Stiff on one rein - any ideas?

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sfward

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Just wondered if anyone had any ideas for suppling up a horse which is stiff on one rein? Mine likes to bend to the right (her neck is like a rubber band this way) but feels blocked down the left side. Consequence is too much weight in the left hand on both reins, falling in on the right rein and her bit tends to pull through on the left side.

Anyone got any good suggestions? I had a dressage lesson in which it was suggested i bend her to the right until she gets sick of this and 'wants' to bend left. Not really quite sure if this will really work in practice, does anyone have thoughts?

thanks!
 
Every horse has one rein that is better than the other, similarly they will bend easier on one side than the other. Have you had your horse examined by physio/chiropracter as there may be a physical reason why he doesn't want to bend that particular way. I would rule out this eventuality first. Then I think it's down to time & work to supple him up.
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Thanks, I'm going to get her checked out by a physio soon just in case. Time and work isn't a problem, I'm just not sure I'm doing the right things when I'm working her, to help the problem rather than making it worse! Hence why it's always interesting to know what other people have found works for their horses...
 
one thing that never fails with mine is to ride a large circle pushing in gradually smaller til its tiny and then pushing it back out til its big again - about 20m gradually tho. all the time keeping steady contact with outside rein and inside rein slightly open really riding them with legs and as soon as they give, soften , hope that makes sense
 
A couple of other ideas for you to try -

Does your horse leg yield? if so you could leg yield, with her nose to the fence, if you know what I mean, for a couple of steps, then straighten for a few steps (make sure she's straight), then make a 15m circle. Change of rein, 1/2 circle, straighten and incline to the track, as you come towards the track, with her nose to the fence, leg yield, straighten and circle. The object of this exercise is to keep the inside hind legs working and eventually the horse will begin to take more weight behind. I believe stiffness in a rein is in fact stiffness in the inside hind leg and a reluctance to use this leg properly. Be careful you're not blocking the horse's inside hind leg coming thru. You say "her bit tends to pull thru on the left side", the bit can only pull thru if you're pulling it, so be careful not to pull it. You may need to use an open rein to guide her round the circle on the left rein but make sure to ride with tons of inside leg to outside rein, use a give and take rein so she can't lean on the rein and has to carry herself thru the turn.

I'm not sure about the bend one way until she's sick of it, sounds a bit harsh, but you could flex the horse - gently, while walking on a circle. So, flex inside, centre, flex outside and repeat a couple of times. Make sure the flexion comes from the poll and is not a bend in the neck. A bend in the neck allows the horse to pop out the outside shoulder.

If your horse is stiff you want to make sure you don't make her stiffer by doing lots and lots of exercises. Make sure to let him stretch lots before and after each exercise. Good luck
 
hi thanks very much for this - just to check, when you start off did you mean begin on an inside track on the left rein and leg yield towards the fence? or start on the fence and leg yield away from it?

The point about not pulling the inside rein is so true. I'm really conscious of using it too much but i find it so hard not to because if i let go of it i just get excessive bend to the outside and she veers off to the outside; I can keep her on the circle (just!) by using lots of outside leg and hand but then i find it difficult to use lots of inside leg as well! it's like she can't actually stay on the circle without some sort of contact on the inside rein... But as you say I guess give and take is the answer! i will keep persevering!
 
With the horses nose pointing at the fence, and her hind quarters on a slight inside track, leg yield up the track at an angle to the fence. You're neither leg yielding away from or towards the fence. The horse is at an angle, but don't make the angle too severe as the leg yield will be too difficult for her. Make sure you don't pull her up the track with your inside rein, make sure to push her up the track with your outside leg and make sure to keep her straight. Does that make sense? Remember don't do too much of any one exercise at a time as this work will be hard for her.

Your comments about the circle are interesting, she doesn't want to stay on a circle without the inside rein as it's hard work for her but persevere and don't let her "persuade" you to pull her round the circle. Your inside leg will activate her inside hind leg and eventually she will take more weight on that inside hind which will get her off your inside hand. If you can ride her in a dressage stick you can tap her behind the saddle on the outside to stop her diving out. Make sure to ride her straigher on the circle, not too much bend, this will also stop her escaping thru her shoulder.
 
Thank you!
I guess what i find difficult is getting that balance between using the inside rein to guide her without holding her up on it... I'm not sure i use my inside leg effectively enough either! But I will certainly give your exercise a try. I suspect i will have to use my inside rein at least a bit to keep her vaguely straight in the leg yield, i hope that's ok?!
on the circle is it ok to have too much right bend so as not be using the inside rein too much, or would you say it's better to use the inside rein regularly (and then give it back) to try and maintain more straightness and guide the horse round the circle?
Sorry to keep asking but it's great to be able to pick the brain of someone who knows what they're talking about!!! as i find this whole issue very difficult...
 
Have you tried bending to the inside, and then outside whilst keeping straight? Leg yielding 20m circle, to 5m, then out again. Both should supple the horse up a lot. Also recommend getting both you and the horse checked out by chiro (or something similar), as could be you being very wonky and one sided that is causing the horse to appear the same. I was very wonky, but had a lot of sessions with chiro after a fall this year and now horse seems a lot more balanced between the two reins.
 
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Thank you!
I guess what i find difficult is getting that balance between using the inside rein to guide her without holding her up on it... I'm not sure i use my inside leg effectively enough either! But I will certainly give your exercise a try. I suspect i will have to use my inside rein at least a bit to keep her vaguely straight in the leg yield, i hope that's ok?!
on the circle is it ok to have too much right bend so as not be using the inside rein too much, or would you say it's better to use the inside rein regularly (and then give it back) to try and maintain more straightness and guide the horse round the circle?
Sorry to keep asking but it's great to be able to pick the brain of someone who knows what they're talking about!!! as i find this whole issue very difficult...

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I've always been taught to keep a good contact on inside rein during leg yield to help keep the horse straight, so yes. And I'd say it's best to maintain straightness - my horse has straightness issues and falls out through his shoulder a lot (just got back from uni for summer, has been ridden by novicesish for 9 months
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), so having to do a lot of work on the inside track so he isn't relying on the fence, not sure if this will help?
 
Thanks, that's a good idea, i probably am a bit wonky!! although my last horse was stiff the other way so i suppose that's kind of reassuring...!
 
You always need to keep a contact on the inside rein. The mistake occurs when the contact is pulled back or when the horse is allowed to lean on it. Your horse should work up to the contact you set and be soft to it. Make sure you maintain an even, elastic contact. This comes over time and is very difficut with a stiff horse as you describe. But if you are consistent in the contact you offer your horse she will eventually come to know the contact is there for her to work too and not lean on and she'll trust that you won't pull back. Your give and take should be like squeezing a sponge, make sure you don't throw away the contact thinking you are "giving". Think of it as saying to your horse as you squeeze you're asking her to flex her jaw a little for you, then you soften the squeeze and allow her to straighten from the flex. But flexing the jaw is a tiny movement, you don't want a massive bend in the neck or to be pulling her head around. An open guiding rein, can show her the way you want her to take but don't pull her round, and allow your hand to go back to it's correct position, don't maintain a constant open rein.

Lunging your horse in ride reins can help her. Check the side reins are the correct length for her to work to, too long and she can lean on them, too short and she can't work thru from behind. Also make sure to work her up to the contact on the lunge, don't allow the hind legs to trail out behind. Remember walk is the hardest pace with side reins as they can block the horses' movement.

Don't hammer away at exercises, take even the smallest amount of softeness and reward her with a long rein. Do you jump her? Mix up her work as much as possible, work over poles, take her hacking if you can.

Good luck, let me know how you get on. PM me if you need more info
 
That's so helpful, thanks ever so much. I will keep working away! Yes we do plenty of hacking and jumping, which she loves so no problem there.
Will let you know how we get on, and thanks again for all the advice - much appreciated! Just in case you're interested, the horse in question is the bay mare on my signature. x
 
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