Stumped...not taking left rein contact / fixing on right rein (looong)

[BeckyD]

I've had Bill for a little while now (since March) and we consistently have the same problem. I can rarely get him to take a contact on the left rein, and he leans/fixes on the right rein. To get an even weight in both reins I end up with his neck bent very much round to the left (not something I can do long term!).

He recently had 6 weeks off work due to check ligament injury, so I hoped that would wipe the slate clean, and am now starting walk work under saddle but the problem hasn't gone away.

Back/teeth/saddle/muscles all 100%. It is possible that I sit to the right, but I do my best not to. I have had myself checked over and apparently I'm just about as straight/even as I can get whilst being an office-based bod. I admit that my left hand is not as effective as my right hand when I'm riding.

I did have regular instruction before the injury (weekly lessons with good instructors). The problem is that whilst everyone can spot the problem, no-one seems able to suggest a way through it, just that basically he'll always revert to it and we'll just have to bear it in mind with future work. Surely there must be a way to improve/fix it?!

When riding I am constantly working on giving away the contact with the right rein so that he can't lean on it, backing it up with my right leg. I also do right flexions, trying to get him to accept the left rein and maintain a decent contact, but as soon as I allow the flex to straighten, he drops that left rein. If I ride round with no contact whatsoever, then pick up a contact, that right side of his bit is clamped in his jaw. If he does soften the right rein, I immediately give as a reward and give him a neck scratch. I might give too much, which is something I'll be asking my instructor next time I have a lesson.

I've tried Neue Schule tranz loose ring, Tom Thumb, nathe straight bar loose ring, single jointed pelham. Same problem in every one. Are there any other bits that would help? Or at least might be worth trying?

The extent that he fixes on the right rein means that I often struggle to make right turns in dressage tests because I can't get anything through that right rein, so asking for flexion is like tweaking a concrete block. I have to make right turns slightly bent to the outside, using my left leg and left rein. This can be a bit hair raising cantering 20m circles at E or B in a grass arena!

Any/all suggestions gratefully received.

 

[charlie76]

Mine used to do this. I have almost solved it! If you are anything like I was you find yourself trying the whole time trying to get him to let go by playing about too much with the right rein and prob being stronger in the right rein than the left.
I have done the following to resolve it:
working on leg yeild from the outside track to the inside, esp on a circle.
Using big flexions both true and counter flexion, not by using quick flexions and wiggling the head left and right but by holding the flexion with the rein slightly higher and forward and holding it until I feel the horse let go, the split second he does, I allow the rein forward.
The rein can go up or out but never back as this will block him even more.
Don't be afraid to push the right rein forward even if its the outside rein, quite often we get obsessed with having the horse on the outside rein and in doing so become strong in the rein.
I also walk on shortening the trot so the horse really sits and waits on his hind leg, when he reacts I allow him forward to a forward hand and rein.
This has all really helped him. The main thing I have had to tell myself is to let the right hand forward, even if this means giving him a little pat all the time or we would get in a tug of war. Some one had to give and it wasn't going to be him!

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

How is his leg now??? Ive been doing loads of work leg yielding pops, which is helping but I also refuse to take all the weight in the rein she wants and I have had lessons where I have completely dropped the rein to encourage her to not rely on me so much!!

But there are people on here with much more experience than me!!!

 

[BeckyD]

Mine used to do this. I have almost solved it! If you are anything like I was you find yourself trying the whole time trying to get him to let go by playing about too much with the right rein and prob being stronger in the right rein than the left.
I have done the following to resolve it:
working on leg yeild from the outside track to the inside, esp on a circle.
Using big flexions both true and counter flexion, not by using quick flexions and wiggling the head left and right but by holding the flexion with the rein slightly higher and forward and holding it until I feel the horse let go, the split second he does, I allow the rein forward.
The rein can go up or out but never back as this will block him even more.
Don't be afraid to push the right rein forward even if its the outside rein, quite often we get obsessed with having the horse on the outside rein and in doing so become strong in the rein.
I also walk on shortening the trot so the horse really sits and waits on his hind leg, when he reacts I allow him forward to a forward hand and rein.
This has all really helped him. The main thing I have had to tell myself is to let the right hand forward, even if this means giving him a little pat all the time or we would get in a tug of war. Some one had to give and it wasn't going to be him!

Hurrah! Glad you've come out of the problem the other side (see, I thought it had to be possible). What you're suggesting is what I think I'm doing - so perhaps I just need to keep plugging away at it. Once we're in proper work I'll also do the shortening the trot exercise that you suggest, which will hopefully help. We're still only allowed to walk straight lines at the moment, but did plenty of work in leg yield before his injury.

Thank you! I feel a bit more hopeful now that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[BeckyD]

How is his leg now??? Ive been doing loads of work leg yielding pops, which is helping but I also refuse to take all the weight in the rein she wants and I have had lessons where I have completely dropped the rein to encourage her to not rely on me so much!!

But there are people on here with much more experience than me!!!

Hello! Didn't recognise your user name! His leg seems to be on the mend; I had a panic and got Pat out but it was ok, just me panicking We can start trot this weekend. Yay!

I do all those things - I hardly ever have a contact on my right rein these days, I'm just constantly giving it to him. Thing is, he fixes on it terribly if I have no contact - so I need to keep taking and giving it to try and keep encouraging him to flex it rather than setting solid on it, which is what he does if I don't do anything. If it's worked for you, then I just need to keep on at it I think Bill is just being stubborn (or I'm not doing it right!)

How's Pops? You been team chasing yet?

 

[PaddyMonty]

Difficult to really answer your question without actually seeing what is going on but good to hear he is finally back in work.

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

No the 2 we were going to do got cancelled!!! We are team dressaging this weekend so I've got my depression tablets and wine ready (although she now settles and works so nicely schooling it's got to happen in a test one day), then im going to do the eventer thing at Keysoe on the 10 December! When can u get back out playing with bill?

 

[ihatework]

I've had this problem a bit.

My instructor essentially thinks it stems from the use (or lack of!) from the opposite hind limb, in my case.

The exercise we use most is what he calls leg yield 'head-to-wall' it was a new term for me!

So essentially take a left counter flexion and then push quarters over off the track for a few strides to try and activate the L hind limb. When straightening, maintain the left contact and then ask for R bend. Main thing is not to hang on to the right rein when doing this though, ask & release, then repeat the LY wall exercise, ask & repeat.

It may just be something specific to my horse and not your issue at all but worth a try.

A piccie below of us attempting this !

 

[ihatework]

PS - I notice you are in Milton Keynes. If you are able to get to Bury farm for a few sessions with Simon Battram I think it would be money well spent, he has a good repatoire of exercises to help this type of thing.

 

[BeckyD]

PS - I notice you are in Milton Keynes. If you are able to get to Bury farm for a few sessions with Simon Battram I think it would be money well spent, he has a good repatoire of exercises to help this type of thing.

Super yes I can get there as I've been there to compete.

Thank you for the exercise and the pic, I think that exercise would be very helpful. Funnily enough if he is lazy with any hind it is the right hind (which I do a lot of leg yield to activate) which is what I thought was contributing to this problem. But, I will give the exercise a try as soon as we are allowed to go sideways, and will also look to book a lesson or two with Simon.

Thank you!

I feel much more hopeful with everyone's replies. I think it was hope that I was running short of.

 

[BeckyD]

No the 2 we were going to do got cancelled!!! We are team dressaging this weekend so I've got my depression tablets and wine ready (although she now settles and works so nicely schooling it's got to happen in a test one day), then im going to do the eventer thing at Keysoe on the 10 December! When can u get back out playing with bill?

Oh what a shame! Good luck this weekend, maybe she'll finally pull her socks up and surprise you?!

Well I think I've got another 2 months of rehab before we're fully fit, so I guess we'll be out and about in Feb? Hard to know as vet is hard to draw in a long-term rehab plan - sort-of playing it fortnight by fortnight...

 

[dressage_diva]

ihatework - Is your instructor called Arabella? I recognise the indoor school and that very exercise!