Really need some advice...

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nomini

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Alisha has a real habit of leaning completely on my right rein and not taking any contact on the left rein. I have been having lessons to try and solve this, which usually go really well but between my lessons I am having real problems with her. I have a regular lesson every other week and other lessons in between when I can fit them in.
Are there any exercises I can use to help her take more of the left rein and stop her leaning on my right rein so much?
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I end up with a dead right arm every time I school her!
 
Hi, I have exactly this problem with my youngster. I had a really good lesson a couple of weeks ago from a trainer who said "think of the contact on the right rein as good and try and get the same amount of contact into your left rein" rather than trying to lighten the right rein.

This ultimately leads to equal contact in both reins.

To get more weight into the left rein I use counter flexion on a circle and then go straight for a bit and then counter flex again.

Another exercise is to open my inside (right) rein out really wide, while keeping a contact on my outside rein / holding it against the neck. This encourages the horse to drop his head.

Just remember NEVER pull back, just take your hand out wide.

This has really worked for me. In fact things improved in about 3 schooling sessions. So just remember you want more weight in your left rein!
 
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Might be silly to ask but have you had her teeth/back checked?

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Yep, have her back done regularly, she was only done last monday and her teeth were done about a month ago so can rule all of that out
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Thanks cp1 that sounds really helpful will try that tomorrow. One of the guys I had a lesson with said, i'll know i've cracked it when she takes everything in the left rein and nothing in the right rein but I don't want that, i want equal in both reins like you said. Thanks for your help
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