Schooling ideas for one-sided horse

[kyanya]

I've just been seaching old posts on here about one-sided horses, and all I could find was advice to get the horse's back checked and to address rider one-sidedness issues.

However, what if the horse's back had been checked and the horse was going better on one side than the other with more than one rider?

What I'm really after are some good schooling exercises to try and re-balance a one-sided horse. I think the horse may have stronger muscles (more developed) on one side than the other, and I'd like to try and work on addressing this issue through schooling. Not really sure what exercises are the best though.

Also, should more time be spent on the weaker rein, or equal amounts of time spent on both the weaker and stronger rein?

 

[ThePony]

Always equal amounts on both reins. Oh mare was a little uneven, after back and feet check (she had v slight medial lateral imbalance), they just schooled normally and equally. Bear in mind that the schooling is only beneficial if the horse is going correctly and the transitions are good quality - not necessarily collected up and in an outline, just working forwards from behind and with energy. We did lots of circles, serpentines, transitions (within paces too), lateral work (shoulder in into a circle, half pass etc), turn on the forehand etc. Lots can be done very usefully in walk to get the horse nice and supple. Then when the strength and balance is improved, trot can be introduced. I would concentrate on suppleness and working equally on each rein. Also, if the unequal-ness (is that a word?!) results in leaning on one rein, then don't allow it. A small squeeze of the rein and lots of changes of direction should help the strength and self carriage.
hope that waffle helps!

 

[3DE]

Have you tried lunging with the lunge line passing through the bit and clipped to the opposite side of the roller. Doing it this way seems to encourage them to bend more. It also stops the head being flexed into the centre and the horse falling out through the back end.

Like this (though excuse the pic as she is 18 years old and been out of work for 4 years...)

 

[sleepingdragon10]

Have you tried lunging with the lunge line passing through the bit and clipped to the opposite side of the roller. Doing it this way seems to encourage them to bend more. It also stops the head being flexed into the centre and the horse falling out through the back end.

Like this (though excuse the pic as she is 18 years old and been out of work for 4 years...)

I've never seen lunging done like that, would not have thought of it tbh! lol

 

[3DE]

I've never seen lunging done like that, would not have thought of it tbh! lol

My friend taught me that way for my youngsters - she thinks its kinder for youngsters' necks. I have to agree and tend to lunge like this all the time. I even prefer it to the 'over the poll' way

I love my pessoa too. I never use it tight enough to come into action on the front end but find it really encourages engagement. I used to do a figure of 8 with stable bandages but clips are much easier

Edit - the other thing about lunging that way is it goes through both sides of the bit so the horse has a feel more like a rider holding the reins. In addition to this the bit doesn't get pulled through the mouth to the inside side - which I bet is uncomfortable...

 

[sleepingdragon10]

I'll have to try that
I usually use the over the poll method with my chap, either that or thread the lunge line through the bit ring and clip to the roller on the lowest ring which means he can't pull or lean on the lunge line as he sometimes tends to do.

 

[spotty_pony]

Another thing to try is carrot stretches. Get him to bend his neck right around to his body to stretch the muscles along his neck. Start off making it easy for him and gradually build up so he has stretch further to get the carrot. Do this on both sides so that you stretch the muscles on both sides of his neck equally. Remember he will find it harder to stretch one way than the other! Another good carrot stretch is down between the front legs. The horse has to stretch down and find the carrot. Again, make it easy for him to begin with and then build it up to make him stretch more. This stretch will stretch all of the muscles along the top of his back and down the top of his back legs. It is good to do these stretches before you school him to help to loosen his muscles up which will make it less likely that he will feel stiff after you have schooled him.

Hope this helps.

 

[kyanya]

Thanks for the advice - lots of good ideas. I'd never have thought of carrot stretches, but it sounds like a good idea