right rein.... ergh no!

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heyeasytiger

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I have ust bought a new horse, rising 5, and he seems to hate lunging on the right rein! The left he goes lovely, but the right, he just simply refuses! When he is free schooled, he will move to the right absolutley fine... anyone have any tips on what I can do? Thanks!! x
 
This is a major symptom of ulcers. The stomach is on the right and turning right aggravates the sore spots. If he is insured, have him scoped.

My own rising five started to behave very badly on the right rein, which disappeared within a day or two of putting him on ulcer meds.

Free schooled he may have more space to turn without pain? I would check his teeth if you are lunging on the bit, too.
 
I agree with cptrayes. My mare exhibited unwilling behaviour on the right rein too and a scope has diagnosed ulcers. Just out of interest cptrayes, has your boy been started on Gastrogard? My mare has been on it 5 days now and so far I haven't worked her but planning to on monday. Fingers crossed for a big difference.
 
setting aside the ulcer theory (v v interesting, i did not know that), since most youngsters are always handled from the left i've found that some will very happily lunge to the left but are much more 'defensive' if you like, when it comes to sending them off to the right. i'd ask a helper to lead him around while you lunge him to the right, get yourself in the correct 'driving' position (so, facing his bum not his middle, if you see what i mean) and then ask them to let go but stay walking by his shoulder, and then gradually to diagonally ahead of him and away (not drop back in case he tries to turn to follow them.)
i'd do lots more work on his right side too - leading him from that side, saddling from that side etc.
 
It could be the left eye/right eye thing - research has shown that horses prefer to look at anything threatening with their left eye. Carrying a lunge whip, you are a potential threat and he wants to be able to see you with his left eye, but on the right rein he can't.

That would fit with having no problems ridden. My ulcer-y horse was the opposite - terrible when ridden, fine on the lunge :)

ILF he was sorted with a short dose of omeprazole/Gastrogard and ongoing Settelex.
 
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