So disheartened with youngster and progress. Advice needed!

[DalesDiva]

One point to check, if all physical causes with him are ruled out, is that your own position isn't preventing him going properly on the left rein. My youngster also does not go well on the left rein. However, I have a tendency to pull back with my inside left hand when on the right rein, I didn't even know I was doing it till a few years ago when my instructor pointed it out, I feel straight but when I look down, my hands are not, and in fact I was quite crooked, collapsing left hip and shoulder. I now get physio (same physio as does horse, which is handy!) and i do have a weakness there, whenever my back is sore/stiff I see an immediate adverse impact on my horse (the other issue is not getting the correct lead on right canter, because my weakness prevents me getting my left leg and hip in the correct place to ask for right canter correctly, not sure if that is an issue for you too). You need to be careful not to try to pull him round with your inside rein, it might feel like it will work but it won't create true bend, it has to be inside leg to outside hand, I know how easy that sounds on paper and how hard it is in practice, big circles or moving circles as one person above suggests, and in time it will get better. I've a youngster (well, he's rising 7 now, had him since he was 4) and like you I questioned (and still question) whether I am good enough for him, not bringing him on correctly etc. It's clear from your posts you are trying to do the very best for your boy, so don't beat yourself up....good luck.

This is really interesting reading. I actually DO have problems getting the correct canter lead to the right. My trainer can get it and he does it on the lunge, so I know it's my issue. My instructor hasn't actually said that I'm crooked, but I've suspected for some time that I might be. I recall a physio acquaintance years ago seeing me walk away from her in a halterneck dress and commenting how misaligned I looked! I think an appointment for myself may be on the cards. Thank you for that input. It's much appreciated.

 

[ester]

can I recommend some sort of in-hand classical stylee work with him. It will teach him how to bend correctly without the complication of you on top and might teach you quite a lot about him too.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

can I recommend some sort of in-hand classical stylee work with him. It will teach him how to bend correctly without the complication of you on top and might teach you quite a lot about him too.

I tend to agree, I have never ever backed a horse and had this problem, yet many of the horses I have ridden have this problem, time and time again I see girls warming up on the left rein, then do one large on the right, then start again on the left, jump mostly left.
Zero tolerance means formal handling, be consistent, don't fuss about.

 

[Horse~Lover~Forever]

Well of course you'll get better! Maybe he is just a really energetic horse. Perhaps you should lunge him or something, to get rid of some of that energy

 

[FelixPatches]

No problem, I meant to say the problem with my inside hand is on the left, not the right rein, in case that was confusing. I had a physio session on Wednesday, as I'd been feeling really crooked and my pony hadn't seemed at all happy with me, since then he has been so much happier. It is eye opening how much of a (negative?) impact we can have on our horses at times; up till a few years ago I wasn't even aware of this and just thought horses were all stiff on the left rein (I know that sounds daft).
But obviously first port of call is to check nothing is physically wrong with him.

 

[MrsNorris]

No problem, I meant to say the problem with my inside hand is on the left, not the right rein, in case that was confusing. I had a physio session on Wednesday, as I'd been feeling really crooked and my pony hadn't seemed at all happy with me, since then he has been so much happier. It is eye opening how much of a (negative?) impact we can have on our horses at times; up till a few years ago I wasn't even aware of this and just thought horses were all stiff on the left rein (I know that sounds daft).
But obviously first port of call is to check nothing is physically wrong with him.

This is so true, I have a longstanding shoulder problem and normally ride a horse who I've had for years who seems to have adapted to it gradually and copes with it. When horse hunting recently, lots of the horses I tried, especially the youngsters, all fell out to the right. Made me realise how bad the problem has become, and I've stopped horse hunting for a bit and am concentrating on sorting my own inadequacies first.