to yield that way it's often not the mouth that's the problem, it's further back. You need to assess her on the ground really- try carrot stretches to test her flexibility. If she is dead in the mouth then that is generally because you are too heavy in your left rein So they become numb to it.

 

[D_Som]

Thanks for the replies. I wouldn't say I am too heavy in the hand with her. I am very soft in the hand with anything i ride. Even now she still chews her food and spits it out even with having her teeth done regularly.l which i find abit odd? I certainly agree she needs some tlc.. Who wouldn't after spending many years in a field and then asked to do some work? I will stick to long reining and groundwork until after lockdown. Got.back on her today for the first time in 4/5 weeks and she had.bronced.me off in the first 5.minutes. She does this when not ridden for some time anyway but i dont fancy a trip to the hospital right now!

 

[tristar]

lunge her gently in big circles, three times a week, more to the right,

if you know she broncs you off after a layoff, why allow her to do it! think before you get on and lunge for two days and get on when she is in the right mood.

riding in a straight line with her at present will help, try to ride her straight when she is going forwards nicely in whatever pace, gentle correction to avoid the habit, impulsion of going forward will help to go straighter.