Horse won't bend :(

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beffyb

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I have an 11 yo highland pony who hasn't really been schooled properly before and have just started schooling him the past few months. He usually just hacks out as I don't have a school at home but I have recently moved him to the trekking centre where I work, he is also a trained deer pony so has always just had to walk in straight lines lol. I found out he had some tight muscles in his neck so got my boss who is a physio to have a look and she gave me some advice but mostly just massages and I can use her physio machines on him. She also suggested long and low but balanced and pole exercises. In the school he isn't that balanced and falls in on the left rein a lot and just won't bend at all on either rein, he just ends up fighting me. I can't seem to get him to listen to my leg to keep him out on the circle so when i ask him to bend he just falls in. I hate getting frustrated with him so I am looking for advice on how to get him to listen to my leg to keep him out and how to get him more flexible and balanced, circles just end up as a fight and leg yeilding he just gets faster and doesn't get it at all. However he is quite good when I put poles at each quarter of a circle because he has something to think about if that makes any sense. Thank you.
 
How big is your circle? Unless they are well used to it, a 20m circle is plenty small enough for an unbalanced horse, at walk. And teach him what your leg means - go back to baby steps, release the pressure as soon as you feel him moving away, however small the movement.
 
I wonder if he has the self carriage to do what you are asking of him. As JillA says you need to go back to the very basics and help him to build musculature and suppleness to do as you ask. He may not be fighting with you - he just isn't strong enough or balanced enough to do what you want.
 
keep your circles as big as possible to start. You could also try doing carrot stretches on the ground to help stretch the right muscles. May also pay to get a chiro check as well in case theres a physical reason that he can't bend that the physio won't be able to sort out.
 
He has spent the first 11 years of his life managing to get about with little reason to bend unless it has been to eat or scratch himself, you are now asking him to carry you, balance in a school, listen to you legs and on top of that would like him to bend when asked, he will not be ready to manage it or see the point of what you are asking him.
I like to concentrate on one thing at a time when reschooling, initially just going forward, then moving from the leg when asked, so basic leg yielding on a long but not loose rein, until they understand how to carry themselves in a straight line and move away from the leg they are not going to be able to bend around the inside leg, then gradually introduce a few steps asking for bend but go straight before they fall in and require too much correcting to keep out, it becomes a fight if you ask too much and defeats the purpose if you or they become tense.
It can take months, if not longer, to get a stiff established horse to be able to stretch each side of their body correctly, take as long as you need it will come and the short bits will gradually join up so he can remain relaxed and softly bent around your leg in all paces, using poles can help as it encourages them to concentrate and use themselves more correctly, don't forget you can do plenty out hacking they can be asked to flex, leg yield, shoulder in and much more while walking along a lane and it is sometimes more beneficial as they have more desire to keep going forward.
 
I have a similar story in that my Clydesdale has never been schooled, my first times in the school were interesting indeed. He had no muscle, no balance and no steering really at all. Once he'd had his teeth checked, saddle checked ( new saddle.....sigh) , Chiro vet visit I started having lessons with my instructor , every week. I've been having lessons since March, we now steer, we do half halts, balance is coming nicely , I'm pleased. Now I can do 20 metres circles, 15 and 10 metre circles and I would say the bend is coming. Bearing in mind that he is a big horses and he will take longer to develop the strength and muscle it has taken me a good four months to see that bend starting and to see him begin to lower and come down on to the bit. It might also be quicker if my legs came off the saddle pad and I was a better rider but you can't have everything. I would say have all the checks done and then school with patience , it will come , if you engage professional help it makes it easier having someone on the ground.

By the way Kevin is ten.
 
Similar here - we are 1 year down the line and we've still not cracked it. It takes time, patience and know how, but you have some good tips already above. Just break it down into smaller parts. If you can, get some lessons as that's really helped me.

My boy was young, unbalanced and green when I got him at 5yo (he still is tbh, but not so extreme!). He fell onto his left shoulder so much that I couldn't hold him on the right rein, and we'd wobble off to the left instead of doing any kind of circle. 1 year on, lots and lots of lessons, he's stronger, fitter and better able to hold himself. We still can't do a perfect circle (if there is such a thing!) and it's a work in progress, but we do now at least go right in W/T/C, when I ask him to go right!
 
If you know he responds to markers, use markers to help him understand what you are asking him to do. You will both find it much easier. Take it slowly and steadily, if he understands voice aids, use those along with your seat legs and soft hands, so that he gets the idea. Do you have lessons on him? Often someone on the ground can see what the rider is struggling to feel.
Remember that you are asking him to use himself differently and only ask for a few steps at first.
 
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