bitting/one sidedness

[joy70]

My boy leans on one side of his bit by tilting his head to the right, effectively leaning on my left hand. If i release the rein or give it away all together, he still tilts his head, and takes non or very little contact on the right side.

How can I straighten him up without yanking him around in his mouth, and making him sore?

His teeth are due to be done next week, but he had this problem 6 months ago and the dentist said there wasnt anything evident that would cause this problem, his back and saddle are fine also.

He has since developed another problem with only occurs in trot and this is that when I put him up into trot he pulls his up and will not ride into any contact at all, so far he's only done this in the schooling arena, and not out hacking.

Can anyone help me out, the bit im using is a Myler short shank combi, with a ported mouth, this was suggested to my by the bit bank and my boy accepted it quite happily and ive used it for several months now, we had to use this type as he disliked too much poll pressure and we had no brakes with snaffle bridles!

[casey]

What does your instructor say? I presume you have lessons!
Its difficult to answer your questions without seeing the prob.
If you dont have lessons, maybe you should get an instructor.

[helen03]

my horse leans on the left side also , but as i ride left sided (most people are stronger on one rein) i found it difficult to correct. my instructor (who is a VERY experienced horse woman!) suggested hitching his cheek piece up an extra hole on the right hand side (so that there is constantly more pressure on the right hand side of the mouth)to 'level' him out.It seems to work on him.

[Dressage addict]

Hi joy70

Quite a common problem. Horses so I am finding out are one sided - that is just like you or me being left or right handed. Apparently nearly all neddies are 'hollow right and stiff left'.

When I first started trying to get my head around this it was all very confusing:( I had enough probs just getting control of me let alone trying to work this stuff out as well!! Mental image - contorted rider playing twister at outset - not a pretty sight.

Most horses dont use their right hindleg as well as their left hind. Therefore there is a knock on effect to the rest of their body which normally involves leaning on their left shoulder and bending their neck through to the right.

If your neddy is tilting his head with his nose going to the right he is possibly also pusing through his left shoulder. Best correction is to try and encourage him to work his right hind more by getting good with your leg timing. Dont hold him up on the left side - try and push both hands forwards gently and work him forwards towards your contact.

It sounds like he is a bit stiff and work with stretching him down might help.

Dressage addict

[Old but trying!]

Our Seamus also bends to the right. The physio checked him out and recommended some stretching exercises, to reach as far back towards his flank both left and right and to try and get his muzzle down between his front legs.

[joy70]

thanks for your replies everyone

Dressage addict, can you explain further what you mean about good timing with my legs? as im a little confused - i agree with what you are saying he does seem to push thru his shoulder. I find if im out hacking I can ride along on the buckle and he will stretch down, but if i try and take a contact he starts to lean on the one side - im riding in a Myler bit, which gives the added bonus of either side moving independantly, but im not sure whether i should drop the contact with the left side, and play with the right to gain contact or not??:confused: if you let go completely on the left he still leans - it improves in trot and canter but is still evident? and at a gallop i find he really leans on the left side - thanks to my Myler though im now able to gallop & stop whereas before I didnt dare cause we didnt have brakes ;)

Ive not had a lesson for a while, but even when I was having lessons, we struggled to straighten him up. Leg yeilding away from the left to the right helped a little, but it mainly causes problems when hacking, as im always twisted.

[Dressage addict]

Hi joy70

By good timing I mean that I've been taught that the best time to give a leg aid is when the hindleg is just about to lift off the floor. So when his right hind is just about to pick up thats when to give your leg aid.

You have two choices here:D - either lean right off his side to see what each hind leg is doing or try to feel thro your seat. (Please ignore first choice as somewhat hazzardous!). When he walks you should feel a movement under your seat. You should feel each seatbone being pushed up and forwards in turn. As the seat bone is going forwards his leg on the same side is on the floor and his hip is moving over that leg. At the end of the movement forwards there is a slight drop as the other one comes forwards. At the end of the forward motion tap with your leg. This should get the brain to time the leg aid right with the lift off the floor.

I would try and keep his neck straight in front of you - he may want to wobble it around but try and push it straight out. By using your leg with good timing, and by straightening the neck you should find he comes more even. This does take time and some time in the school with some eyes on the ground will really help.

dressage addict