my horse can't trot in a straight line, what am i doing wrong?

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aliceeventing131

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as the above, when we trot along the side of the arena/across the diagonal etc my loan cant stay straight, bending her neck and swerving to the left/right

iv always been taught from the start 99% of the time its the riders fault, and i agree! so what am i doing wrong????
 
I'd take a bet on it being your hands. I had a real problem getting G to stay straight and it was my hands. Have you got a video of you riding that we can look at?
 
iv only got videos of me at my old riding school, showjumping on a different pony/s a few months back before i got my loan, but your welcome to have a look, links at the bottom

yeah, the person who owns my loan horse did say something about my hands they are pretty embarrassing :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7zNBoNAQtw

2 more on my channel too, my riding style hasn't changed much except iv improved a bit on my flatwork (dressage place where my loan is kept, so only jumped her over a tiny cross pole twice :eek: ohh i miss my jumping!! )
 
Nice jumping video but can't really get a good look at your hands. If the person who owns your loan horse has commented on your hands then I'd start there and see what difference it makes if your hands are more still.
 
Keeping the horse straight is a balance of hand and legs - both of which help with steering.

Prepare well for the turn first, Ride your markers well, so as your body passes the marker you make your turn.

Focus on two points ahead of you and keep them lined up - for example when you do a dressage test to get a lovely straight line up the centre line, line up the judge with the C marker and keep the judge behind the marker all the way up.

Keep your hands even and your horses head and neck straight in front of you. Use your legs to keep the hindquarters following in a straight line. Be ready to increase the pressure with one leg should the horse start to swing its quarters off line.

Additionally, straightness also comes from increased suppleness, so to get your horse straight you need to do lots of circles, loops and serpentines.
 
Try holding a short whip (or branch or similar) under your thumbs to keep your hands still - has really helped my flatwork! Although my hands wobble all over the place when my stirrups are at XC length (Which I think must show that I am not secure in my seat...?). Good luck!

P.s. some horses are more wiggly than others. My old horse Ronnie always did perfect straight lines but I rode a warmblood at the same time and he couldn't do a straight line to save his life, then I got my new horse and he is sometimes brilliant at straight lines, but sometimes swings his quarters this way and that. I don't think I ride them any differently...!
 
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