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I can't get my mare to turn a tight one rein spin/circle...?

2K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  Saddlebag 
#1 ·
My mare neck reins like an angel, always has. I've been working with her and getting her ready to start reining training. What I've been doing is working from big circles and going into smaller and smaller ones. When I get into the middle to start the one rain turn/spin, she does this thing where she arches her neck and just tries to step out into a bigger circle again...not that she completely refuses, I just don't think she gets it. Ive tried working from smaller to bigger circles and vise versa again, but when I ask her to cross over her front feet and just move off of her back end, she gets confused and frustrated quickly, so I usually just move off and go back to it a few minutes later to try again. She will stop off her hind end, she turns and changes leads etc. That's not the issue because we have all of the basics down.

I'm just looking for some tips or advice on different ways to move her off of her back end before I try this again maybe? Even if there is a way to make it easier for her to understand and take it in slower and smaller steps, that would be great. I went to the local arena and asked a few trainers that worked there, and they said she just needs time to catch on so i'm not too sure...anything helps. Thanks!
 
#5 ·
tight circle

I just went thru this with my horse, My trainer said that my horses was over flexing and not picking up his shoulder to turn. She had me ride 2 handed and pick the reins straight up to center the bit and then if I was turning to the Right I would apply my rein to the left side of the neck and bump the right rein with needed pressure, also bumping with your outside(left leg)leg. But before doing this on circles, you should practice this on diagnals. Then once you know she is picking up the shoulder try it in circles. Hope this helps you. Jeni
 
#6 ·
Thanks guys! Yes, Barrel I am using leg but she just doesn't seem to want to respond in that situation. I will try what you said Jeni, perhaps we just do need more time on diagonals and rail work, so thank you for the tips and I will update you both ^^
 
#7 ·
From a standstill ask your horse to rock it's weight back, not step back, just rock so it's weight is directed more over the hindquarters. Now ask her to turn a 90*turn to the right (or left). Don't ask for more than that just yet. Practise one side only five or six times and do this for the next three or four rides. Don't worry about the other side just yet, look after one side at a time.
 
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