Strong left hand

[Jo]

I have a problem which I am told is rather common: I have an over-strong left hand. I don't haul on the rein or anything drastic but my left rein contact is stronger than my right. I give away the contact on the left frequently - especially when circling on the right rein - and when all is going well I find that I can discipline myself to relax the contact. The problem is that when I tense for any reason - and the reasons range from horses bucking to horses not understanding my aids (my fault, not theirs) I tense and my left side simplt seizes. I also find it impossible to ask something with the right rein without also using the left.

This is beginning to bother me to such an extent I feel tense just riding sometimes! I really want to be a good, sympathetic riders and my golden rule is always to question what I have done wrong when horses misbehave or don't listen to my aids but the frustrastion caused by my strong left hand is unbearable. I have two or three lessosn a week so I am doing everything in my power to remedy the problem. I just wondered whether anyone had any advic on how to relax the left arm at will? As it is seemingly a common problem, I hope soemone out there has beaten it!

[Kerry's Partner]

Well from one who is hopeless at what you're trying to achieve. here goes. Don't try too hard (which is impossible imo). But DO do as much as you can with your left hand/fingers that you would normally do with your right hand/fingers. If you pour the kettle from your right then do it with your left (but be careful). If you use a computer then control that darned mouse with your left hand not your right (if you have the patience of a saint that is!!!).

I found that you don't have to master this, actually, just trying to do it seems to have an positive influence on the neural network.

My only other tip would be to breathe - it sounds daft I know but I don't do that when I anticipate that I'm not going to do something "right".

[lamprellsarah]

have you thought about maybe, working on your arms, doing exercises that make you tense and relax your arm!!
things like doing weights would help this wouldn't it??

i wouldn't try to correct this probelm as such on your horse because the more you think relax, relax the more tense you will become!

before you get on, give you arms a good shake and stretch your muscles do a few warm up exercises!!

[galadriel]

I know what you mean, because I've seen it in action. A very, very lefthanded person was riding my Duchess around (she's tolerant and so I let novices ride her :) ). Said lefty had never ridden a horse before, and kept getting frustrated because instead of stopping, Duchess kept swerving to the left. She was using her left hand much much more.

Now, having said that :) I don't have any experience with fixing it. I do have an idea that might help. Take something resembling a pair of reins, and get a couple of rubbery-stretchy rings of some kind--like a bike inner tube. Tie one to either side of, say, a chair; attach your reins to the rubbery stretchy things. Sit and practice your rein aids, and watch the flexi-tubes; if the one on the left stretches further, then your left aid is harder. You can use this to try to work out how much pressure is enough to be equal on both sides.

Don't know if this will help much, but it may be worth a shot :) Good luck--I hope you can work it out somehow.

[Jo]

Hi

Actually, I use my left hand more than my right, so things like using a scissors, chop-sticks, paint brush etc I find I do naturally with my left hand (although I write with my right hand!). I shall certainly try the exercises - the one with the tube inner sounds promising. I do a lot of lifting (25kg feed bags, bales of hay etc) but I will try strengthening my arms to see whether I can develop more control.

Part of my problem may have arisen from a pinched nerve problem on my left side which recurs once or twice a year. I use a seat saver to avoid provoking the problem and this certainly helps. Another possible source of the problem is my own horse, who resists turning left. I did wonder whether her resistence is a result of my left handedness but apparently not.

Thaks for your responses. I shall work on it unmounted and try to relax more when riding.