So, my horse who I have now been riding since April that I broke myself has been having a bit of an issue flexing. It's not the fact he can't flex, it's just that he seems unwilling to when I'm in the saddle.
When on the ground, with a halter or bridle, I ask for a flex, he gives his head right to me no issues. When I get in the saddle, he'll flex one side but then when I ask for the other he'd rather lean against my hand. He doesn't pull on me or anything, he just leans lightly on it. I have changed bits from a O ring snaffle to a full cheek snaffle, which has helped with getting him to flex at least once, but to one side. It doesn't matter which side I do, I can get him to flex once and then he'll just lean to my hand.
For example, I can first flex him to the left, he gives right to my knee, no hesitation and with just a little bit of a tap on the reins. If I go to flex to the right afterwards, he just leans against my hand. The same happens if I ask to flex to the right first. As I previously said, he'll flex both ways from the ground with a halter or bridle on, it's just in the saddle doing the opposite way. I was curious if anyone had any tips on what they'd do?
When on the ground, with a halter or bridle, I ask for a flex, he gives his head right to me no issues. When I get in the saddle, he'll flex one side but then when I ask for the other he'd rather lean against my hand. He doesn't pull on me or anything, he just leans lightly on it. I have changed bits from a O ring snaffle to a full cheek snaffle, which has helped with getting him to flex at least once, but to one side. It doesn't matter which side I do, I can get him to flex once and then he'll just lean to my hand.
For example, I can first flex him to the left, he gives right to my knee, no hesitation and with just a little bit of a tap on the reins. If I go to flex to the right afterwards, he just leans against my hand. The same happens if I ask to flex to the right first. As I previously said, he'll flex both ways from the ground with a halter or bridle on, it's just in the saddle doing the opposite way. I was curious if anyone had any tips on what they'd do?