Improving suppleness?

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sariska

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So I'm looking for help :D

I have a 6yo ISH mare, who's pretty well schooled. Her has perfect topline, engages her hinquarters well, etc. etc. only problem is her suppleness.

She's better on the left rein, but this is partly because I'm left handed and so my inside hand is stronger. On the right rein however, given the chance, she'll go into negative bend.

Although it's not awful, it loses us valuable marks in dressage tests.

So does anyone have any good exercises to help improve this? I've been working on this for a good 3/4 months now, and it's improving slowly. I've done all the usual cirlces, spiralling tec., and I'm looknig for a few different things to try with her to keep her ocupied whilst still working on her bending.

Any help would be greatly appreciated :p
 
I have a book '100 schooling exercises' from amazon, it is full of schooling ideas and variations on schooling movements.
I do lots of transitions on a circle, I like to do 4 strides of each pace. Brings his legs under him. I do it while lunging too, that really help so I can watch him.
There is a good exercise my old instructor did. Go large left rein trot, do 10m circle left in corner, into a shallow loop, at x a 10 m circle right, complete shallow loop, then on reaching track go into 10m circle left in corner. It's hard to get precise and theres lots to work on, really good for suppling horse and getting them bending on both reins.
 
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