Help???Please?!!

[*Horse*]

Hi, i ride this pony who always turns his head out especially when turning corners and in canter. He's a riding school pony. Can anyone give me any advice on how to try and get him to stop sticking his head out????Please:) :D

[S_F_S]

The first thing to look at is whether you yourself are causing trhe problem- this has nothing to do with your level of riding- I say the same thing to all my experienced clients.

It might be entirely subconcious- particulary if he is a forward going pony- riders might be reluctant to use their legs and bend the pony to the inside.

The other case is that, and this is not a judgement on your school; he may be frequently ridden in this manner by more novice riders than you, and so has got into this manner- so in which case I'm afraid you are fighting a losing battle!

As for us- we school ALL our ponies regulary- from the 11hh upwards- so that all will work with a correct bend and most will work down onto a contact.

What level of rider normally rides the pony?
Are you normally free to work in open order working on the pony, or are you instructed in ride order?

I hope you can work out what to do- but its very difficult with a school pony- remember they're not yours, you might not know the best way to work on it- it could even be a physically related problem... Does he have a problem with canter strike offs?

Sorry I can't be of more help...

Emma.

[NZhorserider]

Maybe your outside rein is too tight, so he can't bring his head around.

[Mehitabel]

what he's doing is called falling in - when he is cutting corners to get to the back of the ride faster. the automatic thing you want to do is to use your outside rein to turn his head back out to the track, but this won't work.

the reason it won't work is, as you've found out, that ponies don't have to go in the same direction their head is pointing. this chap is quite happy nipping round the inner track to the rear of the ride with his head turned out.
they *do* have to go where the shoulders are pointing, so what you need to do is get control of the shoulders.

you do this by using your inside aids - inside leg and inside rein. it seems counterproductive, but you need to use the inside leg to push his body over to the outside, and the inside rein to keep his head pointing the right way. so when you come to a corner, slow down so you have more time, put your inside leg on strongly and don't let him turn his head out. if you carry a whip, then you can use it on his inside shoulder to encourage him to get out on the track and move over.

as scraffie says, it's a common trick of riding school ponies. ours will give it a go with a rider they think they can get away with it with!

what does make me a touch anxious is that your instructor hasn't told you how to deal with it.

[Lucy J]

my instructor also advises raising the hand to the side the head is pointing (in your case the outside) higher which tends to encourage them to turn the head the other way in addition to more inside leg to create bend...

could even be that the teeth need done.

[*Horse*]

Originally posted by Es
you do this by using your inside aids - inside leg and inside rein. it seems counterproductive, but you need to use the inside leg to push his body over to the outside, and the inside rein to keep his head pointing the right way. so when you come to a corner, slow down so you have more time, put your inside leg on strongly and don't let him turn his head out.


This is what i try to do.
He doesnt cut the corners he just keeps his head turning out and when i try to turn his head in it just makes him try to cut the corners.

Anyway we're just starting to work separately in our lesson so my instructor will probably help.

Thanks for replying everyone:D :)

[Claire Louise]

I agree with all replies and the only thing i can add is that going back to walk and teaching your pony how to turn corners in the correct manner in walk and then trot and eventually canter. I know it sounds boring but it would be worth it in the end.