My horse's lovely walk has become lateral

Mule

Mule

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 October 2016
Messages
7,654
Visit site
Hello, i need some advice. My horse's walk has become lateral when I ride him with contact/ on the bit. He is ok when we stroll about on a loose rein. But when I take contact he rushes and becomes lateral.

This first happened when I started riding him with contact. It went away quite quickly but now it's come back.

Should I avoid walking on the bit entirely or can i teach him to relax? If I shorten the walk and stop him from rushing his walk becomes correct but I don't know if this is the right way to go.

I'm nervous that by trying to fix it I may end up making things worse. Has anyone any ideas or any experience with this? Thanks in advance
 
Don't walk him on a contact ever- you can make the illusion of him being on a contact in a test if you're clever but he must always feel a yielding rein. What a shame, it's a very difficult thing to fix.
 
Something feels uncomfortable for him. There are three possibilities:

1. The bit or bridle. Or possibly the saddle.
2. Your riding (sorry not meaning to be insulting and you may be a top rider for all I know)
3. Something physical; when he is aske to work correctly and can no longer use his body to shield pain he has to ease it by pacing rather than walking. This could be due to too many issues to speculate. Neck and spine problems, SI problems, hock or stifle problems or even inflammation inside the body such as the liver or gastric ulcers.
 
A lateral walk can be due to tension.

Unfortunately when my filly developed a lateral walk when being backed it was due to an abdominal tumour.
 
Never had this issue myself but I have heard that it can be from tension and can be improved (providing there's no true medical issues) using cavalletti or pole work.
 
I actually don't know if it is instantly lateral but it does become lateral very quickly.
 
Last edited:
I would check the fit of the saddle very carefully and also see a physio yourself, in case you are out of kilter and this is causing the problem.

I would also have his teeth checked
 
Last edited:
Oh no! This is such a difficult thing to fix, don't try and make him walk in contact as that will make it worse.
However I have to agree often an underlying horse, my friends horse started doing this randomly put it down to tension so tried lots of tricks and not walking him on a contact, he then started to shut down away from home when competing, vets couldn't pin point an issue easily and as he wasn't in pain at rest he is now turned away in the hope he comes right to hack out but Not holding out hope- he blocked out to feet almost totally but not quite so I guess it's something foot related.
Hope yours is something simpler
 
My friend's horse does this when he is weak over his back and hind quarters. She had a huge job getting him sound after buying him (missold by a very unscrupulous person) and he was dignosed subsequently with navicular and hock spavins. When he has had his joints injected, he is box rested for three days, then field rested for a week. The time off is sufficient for his muscle tone to drop from his top line and abdominals, and the first indication is a lateral walk on the left rein on a circle.
My friend now builds him up steadily with long reining and he straightens himself out as he gets stronger.
 
I've seen this happen with riders that are trying to do too much in the walk - too much hand, and too much pushing the horse forward, it breaks the rhythm with tension usually. It is possible to fix it if that's the case, the first step is usually for the rider to be less demanding and be prepared to accept very incremental improvements. Make sure your seat is quiet and following the movement rather than pushing, make sure your fingers are feeling the bit rather than pulling, and let your legs hang softly rather than either nudging the horse or squeezing him together.
When you can walk like that with just a quiet feel on the reins without it going lateral, then you can ask for a little more connection and build on that gradually, with regular long rein breaks to re-set the relaxation.

As you say it started when you began to ride on a contact it's likely something you've accidentally caused rather than a physical issue... which is good news if you can accept the bruised pride!
What does your trainer say? It's a major fault but not something that can't be repaired if you are prepared to put the time in. I certainly wouldn't be walking away and saying 'well I can't ever ride on a contact again', you just need some experienced help on the ground to guide you through it :)
 
Thanks for all the replies. I wish i could put it down to my riding :D but it happens with other riders as well. I have a gp dressage rider helping me and it happens with her too.
She's a very tactful sympathetic rider. She thinks it's tension and she is using pole work to help him but it hasn't helped so far.
She is mystified by why it started again after it seemed to have been resolved. I will get a physical workup done and try out the suggestions given here. Thanks everyone.
 
I have an Icy and if he goes into a pacey 2 time walk a bit of shoulder in or leg yielding often sorts it out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top