Wrong diagonal, arghhhhhhh!!!!!!

[Sarah1]

Morning all

I was wondering if you could explain something for me please?
I can never get the right diagonal on the right rein. My instructor says that it's because Bailey is throwing me onto his outside shoulder & he can do that as I'm allowing him to fall out.
Is this a balance issue (mine/Baileys)? Any tips on how to rectify this?
When I change it he seems to get faster?!

Thanks

 

[kerilli]

i would have his back and saddle checked by someone very good. i have known horses that were almost impossible to ride on one diagonal, that threw you back onto the other one because they found it easier to carry you on that one. these horses are very asymmetrical, sometimes caused by saddle.
because they are moving in such an odd way, they are putting a lot of wear and tear on themselves.
i'd watch him (vid him if possible) out in the field trotting around, see if he moves straight from behind, and get someone to trot him up for you to watch from behind. vid him and you from behind too, to see what's happening, if you can.
i would guess that when you change it and he speeds up, it's because he's uncomfortable, or because he's trying to make you switch back to the other diagonal.
once you've had back and saddle checked, gentle lateral work in walk, gentle contrabending, all to get better control of the shoulders, should help.

 

[Booboos]

That does sound like a possible underlying problem. Ideally you should be able to ride a horse on either diagonal when they are really balanced, but before that the 'correct' diagonal should always feel comfortable. If he ends up throwing you into the 'wrong' diagonal he must be considerably unbalanced. Perhaps get a good back person out?