trouble with turning

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becca114

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I broke my pony to ride last year and since have not really ridden him properly. He has given a few children rides on the lead-rein and has been fine. He has always been difficult to turn so I have been doing lots of long-reining with him to prepare him for me riding him again. He is perfect to be long-reined and responds to rein aid and my voice very well.
At weekend, I asked a friend to long-rein him while I was on board and he was fine then too, responding to the lightest rein aids, however when I took up contact on the reins (my friend stayed walking behind him but not putting and contact on her long-reins)I found I had to be quite strong with my rein aids and almost exaggerate my body movements to get him to turn.

Yesterday I rode him again with the intention of just letting him get the idea of turning but it turned into a disaster, with him being out of control and him charging up and down the fence, bucking. I will excuse this schooling session as he had been stabled for 3 days due to being wormed so I am sure this is the reason why he behaved as he did.

Has anyone got any idea why he is perfect to long-rein but un-turnable when ridden? He is worked in a bitless bridle, should I use a bit instead?
Any advice greatly appreciated.
 
im assuming his tack is fitted correctly (ie saddle is fitted by a professional saddler) and that his back and teeth have been done recently? Im just trying to eliminate pain from the equasion first.
 
I would use an ordinary snaffle with cheeks or a happy mouth snaffle with cheeks, you could even look for one with a french link to make it softer. Practice doing two big half 20m circles, like a figure of eight but rounder. As you want to turn open out your inside rein, exaggerate it at first so he gets the idea, make sure you give quite a lot with the outside rein at first. Just work in walk and do lot of different figures, serpentines, centreline half circles, smal circles, just get him listening to you before you move any faster. Always remeber your leg and weight aids too, you should be able to turn him fairly well without even using your reins just your legs. If he doesn't get the idea about moving away from the leg tap him gently with a chooling whip or get someone on the ground to as you ask him to move away. I'm not saying whip him! Just be gentle but very clear in your aids. If he is good to long rein try lond reining figures of eight and serpentines in a field so there is lots of space. This should teach him to turn a bit better.
 
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