schoooling problems

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showjump2003

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Having real issues with my pony! On the right rein she is fine, goes round in an outline with correct bend. But on the left rein it is a completly different story! She really hates working off my left leg and I find it impossible to use my leg to keep her on the track so developed the bad habit of using my outside rein to basically drag her to the track. So now we are trying to correct these mistakes and I just can't keep her to the track without using my outside rein, can't shoulder in on the left rein or leg yield!!

Her back is fine as is her tack. On the right rein she will easily do the opposite to shoulder in (haunches in?) which is the exact movement I am after on the left rein which just shows she can do it! She can do everything I want her to do on the left rein in walk but as soon as we try it in trot she shoots off the outside track in to the middle and I just can't get her over with my leg?!
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We can't trot circles on this rein with out her looking to the outside because if I get inside bend she falls straight in as I can't keep her out with my inside leg.

Help?! Any ideas appreciated. I have two weeks off between riding lessons and would really like to go back showing some improvement!
 
She may be stiff on the right side (the side that she is flexing). This often manifests when schooling on the opposite rein.

I had the same problem with loan horse last year. Went pretty as a picture on the left rein, awful on the right. She was unable to flex to the right due to low grade stiffness through her shoulder and neck on the left hand side.

I thought that it was something that I was doing (although I may not have helped), but the problem was identified by my instructor and we were able to work through it over the summer. She has now just returned to work after the winter off and is feeling better than ever.

She's off to event in a couple of weeks time, so let's hope my hard work paid off!
 
I think you have my ponies twin - i too dont know how to correct this problem so i will be very interested in the replies - (would love to ride together with you in a school - what a pair they would make!!! - like formation riding!!!)
 
Amymay, is it stiffness though? For the fact she can trot a perfect shoulder in and the opposite (think its called hanches in) on the right rein which is the exact same movement I want on the other rein. She does it fine in walk so she can do it! Gahhhhh she is the bain of my life! lol
 
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Amymay, is it stiffness though?

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OK, if not stiffness, then have a think about what you are doing. Are you being absolutely clear with the aids.

Sounds one for your instructor when you have your lesson next....
 
She is one sided. You need to do more circles on both reins in walk first, once this is ok then try the trot. Practise practise and practise. Yours sounds just like my youngsters just starting off and falling out of there shoulder (if that makes sense.)
Ride in 20 mtre circles going down and down to 5 metre circles (at walk first) then move the pony with your inside leg to push back out. keep hold of your outside rein as you dont want the pony to fall out. keep a nice curve on the whole body from tail to head. Use your outside leg behind the girth lightly so that your circle gets bigger graduly.
Once you can do this at walk, try the trot. If your pony wont have his nose inwards, I always move my inside hand out to the middle of the circle (looks strange i know) but this shows them what you want. dont forget to use the inside leg to get them over from the shoulder.
I'm not very good at explaining this and i hope you understand it. This is what I do. Smaller circles help the back end work to move forwards.
good luck!
 
It probibly is me! Just started lessons with her to try and sort it. Jubbily, that is the exercise I have been doing with the instructor but because she won't move off my inside leg it doesn't work
 
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It probibly is me! Just started lessons with her to try and sort it. Jubbily, that is the exercise I have been doing with the instructor but because she won't move off my inside leg it doesn't work

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I know it sounds like the impossible but it does work eventually. Try using your legs whilst just plodding down the road. I always use my legs from when they are first backed. If I need to tuck in behind a horse cause a car coming i leg yeild, they do evetually get the message.
good luck and keep up the good work.

Once I had an operation on my right hand. (still rode) It took two months before i could ride properly with that hand, every pony I was riding became one sided because of this. because we are all one sided our mounts become the same.

It took time to correct this afterwards but it just goes to show..
 
There is another way but I'm going to get a lot of flack for this on here. Its draw reins.
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Maybe you could try them when you have a lesson. Don't like using them but sometimes they do come in handy. (forces them into a shape). But do remember to give her head every now and again because her muscles will acke. and dont use them for very long, say 10-15 minites at the most. good luck..
schooling and patiences does win the day, it is better to get the horse working off the leg properly tho..
 
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