Wont take a contact

[Twilight]

I am really struggling to get my boy to take an even contact. He seems to be trying to avoid taking the contact on the right by leaning on the left. On the left rein if I take my outside contact he bends to the outside. The only way I seem to be able to get inside bend is to take a strong hold on the inside rein - not really what I want to be doing as he leans on that really hard. If he is pushed to take the contact evenly he will try and evade by going up in the air. Any ideas?!? We have checked saddle, back and teeth and there is nothing obvious.

 

[soph21]

have you tried a different bit? im not sure what but i know several people have changed the bit as there horses lean and wont give and it worked, or try working him in a bungee to make him flex and realise that it is comfertable down where his head should be!!! i doubt this will help but its something to consider xxx

 

[Twilight]

Yep, we have tried all sorts of bits, single joints, french link, happy mouth, ported pelham, loose ring, hanging cheek, 3 ring gag, even a myler comfort snaffle - he seems to do much the same in all of them.

 

[Seahorse]

Sounds exactly like my horse!

I've been struggling for ages and have now gone right back to basics, long reining him and have changed his bit to a really mild sweet iron french link, taken his flash off and have stopped trying to get him to take a contact and just been riding him forward and long and low.
Seems to be working so far! Last few time's in the school he's been fab

 

[Tierra]

Ensure you use a LOT of leg on the side that he's avoiding the contact to. So if its on the right, you want to be using a hell of a lot of right leg to get him up and start taking the right hand rein.

 

[Bexaco]

rather than pulling on the inside rein, raise it. When you raise your hand it rotates the bit in that part of the horses mouth and even the trickeyest horses will bend their neck, then you can start working on having to do that less and less