round the bend

[Nhi]

Hi

I have a 4 year old Clydesdale X who I started last Autumn. He is very willing and so far has really been quite easy. However, we have a big problem with straightness. He is terribly stiff left / hollow right. He CAN go straight and he CAN flex left after some suppling work (loops, circles, transitions etc.) but it takes us a while to get there. I had him in an open field this morning and actually had to pull on the left rein to keep him straight. I dropped the left rein to see what would happen - we circled right. I dropped the right rein - we circled right again! As I said it does start to come eventually but after 20 minutes in that field (with nothing for him to 'lean on') my left arm was aching and that is definately not a good sign! How must his neck and mouth have felt?

I collapse my right hip. I try hard not to but if I'm concentrating on something else I slip back into that posture. Does anyone have any tips or advice that might straighten us out.

His sadlle was professionally fitted only a few weeks ago and his teeth are fine.

TIA



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[cvb]

can you add in some suppling exercises from the ground ? quick to do but should help. Like asking him to turn his neck either way - either for a treat or go for clicker training so there is still a reward but a little later after the click.

Also lunging - with some elastic reins to help ask him to flex. And you can also just stand by him and ask him to flex, and do turn on forehand and so on.

Also just from on top, with one (direct) rein and the other one loose, ask him to stand still but turn his head towards your foot. He may find it difficult to give at first and will try and walk around. Be patient, maintain a constant gentle pressure until he stands and gives, then reward straight away. Start by asking for a little and ask more as he supples up.

This is assuming there is no physical problem that needs a physio, or chiropractor or whatever - has the vet checked him out ?

There is a thing on Bob Mayhew's video you might want to try - if you can loose school at all. He gets a fully elastic side rein and puts it on - just one - so it is asking the horse to flex a little to the inside. Then work the horse loose. It takes a while for it to find its balance and find the release. I would start with the 'good' side first if I was doing this and again only ask a little.

[Nhi]

Thanks cvb

I regularly do 'carrot exercises' with with him, where he has to stretch round to either flank and also between his front legs for a carrot treat. This presents no problem for him. He can do turn on the forehand in hand both ways, though to the left is more difficult for him. I think his crookedness stems from behind rather than in front of the saddle. He moves forward off my leg, but not laterally away from it - but we haven't really started down that road yet.