leaning on one side of the bit

[gable]

Hope you can help. My cob leans on the right side of the bit. It is a real problem when on the right rein as i cant get him of the inside rein for love nor money

Had back and teeth checked - all fine.

He is in a hanging cheek frenck link snaffle.

Any ideas?

 

[Chico Mio]

Just an idea, but maybe get yourself checked? I had a lopsided pelvis which meant FB carried his head and neck a bit to the left in order to compensate for my unequal weight. Made him very heavy and reluctant to bend to the right when on the right rein.

I saw an osteopath and we are now sorted

 

[gable]

Thanks - I had thought that but he does it for my friend too. She is a much better rider than me.

 

[Persephone]

Same as Chico Mio, when Star was heavy one side it was me.

I saw a Chiro instead though!

 

[Persephone]

I would book an Instructor then. They should pick up what's going wrong.

 

[Rudey]

I caused my horse to have a similar problem. He wasn't as supple on one rein and went out of his shoulder alot. Not realising, it made me hold that rein more then my right rein, which made him lean on it.

Thinking back now, my reins were never even, or as equally light. I was alot heavier handed in my left.

My eventer friend came to watch me ride to help me suss out what he was doing.... when it turned out to be my fault!

She said when he leant on the rein I should give the rein abit of slack so he didn't have anything to lean on and try encourage him, and let him know I wouldn't hang onto his mouth. I did alot of flexing exercises, and working long and low, taking and giving a contact, eventually I softened and evened out with my hands, and so did he!

I think getting someone from the ground to watch you helps! It helped me massively for the better

One of my mates had a similar problem, and it turned out her horse had poll problems, which caused her horse to hold the bit as it couldn't take the poll pressure action of her bit!

Perhaps try a different mouth piece??? My horse HATES jointed bits, even french link, so I use a rubber mullen mouth piece. I tried cherry rollers and waterfords, and it just didn't work. I had to go back to the simplest mouth piece JUST for acceptance from him. Saying that, I finally got him to go in a kk sprenger with a lozenge for schooling. He liked the different metal. Although, he doesn't even like sweet iron bits. Maybe a different material in his mouth is something else you could try?? I thought of trying a nathe mouthpiece if all else failed!

hope you get some good ideas to try, good luck

xx

 

[Chico Mio]

Doesn't mean your friend is not lopsided too!

I don't know much about 'back people' as we don't have them here, but have they checked his neck and jaw too?

I agree with Persephone, maybe have an instructer look at him if it is nothing physical?

*whispers* Have you tried him without a bit at all to lean on?

 

[teddyt]

Apart from teeth/saddle/back/rider causing it it is probably because your horse is stiff on that side. If a horse is working forward onto a consistant elastic contact it works in an outline. If it is stiffer on one hind it will find it harder to work correctly on that hind, hence he is more likely to lean on that side.