Leaning into corners

Candy leans into corners (during trot but mostly at canter) while i'm riding her in the arena. She has just turned 4 and my instructor says its a balance thing as she is young. She doesn't seem to be progressing though, I sit up as balanced as I can and apply pressure with my inside leg?

Any ideas?

When you say she leans into corners do you mean she leans towards the rail or towards the center?

I would agree with your trainer and say its because she's not balanced or has the proper muscles to stay upright on the corners.

Another thing you might want to try, depending on which shoulder she's dropping, is to pick up that rein. Like if she's leaning toward the center, pick up (like lift up) your inside rein. That should help.

She leans to the inside of the corner (towards the center of the arena)

Thanks for the tip, I'll try that.

My mare used to do that when she was 4 (she's 5 1/2 now)
I also over-exaggerated my movements a little too. Like I would try and lift her up with my inside leg and along with my lifting my hand up.

Common and is a balance problem.

I would be looking at a couple of thinks.

First....... don't ride too deep into the corners as your horse cannot handle that level of balance yet.

Second......when entering a corner (even a shallow corner) try opening up your outside rein and hold (with contact) to assist her.

Third....use little or NO inside rein to initiate or help the turn in the corner using only the outside foot/leg slightly behind the girth.

Fourth.......look directly between the horses ears...not past the corner and where you will be going.

So my suggestion to lift up with the inside rein wouldn't be good? But you basically use the outside rein to assist?

I'm just looking for other ways to help balance my mare (and gelding)

Nothing wrong with your suggestion Appy but being this is a very young horse I though a more direct approach would help. When the balance gets better the softer more discreet inside rein would be the way to go at that point.

The open outside rein gives a more direct line and should help in straightening the horse. The outside leg slightly behind the girth moves the haunches slightly in and the natural curvature of the walls/fence will actually direct the horse through the corner. If the rider looks in front of where she is going and not to the inside (where the tendency is to do) the rest should follow a natural following of the barriers like a wall or fence. Most people tend to exagerate all aids and as a result they will get too much of one thing or another.

The only variable here is how far the outside rein will open to "invite" the horse to straighten up. The rider will have to use different strengths to find the right one. Once the horse gets better balanced and stronger any leans that may occur will require just a touch of the inside rein (more aids may be needed but that would be one of them) should be all to remind it to straighten up.

Ohh ok! Thank you for explaining that Spyder! I really appreciate!

When I start doing more with my mare, if she starts leaning, I'll do that (she IS only 5 and had several months off)

I think it could also be that she's maybe sticking her shoulder out? My gelding used to do this all the time, took me forever to figure it out... Push him back over so he's centered.

Imho a 4 year old should not be getting cantered in an arena. Especially if they are not even confirmed at a trot. I agree with spyder on how to fix it.