My right arm is stronger and my horse is leaning to the left all the time

[chloecathcart]

I've had my horse for over 2 years now and we've progressed a lot in flat and jumping during that time. However over the last couple of months I notice that when she is on the left rein she is leaning and falling in quite a lot to the left. I start to get frustrated and pull my right rein even more but it doesn't seem to help. My trainer has told me that I'm a lot stronger with my right arm all the time and she has now out of habit started leaning to the left to avoid the contact. I find myself glancing down and my hands not being paralell (my right hand is usually further back). I'm not sure how I can correct this now? I don't know whether the problem started with my horse leaning to the left and me having to constantly hold with my right and me getting the habit or if it's my strong right hand causing the habit with my horse. Any suggestions on how to correct this? It's driving me mad in lessons and I feel I can't get her to go straight anymore. Whenever I ask her to flex as well going forward she seems to dive to the left, especially on the left rein and I have to constantly try to correct her with my inside leg.

 

[Carrottom]

The old fashioned way was to ride with a short whip under both thumbs. This ensures your hands stay level and together.

 

[starbucker]

Push out with inside leg and body, and use the reins to softly support and balance her instead, they can often fall in on their weaker rein. And dont forget to look forward where youre looking can affect your centre of gravity. Make sure working consistently on both reins so not getting stronger on one rein. Both horse and rider can be asymmetrical leading to imbalances, especially if an ex driving horse for example

 

[Skib]

It is stupid to imagine that what worked on one horse will work necessarilly with another with a slightly different problem.
However, I rode a horse for many years that fell out to the right shoulder. On the left rein at a left corner in the school, I laid my riding crop gently on her outside shoulder and the whip lyng there steered the shoulder round the corner. I dont remember using the rein to turn.
It always struck me that the easy RS horses knew what to do and didnt really need telling.

 

[SEL]

A horse falling in on the left will only brace if you pull with the right rein. Sometimes lifting the left hand slightly works

 

[Patterdale]

I do this to every horse. It’s usually from body crookedness in the rider, which a good trainer will help you with. But a short term fix is to hold the rein upside down in the stronger hand, which makes it weaker.

 

[chloecathcart]

I do this to every horse. It’s usually from body crookedness in the rider, which a good trainer will help you with. But a short term fix is to hold the rein upside down in the stronger hand, which makes it weaker.

Thank you! Do you mean use a driving rein with the right hand? I'm going to get checked out by my own physio because I feel quite tight in my right shoulder!

 

[sbloom]

Your instructor should help you with how you are sitting to better help the horse - this is much more about the horse's movement pattern, how it uses its body, and how you use yours, overall, than one hand. The hand is compensating. If I was being purist and you had the time and money I'd suggest Equimech in Northern Ireland (online) or similar (I may be able to recommend similar closer to you if you prefer in person) and some proper postural groundwork for your horse or, at minimum, some slow walk work where you can work on your horse's balance. Otherwise you've had some good tips on helping with the symptom, his issue with bend and yours with your hand.

 

[Orangina]

This was the first sign of hock arthritis in one of mine (no lameness present as he was compensating so much)
Obviously not saying that is the case with you and it may well be rider crookedness but worth having a physio treat your horse for peace of mind

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Try riding with both reins in your left hand to see if she still does it.

 

[Equi]

Have you ever had yourself assessed with a physio or chiropractor? This was one of my major flaws and I barely notice it now

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

A horse falling in on the left will only brace if you pull with the right rein. Sometimes lifting the left hand slightly works

Yes this can work so can doing some counter flexions down the long side then asking for the correct bend on the corners until she feels straighter.

Also trot on a 20 meter circle and leg yield making circle smaller then bigger, and then do some counter bends on the circle.