amy
Junior Member
Spring Blossom
Posts: 64
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Post by amy on Oct 7, 2017 21:52:25 GMT
Hi, when schooling my mare leans intowards centre of the school when going around the corners mainly on the right rein. It’s like she drops her whole right side. She has had her back, saddle, teeth and what not all checked. I do not know whether she is unbalanced or lack of muscle or what ever it may be. I am no expert and I would like to know what to do to correct this. Any ideas or suggestions? I also feel she rides on the fore hand and I am trying to get her working from the hind
Thanks
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Post by gillwales on Oct 8, 2017 3:32:31 GMT
Has she been lunged a lot? Although lunging is a good thing, if done at speed in trot it can cause a horse to do this, charging around in circles is not a good idea. I ask because if a reason is found then it is easier to sort out. For this, until you can work out why she does it, I would abandon schooling in a school and concentrate on getting her to listen to you on a hack, so what work you would have done in the menage do down a quiet country lane which is long and straight, so she gets out of the habit.
What I would do in the school is lots of transition work in walk, also turn on the haunches and lateral work. Walk is one of the most underated paces for schooling, most people think it is all about the trot or canter; yet so much can be achieved by walking. Because it is slower it gives you time to consider your position ( which could also be a cause of her leaning in ), it gives you time to truly concentrate on your aides and to build up a bond with your mare. Half-halts are brilliant for getting a horse off of the forehand; and more importantly really listen to you.
The lateral work will also help with her falling in, vary it. so walk up the 3/4 line and leg yield to the outside, change this from the outside to the 3/4 line. What you must always work for when you school is to stop anticipation on the part of your horse. You can also work on a circle, but establish in a straight line first with her habit of falling in.
There are lots of other tips and tricks, but I think that will be enough to get on with.
Good luck, let us know what works
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Post by Philippa on Oct 8, 2017 7:34:34 GMT
Totally agree with GW. if you can't do it in walk you won't ever be able to do it in trot/canter.
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Post by CarolineNelson on Oct 10, 2017 6:51:05 GMT
Agree with all the above. As GW says, get her out of the school if its at all possible.
Do some 'work' when she doesn't know she's doing it - out hacking. But, on different surfaces, different gradients. Can you find a friendly farmer with stubble fields (ideally with round bales still in) and ask her to work round some of those on both reins - in all three gears, in smaller, larger, smaller larger circles, so increasing and decreasing size and pace, then going out into the whole field again for some 'fun' and then back to play round the bales?
Encourage her to think and balance for herself, not just be 'placed' by you within the confines of a school. Don't just dwell on the negative of her 'right rein' problems. Work on both reins and praise her when she can follow a 'left' with a balanced 'right'.
Additionally, make sure that your own balance is accurate; that your aids aren't accidentally contributing to her current in-balance. .
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Oct 22, 2017 19:06:04 GMT
I always found it easier to teach them leg yielding in the beginning from one side of a path to the other out hacking! Remember that you are teaching your horse all the time you're riding it, no matter where, the horse doesn't know the difference. Consistency is vital. Ride every transition and turn, don't let them slop around anyhow at any time. Work on a long rein is essential too but needs to be done on purpose, so to speak, always know what you want to be doing.
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