How can I help my horse get a better right bend?

Question

My horse is fine on his left lead, but is very stiff to the right. I don't need him to do a dramatic bend, just enough to loosen up over fences. He loosens a little when I circle him to the right, but I want to do some other exercises that help him. Suggestions?

Answer 1

Everyone who answered before me - Nice!!

Okay, this is with a qualifier that it's been a while since I've done any training, but I'll give my two cents.

If this is a new partnership, you may want to talk to the previous owners to make sure there isn't any old injury or scarring in the way. If you can't talk to them, may speak with your vet and see if he or she can determine anything medically in the mix.

Other than that, maybe give him a good twenty minutes of warm up first (at least), including letting him determine his own faster pace at (when does he want to move from a trot to a canter) or even a hack trot (which will require a lot of two point). My quarter horse loved this back in the day.

Also, maybe incorporate a little dressage, moving on the diagonal across the arena, both at a trot and a canter.

Finally, crazy as this sounds, you might want to talk with some of your western pleasure friends and see if any of them do "trail competition" riding. This is where you and your horse go through a series of obstacles, like backing up in a left turn or moving parallel. This could help loosen some of the muscles on his right side.

Also, last thought. Maybe have someone watch you while you ride and make sure you're not giving him an unconscious cue he doesn't understand on the right lead.

Who knows. I could be completely out of my mind.

Answer 2

My horse has the same problem except to the left... My trainer has me physically turning his head to the left (right in your case). I do lots of circle work, and pull his nose in (pull and release) and pressing him out at the same time. This gets him to relax and his nose will drop. I also will start in a large circle and slowly get smaller then go back larger.
I think horses (like people) can be right or left handed. Hopefully this will help.

Answer 3

my horse used to be stiff one way too but my trainer gave me an excellent idea.. i used to get a small crop and stand on the ground on one side of him, then grab his mane and hold on tight. after i did that, I'd lightly tap him on the nose with the crop, making him bend his neck and turn in a tight circle, then do it on the other side. just be sure not to work on it too hard, because horses hate turning in tight circles and that's a dangerous place to be if he loses his temper at you

hope this helps :)

Answer 4

Have a chiropractor check his spine alignment and hip placement and movement. Do treatments if needed and then begin to rework your aids (do them clearly)and make sure he's learning consistency. Ask for lots of bending at the walk and trot before you go into canter and jumping.Lots' of flatwork ie: figure 8's, circles, serpentines etc...Good Luck!
PS Check saddle is well-fitted too!!

Answer 5

try lifting your inside hand while bending him, and sitting deep pushing him forward. while over fences all you can do is pick up a hand gallop, and slow down to a fast bouncy canter, where he definitely will not be stiff if he is going quicker.


maybe you just need to warm him up more often, he could be still stiff from not stretching enough. what do you ride in? hunters? eq? jumpers? etc.


i hope he gets smoother before show season.

Answer 6

from the ground...while not tacked up...take the tip of his tail and his nose and see if you can get them to touch on his right. if not then gently help him to flex his head and neck in 10 second hold and rests until he can. stop for day. do this each day before you ride. also if you have a long lead, gently loop it all the way around behind his butt, back towards his head on the left side. stand near his head, pull on the rope so to make him spin away towards the right. it will end with him facing you again

Answer 7

all the things said above is correct and sounds valid to me! i had the same problems and did a lot of circle work like mentioned above (i do dressage)

i just want to add a fun stretch for your horses neck.
its called the carrot stretch maybe you know it. i dont know if your horse stands still just with a halter and no one holding him. but what i do with my horse is i hold a carrot in front of his nose and then slowly move it to the side untill he gets a nice bend in his neck. it stretches his neck muscles.

good luck!