[sullylvr]

alright, ive always had a little bit of a hard time keeping my horse, sully, looking to the inside, but since i took a break from riding him while i leased another horse it has gotten to be a really bad problem. I noticed that when i ask for the trot on the right diagonal, he sticks his stomach in and looks to the outside, as if hes trying to get away with not trotting. now, when were trotting on the left diagonal, he looks to the outside ith his tummy in again, so you cont correct his position with the reins. so far ive been trying to correct him with leg pressure, but he dosnt respod to it at the trot. i dont use spurs, and ive been thinking about using a dressage whip, but he hates them. i have also been trotting him in 10 meter circles to try to get his head on right, but he just goes back to his original position. any ideas of what to do!?

 

[anrz]

Thumper does the exact same thing. There was something similar to a clinic at my barn that I rode in with him, and the instructor told me to use the 10 meter circles. If he reverts back to how he was before, circle again, making sure to bend him around your inside leg (without letting him pop his outside shoulder). After a while, most horses get the picture . I would only use spurs if you have quiet legs and good control over your legs. They can be great if used correctly .
Are you absolutely sure that you aren't contributing to the issue at all? I know that if I'm not riding correctly and effectively, Thumper will revert back to sticking his nose out. I also use a lot of 15m/20m circles with quite a bit of inside leg to outside rein and a bit of pressure on the inside rein to encourage him to give to the pressure.
When he sticks his nose out and pops his belly in, make sure that you don't lose your outside rein. That's an issue that I have (I'm working on it!). I think that since his nose is to the outside, I can correct it with inside rein, and forget to keep contact with my outside rein, also. I'm sure other people will have good responses; I'm looking forward to seeing what ideas other people use!

 

[MyBoyPuck]

Maybe try correcting his position with a little leg yielding every time he tries to invert himself and then resume a straight line of travel? If he's not responding to your inside leg you may need to tap him with a crop a few times whether he likes it or not. I don't let my horse go more than a step or two bent the wrong way. It's easier to keep a habit from forming than to try to break one.

 

[wesgirl]

Use the dressage whip.
You say he doesnt like it, good, he will respect it.
When you ask for the trot and he pokes his stomach out have the whip on that side and give him a good tap with it. If he gives you no response at all, you didnt do it hard enough. But also with his head, around the corners or whenever he pokes his head outside, use inside hand, inside leg and move him forward.

 

[sullylvr]

thanks yall! he really responds to circles and serpentines. ive also decided to go with the dressage whip as a tool cause he tends to ignore my aids when he feels like being silly. arnz: yeah, i was recently riding a really sensitive (amazing) tb while i was off sully and he didnt have any problems with it. and i know what you mean about using spurs correctly, at my barn a mom gave her 10 year old some and frankly i dont think she should be using them. I also think he needs to build up some muscle on both sides evenly, seeing as hes had such a long break with minimal riding (once a week- IF that) thanks everyone for the advice!

 

[stormyweather101]

I couldnt help but noticee that your ^^ signature was by ralph waldo emerson... hes my great uncle on my moms side