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Bending to the right????!!!

4K views 26 replies 7 participants last post by  HorsesAreForever 
#1 ·
I was working with Chance on bending through her corners and keeping that same type of bend during 30ish meter circles[starting out large]. Chance could do it very very nicely to her left side even at the trot, then to the right .. she couldnt seem to do it. I mean I know I havent worked that side much as I have the left side.. but. at the halt I can ask for lateral flexion and she can reach all teh way to my heel pretty much so .. its not her so much being stiff.... But to the right she would just keep her neck straight and llike cross her front feet over :-| and just had no bend. I know its something she CAN do. Its not like a defect or something LOL!

Also at the halt I can ask for a slight bend through her neck and she can do it...

The right side is also my bad way as well.. interesting lol


advice??
 
#2 ·
I say a part of it is your saddle. I actually am banking on that. A lot of the issues you are having with Chance I feel is directly related to your saddle. So until you fix that, you won't see progress.

However, it's possible she is out of alignment and needs to be adjusted. Maybe get an equine chiropractor out to look at her.

It's also possible that her ribs are stuck to the right. It would make it very easy for her to bend left, but very hard for her to bend right because her ribs are in the way. Go back and review the DVD in the Level 2 pack that talks about that subject, and also go back and watch last month's Savvy Club DVD with the lady and her Icelandic Pony.....perfect example of a horse who can't bend.
 
#4 ·
Great! Glad to hear you have a saddle that fits her now. However, is it placed correctly and shimmed accordingly? If not, that can and will cause problems.

It doesn't matter if a horse has never been out of alignment before. They can throw themselves out just by playing around in the pasture.

In the Level 2 pack, it's one of the DVDs that also discusses saddle position....Linda talks about how to sit on a horse thats ribs are stuck. It's brilliant! Also, last month's Savvy Club DVD.
 
#5 ·
All horses have a stiff or strong side. Maybe you can try massaging the muscles on her stiff side to warm up the muscles before you ride. She might just have a few knots in her shoulder or hip. With my horse, it's usually his shoulder. If it's just a basic conformation thing, you'll just have to work more on suppling her stiff side. It will come in time.
 
#7 ·
Thanks for the reply! :)! Yeah Ill try massaging her before riding and see if that loosens her up at all. It was a little frusterating haha the other side was so nice and soft. Thats what I thought that just maybe she has a stiffer side like most and its just gonna need more work then the other.
Thanks again.
 
#6 ·
Ohhh I think ive seen that somewhere. Ill re look at that again.

And its placed in the normal position, with a wintec front lifter pad. And she was riding nicely under it, it seemed. Sadly I didnt get video so I couldnt see exactly what was going on. But I know from that last ride there was perfectly even sweat marks.

Hopefully tomorrow Ill be getting some videos.
Im thinking its just that she hasnt been worked on that side much not even played with on that side.. so Its just a lot weaker.
 
#9 ·
I know that feeling, getting Ben to Bend to the right is like bending a 1500lb brick wall. I let him warm up normall first, then halt and ask for a few bands, and then with his head bent I ask him to move his hind quarters off my right leg. I then ask him to bend at the walk with alot of leg (and spur if needed) and sponging and half halting the inside rein untill I feel even the slightest bit of softening. If he gives a bit, I release the presure and tell him he was good. Lots of circles, serpentines, and sppirals help
 
#11 ·
I know that feeling, getting Ben to Bend to the right is like bending a 1500lb brick wall. I let him warm up normall first, then halt and ask for a few bands, and then with his head bent I ask him to move his hind quarters off my right leg. I then ask him to bend at the walk with alot of leg (and spur if needed) and sponging and half halting the inside rein untill I feel even the slightest bit of softening. If he gives a bit, I release the presure and tell him he was good. Lots of circles, serpentines, and sppirals help

Ill deff keep this in mind for tomorrow! :) Thanks!
 
#10 ·
Its not a PERFECT fit, but it deff is speading the weight evenly across the back. You can tell by the sweat marks. and she seemed to be moving a lot more freely in it. Ill get pictures when ever I work her enough to get a good sweat pattern. I really need a different lifter pad I hate mine, but it works at the moment.

The way I was taught to ask for the bend is by using my inside leg to push her more towards the rail, and like tighten up on the contact with the inside rein But Ive been bringing the rein lower for teaching her atm I tend to do that with everything I teach at first idk why. and kinda take your outside rein forward bit. Idk its easier done then said, I did my best hope you kinda get the picture.

Again thats the way I was taught.
Just like some people are taught to ask for the canter with the outside leg.. I was taught with the inside leg.

LOL im not just like yanking her head! :P
Im supporting with my legs as well.

She picked up on it quickly to the left, it took like 2 laps.
 
#12 ·
The way I was taught to ask for the bend is by using my inside leg to push her more towards the rail, and like tighten up on the contact with the inside rein But Ive been bringing the rein lower for teaching her atm I tend to do that with everything I teach at first idk why. and kinda take your outside rein forward bit. Idk its easier done then said, I did my best hope you kinda get the picture.

What I highlighted in red is the biggest mistake most amateurs make. You are not steering a car but riding a horse. By allowing the outside rein forward you are creating the bend/crease at the shoulder, not through the neck. Even though it appears to be working to the left this is where the problem actually is. This horse prefers to concave to the left. And it is because this horse rather stretch the right side neck neck muscles to create that concavity to the left it has trouble stretching the left side muscles.

So what most don't realize, it is the left side where the problem exists.

This horse has stiff left side neck muscles.
 
#13 ·
LOL! I guess thats true :P Never thought of it that way. Thanks for pointing that out! So keep the contact??? Could u explain like how I should be asking for the bend? Because im suprised my instructor taught me something that isnt really correct.

She must stiffen up more in movement because like I said she can flex almost like at my heel.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Well heres a video. Shes reaching more with her back end then she did when I rode more the parelli way. Imagine a western jog :P
I wasnt asking her to bend so much at teh corners and the ones I were the dang camera couldnt see. :evil: I had no one there to really film me.. and with only 13 minutes of Film time and half of it I was on the side the camera couldnt see, that I had to edit out... well I didnt get much sorry. But I did try and bend her to the right so u can see.. which is when you will see a TINY little circle thats ALL I can get her to do to that side.

I did work the right side fyi :P
Im also using the saddle thats slightly to small for her hense some hollowing of the back. My friend was using her saddle so i was stuck with mine, I ordered the gullet so It should be here soon :)

 
#17 ·
Well heres a video. Shes reaching more with her back end then she did when I rode more the parelli way. Imagine a western jog :P
I wasnt asking her to bend so much at teh corners and the ones I were the dang camera couldnt see. :evil: I had no one there to really film me.. and with only 13 minutes of Film time and half of it I was on the side the camera couldnt see, that I had to edit out... well I didnt get much sorry. But I did try and bend her to the right so u can see.. which is when you will see a TINY little circle thats ALL I can get her to do to that side.

I did work the right side fyi :P
Im also using the saddle thats slightly to small for her hense some hollowing of the back. My friend was using her saddle so i was stuck with mine, I ordered the gullet so It should be here soon :)
What I see in that video is a passenger that asked her horse to pretty please do what I ask but I really won't push it or ask too hard. If you don't come through it is ok because I am just having a fun ride.

That is the impression I get.

The reins are too long. No real definition when you asked for bends. 90% was to the left the 'better" side but even that side was not there. There was virtually no contact and the odd time you did go right you simply used the right rein to pull the neck over. Without the left rein on the horse to anchor her neck very little in the way of bend will happen.

The problem I see is not whether the horse will bend, for all we know it might, but that you need a coach/instructor on the ground to pick you up when you become too complacent.
 
#15 ·
I'm not going to disagree with the saddle issues, but I'm not going to agree either.

As a known fact, most horses are left hooved therefore they tend to pick up things a little slower going to the right than to the left (as much our fault sometimes too. For someone reason I always found it's much easier to teach the left then the right).

I would do some shoulder work with her. When you're walking a cirlcle to the right, pick up your right rein and ask lightly for her to turn (do not have your rein cross her neck - keep it on the right side of her) and with your inside leg, ask her to pick herself up and push over. The combination of this encouarges them to use their shoulder to push themselves around. You'll be able to feel from when she's going around in a regular circle to when she's really pushing herself over.

Another thing to try is going in a left circle, use the same signals that were above (picking up the right rein to keep her nose out of the circle and your leg to push her shoulder over) which will push her into the circle but keep her forward momentum.
It will almost feel like a backwards spin, of sorts, but again you feel her engaging her shoulders and moving off that side.

Eventually she'll remember that she's got to keep both sides of her engaged to stay balanced. Lots of horses have issues with engaging their hindquarters and simply run off the front end.

Lots of shoulder in's, shoulder's out, and leg yields and I believe she'll begin to soften and respond to her right side cues. :)
 
#16 ·
Yeah the saddle I was using there was like an inch to small. When I can use the saddle that fits or when I get the gullet, she lessons the head bobbing.

Yeah she wasnt bending as well as she was the other day, but had a better trot/canter.

Ive been picking up the inside rein when asking for any bend, and to the left she gets the ( kinda shape. to the right I get a But Ill work on some shoulders in and out! :) and do what you suggested. Ill keep adding videos for u guys.
 
#18 ·
LOL! well its the 2nd day Im not gonna kick her and force her to go into a bend right off. Its not fair. Shes so use to having no contact at all since I was riding the parelli way. So im gradually picking up the contact more and more. Either way im being more demanding in that video then I have in the past few months. Imagine a western pleasure jog basically so this is 100x better. Its a work in progress. To the right I was using both inside and outside reins while using my leg and it wasnt happening at all. Thats what she does, she did that with someone else who rode her.

Im looking around for a dressage instructor to come to my barn and give me some lessons because Its really hard to do this over just reading stuff im one of those people who need someone there to show me in a way. But till then im looking on here for help lol.
 
#19 ·
Well my plan for tomorrow is, work her from the ground up basically. Im gonna warm her up regularly then put the vienna lunge reins on her and work her with the inside rein tighter to get her to bend in the circle. I will also ride with tighter contact and really push her into the corners. As well as get her to stretch a more and drive her into the bit. Ill get video and see how it goes. Hopefully someone will be there to actually move the camera around haha.
 
#21 ·
You dont usually have contact till you get to level 3/4.


But I used the lunge reins today and she did VERY well. She was slightly confused and kept backing up at first [shes sensative to the mouth] lol but then she realized she can infact go forward! Her ears were forward and alert. Since it was the very first day I let her choose the trot she was comfortable and calm with. Tomorrow im gonna ask for a bit more forwardness. But till I upload the video here are some pictures:





and my favorite!


:)
Ill get the video up soon.
 
#22 ·
Parelli focuses on Freestyle (loose reins, no contact, bridleless) riding before Finesse (riding with contact and precision) riding. It's important for the horse to know how to do everything without contact on his mouth and it's important for the rider to do Freestyle so that they don't micromanage and they use FOCUS when riding....along with a lot of other reasons :)
 
#23 ·
ok well she explained it better lol!

I think chance is a lot more confident when riding when I have contact honestly. But I want her to be able to ride with and with out contact which Im going to make sure happens. While training her im keep her in mine 100% of the time.

She got RB when putting it on so I took it all of and rubbed her till she relaxed tried again and she was fine. Licking and Chewing. Also instead of doing it in lungeing form I did it in the circle game. Which she was more then happy to do. She kept offering the trot no problem.
 
#25 ·
Only according to Parelli. Every training style could give you a good reason why they do what they do and could be equally justified in doing it their chosen way.

Just remember all that Parelli is NOT the be all or end all of training. I personally see serious flaws in its use but you will have to find them out yourself (after you have spent a fortune).
 
#26 ·
I personally see serious flaws in traditional training. I've come across no flaws in Parelli, and I've been studying it for quite some time. Overall I have spent less money on educating myself than someone who pays a trainer to try to train their horse (and the horse doesn't get near as much exposure or foundation work as Parelli offers....IMO).
 
#27 ·
I dont want this to be a parelli fight please :)

Weather I teach finnese or free style first, Chance will be able to be ridden with and without contact. Already she has 2 speeds of trot. Shes deff not impressed that im being more demanding with what I want, but shes blinking a lot more and actually blows out while riding.

Shes still trying to figure out why theres pressure on the bit and no ones on her :P

I gotta do some longer work with them on so she can get more of the feel for them.
 
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