one sided

[twinkle11]

when i ride my horse she is fine on on the right rein but on the left really stiff i feel really stiff as well like as if i cant bend when doing circles as well as i can on the other rein would this be me making the horse stiff on one side if so what can i do to correct it?

[PaulaqhMax]

Horses like us are better on one side than the other (something to do with which side they lay on in the womb) so I would concentrate on the rein that is not so good.

[equestrian3241]

maybe it would help if you start your ride going to the left and give your horse a really good warm up by bending and flexing their body and neck around turns and circles. Also if you ride a little more on the left doing lots of circles/figure eights/serpentines it should help your horse strangthen that side. Good Luck!

[Teasels_Mum]

It could be that you are stiff on that rein too! It may be worth having a lunge lesson with a qualified RI, as they will be able to assess if you too are stiffer one way than the other.

It could be why you're horse is stiffer to the left too - I know that I am more supple to the right (as are most R-Handed people) and my balance is better this way too.

I only found out about this when having a lunge lesson, and when I thought about it realised that I sub-consciously work my mare Teasel more on the right rein than the left one! Since finding this out I now make an effort to work both ways equally, and can honestly say we are now both more supple to the left!

[IHSAGirl]

Be careful not to work too much on your horse's bad side- it is harder for them and they might get cranky.

My horse is much more supple on the left rein, and absolutely awful on the right rein (we've run judges over because he sets his jaw and just goes where he wants to). I started doing stretching exercises with a rope halter with him before every time I ride. One of them is to get your horse moving forward in a tight circle when you are standing at their withers, with their neck bent and your hand (the one holding the rope) firmly planted on his back. Use your fingers or the end of the rope gently along his side and back end to keep him moving. Look for a relaxed neck and for his back legs to cross over each other to stay on the same line.

If this is too difficult at first, you can practice just bringing your horses head back with the rope, without him taking a step backwards or to the side, hold it until he relaxes, and then release slowly until his neck is straight again. Repeat all exercises on both sides (not just the stiff side). This has definately helped out my horse, and there's even more advanced stretches you can do once your horse has mastered these.

You can try checking out he book: Stretch Exercises for Your Horse: The Path to Perfect Suppleness by Karin Blignault.

Good luck!

[1 morejump]

Just like people being right or left handed horses are that way too. I'm with Teasels_Mum. Get a lunging lessons with a good RI (if you have an RI already just get a lesson from a different person to shed some new light on it) and have them analize your horse and reccomend some stuff. When you ride always start and finish on the weak rein. While you are riding switch reins frequently, about every 5 min. And don't just do circles, he will get really bored really fast, so will you. Try doing serpentines and figure 8's around the arena. Or you can make up your own stuff, just don't try to push him too hard at once. That would be like forcing a righty to write left handed and have it look perfect.

[Trewsers]

My mare definitely has a better rein and a bad one - I thought it was entirely me but I've been told that horses have a good one and a less good one;) What I've been trying to do is more and more work on the bad rein - don't really like doing it:p but practise makes perfect, and its the only way I'll get "with it". Cantering on my bad rein isn't my fav thing - but because I'm forcing myself to do it - it is definitely getting better (my bum still bounces out the saddle on this bad rein:p ) All I can offer advice wise is practise and then some...... :)

[cvb]

twinkle

try this - standing or sitting, but somewhere that you have room to rotate your arms. Put your right arm straight out in front of you at shoulder height and point a finger, now rotate to the left as smoothly as you can, but keeping your hips square to the front so the rotation comes from the waist, back, shoulders. When you have gone round as far as you can, note where your finger is pointing.

Now do the same but with left arm up and rotate to the right.... does it feel different, and can you rotate evenly in both directions ?

This will give you a sense as to how much your own uneven-ness is playing a part here.

You can repeat above but this time just keep your feet square and allow your hips to turn as well. Of course this time you will turn further, but again see if it is the same both sides.

If you find you are uneven, you can also use the rotation as a way to start to loosen up. Then next time you are on the horse, ask someone to hold it for you and repeat from the saddle...see if there is any difference and see what effect it has on your legs as you rotate (sometimes we compensate for stiffness by using a different part of ourselves to "make up" for it).

A really simple stretch in the saddle to help turn to the inside is to take the reins in the outside hand, and then reach and hold the back of the saddle with the inside hand. Keep the elbow soft so you can still absorb the movement of the horse.

An image that can help is to image you are carrying a tray and you have to turn the tray around the corner without spilling anything. (or some people think of turning a wheelbarrow).

[Rips]

Do some carrot stretches before you ride, concentrate on her bad side and it should help her. It'll loosen out the muscles too so she isn't as stiff when you get up.

[de_Stille_een]

Be careful not to work too much on your horse's bad side- it is harder for them and they might get cranky.


Oh my... Can I disagree? Well, either way, I suppose-- I disagree. I'm afraid I'm about to ruin what little rep I have on NR, but this is a continuing trend I've noticed, and it's been driving me insane. Forgive my ranting... :p

We have a rule at our barn (we train colts, and retrain horses that've been either ill-trained or spoiled)-- if the horse doesn't like it... do it all day. The reality of riding is that the majority of horse owners (and riders, and handlers, and... you get the idea) will ask their horse to do something. If the horse resists (resist meaning any response less than what the rider finds acceptable), they ask with more insistence. If the horse resists again, they... tell themselves "There's something wrong! He really doesn't like doing that-- maybe a mean person made him do that in the past and my asking him to do it is causing him to connect me with the mean person... I just won't ask him to do that too much. Or maybe there's something wrong! I should get off right now, give him lots of carrots, and call the vet."

While I'm certainly not saying you should do things with the purpose of making your horse unhappy, uncomfortable, or cranky-- but sometimes you just need to ride through it.

If you play basketball, and you're absolutely clumsy with dribbling, but you're a terrific shooter-- you won't practice fifteen minutes of dribbling and then fourty-five minutes of shooting. You need to practice your dribbling skills as much as possible. And of course, unless you're the most patient, content person, you'll be frustrated with yourself, tired, bored, irritable... but you'll press through it because you know that you need to master this in order to be of any value to your team.

Your horse needs to be well-rounded and well-balanced. So... work hard at lightening him to his stiff-side. He might not like it, but it's really what's best for both of you in the long run. After a couple weeks (or days!), he'll hardly mind it.

-Stille :rolleyes:

[de_Stille_een]

I'd recommend starting out with your regular warm up routine, and then start doing serpentines, figure eights, etc-- or mix it up and have a go at barrel racing! Start off at a walk for these exercises, and only once he seems to be lightening up, move on to the trot, then canter.

Also-- it helps horses to become more light if you "plow-rein" them at first-- maintaining your contact, lean in the direction you're turning, extend your arm, and gently pull him around (pretend there's a cabinet door hinged to your ribcage-- yes, it's ridiculous, but it works!-- the motion of your hands on the reins should be similar to your hands opening the cabinet door). Teaching the horse to follow your rein is easier for them to do well, as opposed to the regular "pull/tap on the rein and expect them to turn well." Once he's pretty light (sometims this is after minutes, sometimes weeks), you can slowly exaggerate less and less with your hands and weight, and begin to transfer back to your regular way of asking for a turn.

[cvb]

We have a rule at our barn (we train colts, and retrain horses that've been either ill-trained or spoiled)-- if the horse doesn't like it... do it all day.

I just started doing some training for Race For Life (a 5km run). I have some previous history with one of my knees. When I run, I can sometimes feel the joint and muscles start to complain and I therefore may not run "evenly". I would be one-sided.

Now - if you made me use that knee "all day", I would not be very impressed, I would not trust you, and actually it would make the knee joint worse. But if you saw the problem and helped me run evenly despite the knee through appropriate physio and exercises and support...I would feel quite differently about it indeed.

There is a crucial question here - something that came up in a recent lesson I had with my horse. Is a physical issue entirely physical, or partly (or all) behavioural ? Sure if it is "behaviour" based in part or more, you need to deal with that. But you ALSO need to deal with the physical issue and make it easier for the horse to do the right thing, not harder.

IMHO

[casey]

We have a rule at our barn (we train colts, and retrain horses that've been either ill-trained or spoiled)-- if the horse doesn't like it... do it all day.

What??? Thats the fastest way to make a horse sour.:eek:

I agree, as will most good trainers not to focus on the horses weak points. You make him lose confidence, and he wont want to work.

To me training horses is a little like tightening a screw. You put the pressure on and you take it off again, if a horse is under pressure all day it will go barmy. Wouldn't you?

I have a fantastic jump trainer. No matter what we jump during the session be it 1.10-1.30 he will always finish with a "confidence giving cross pole".

If a horse is spoiled then I agree you work through problems, but on the same premis as above. The same if its a physical preoblem ie. a horse that is stiff.:)

[casey]

If you play basketball, and you're absolutely clumsy with dribbling, but you're a terrific shooter-- you won't practice fifteen minutes of dribbling and then fourty-five minutes of shooting. You need to practice your dribbling skills as much as possible. And of course, unless you're the most patient, content person, you'll be frustrated with yourself, tired, bored, irritable... but you'll press through it because you know that you need to master this in order to be of any value to your team.





Sorry just wanted to add horses aren't goal orientated as we are. He doesn't go into the school and think 'umm, I just want to practice my collection, as I only got a 7 in the last Grand Prix test for that move, and I want a 9':p

Flippant, but you get the idea. I think you are comparing the horses psych to our's. A big mistake, and although I dont consider myself a NH person per se. I think it would enhance your knowledge to read some NH books with regards to learning more about the horses thought process.:)

[tally ho]

If the horse resists again, they... tell themselves "There's something wrong! He really doesn't like doing that-- maybe a mean person made him do that in the past and my asking him to do it is causing him to connect me with the mean person... I just won't ask him to do that too much. Or maybe there's something wrong! I should get off right now, give him lots of carrots, and call the vet."


How dare you give your horse the benefit of the doubt.:p Honestly de stille een, being a good horse person, (which to be frank some of us spend a long time trying to achieve, I know I do) is about evaluating your horse, and trying to overcome the problem with the least amount of resistance. Hopefully gaining it's trust, and heaven knows perhaps ensuring it's happiness in the process.

[de_Stille_een]

I agree, as will most good trainers, not to focus on the horses weak points. You make him lose confidence, and he wont want to work.
I'll ignore the "good trainers" comment :p We don't focus on the "weak points"-- we always look for the good in our horses, and what our focus is on is how to bring out that horse's good side. But, for example, if you've got really bad acne on your face, you just can't focus on how soft and callous-free your feet are-- you'll probably have to put down the pumice stone and lotion for a while so you can focus on clearing up your face. Obviously, there will be times when you're really down about the volcano coming out of your forehead, and you'll have to sit down to polish your toes to remind yourself that there really are splendid, beautiful, and blemish-free parts of you.

You don't want to set your horse up to crash and burn-- but in order to fix a problem, you have to give it the majority of your attention.

To me training horses is a little like tightening a screw. You put the pressure on and you take it off again, if a horse is under pressure all day it will go barmy. Wouldn't you?
Have you ever used a power drill? You can usually drill at a pretty high speed, but sometimes, you'll feel the wood getting ready to split-- you have to back off and slow down until you get through that part. Other times, you have to really rev up your drill in order to get through a tight spot.

With spoiled horses, you usually have to really go at it-- it's not usually enjoyable for either person, but after the boundaries have been set, or the horse realizes it's much easier to do as he's asked, you can go back to your regular pace.

With the horse in this example, who's stiff to one side, you won't make a whole lot of progress if you're drilling on a very low setting. You can do a whole lot more in each session if you're not completely worried about making the horse cranky. Of course, if you feel the "wood start to split," you should take it easy and so some hacking and such, to remind her horse that riding is fun, and not just all work.

I guess I should have clarified that it's not a literal "all day long, nose to the grindstone" thing-- I assumed that anyone reading would automatically factor in common sense as far as how far you can push things.


Oh-- and by the way-- we, besides having a lot of rules, have another rule-- "Always put a horse back better than when you started" Funny, it kinda sounds like the old Boy Scouts "always leave a campsite cleaner than when you found it..." Is it odd that I made that remote connection? :p

-Stille:rolleyes:

[casey]

Sorry Stille, I dont know what your talking about.:confused: :) You seem to be making lots of points, but i'm not getting them.
Are you saying, that schooling for the horse should be fun but sometimes it may get rough? I'm just guessing here, because with the acne/foot/power drill scenario i'm not too sure.:p
If so, then I dont think you have anyone on here disagree. But in your original post, you made it sound like you were being driven "insane" by people giving their horses the "benefit of the doubt" by ensuring there was no medical condition involved.
Also you also gave the impression that the faults we're all you worked on.:(

But I have a horse in right now, thats being reschooled due to too much pressure being applied. She is learning to enjoy schooling and will be a fine horse. So you see, not only daft people produce bad horses. So do people who apply too much pressure and hurry training. Ignorance comes in many forms.:)

Edit to add, sorry for hi-jacking thread guy's

[de_Stille_een]

How dare you give your horse the benefit of the doubt.:p Honestly de stille een, being a good horse person, (which to be frank some of us spend a long time trying to achieve, I know I do) is about evaluating your horse, and trying to overcome the problem with the least amount of resistance. Hopefully gaining it's trust, and heaven knows perhaps ensuring it's happiness in the process.
I'll try to ignore the sarcasm and hinting that I'm unsympathetic and such with my horses... I agree with everything you just said-- but I'd just like to highlight that you said "over coming the problem" with the "least amount of resistance"-- obviously that's the target, and anything else isn't going to be effective. But you said the least amount-- not "without resistance." Obviously, we're not talking directly about the OP's situation anymore, but just to clarify-- with some horses, that "least amount" is quite large, if you actually want to overcome the problem-- not just dodge it for a while, or slighten it's effect.

Also, please keep in mind-- I'm in the business of retraining horses, and mostly they're horses who've become terribly spoiled because their owners gave them too much benefit of the doubt. I've seen so many ruined horses who take months and months of daily work (and will continue to test every rider and handler), simply because their owners let them get away with certain things, because they couldn't recognize the difference between pain, confusion, fear, and resistance. It's more often than not resistance, which quickly turns into defiance, which quickly turns into a horse being the one calling the shots, instead of the handler.

I certainly want to ensure the horse's happiness-- but I'm not interested in his current moods. What I'm reaching for is to do what's necessary now in order to equip the horse for a happy, healthy, and safe relationship with his riders in the future.

[de_Stille_een]

Sorry just wanted to add horses aren't goal orientated as we are. I think you are comparing the horses psych to our's. A big mistake, and although I dont consider myself a NH person per se. I think it would enhance your knowledge to read some NH books with regards to learning more about the horses thought process.:)

I didn't intend to compare the horse's thinking patterns to our's-- I was just trying to show that in order to overcome any issue, it needs to take your main focus-- not just 9% of your training session.

And actually, horses can be quite goal-oriented. They simply have different goals than we do. Have you ever seen a horse who's made it his goal to get attention? It's pretty entertaining, as they do whatever it takes for you to come over and love on him. Or a horse whose goal is to get back with his pasture buddy? Much less entertaining than the previous example.

However, you make a good point-- horses aren't going to specifically choose one skill or movement they'd like to master before they go back to the field. Under saddle, they usually have only one of two motives-- to get through the session and back to their hay and buddies, or to please their rider.

[casey]

Also, please keep in mind-- I'm in the business of retraining horses, and mostly they're horses who've become terribly spoiled because their owners gave them too much benefit of the doubt. I've seen so many ruined horses who take months and months of daily work (and will continue to test every rider and handler), simply because their owners let them get away with certain things, because they couldn't recognize the difference between pain, confusion, fear, and resistance. It's more often than not resistance, which quickly turns into defiance, which quickly turns into a horse being the one calling the shots, instead of the handler.



Edit to add. If you read my post properly, you will see as I clearly stated...."Horses aren't goal orientated as WE are."

Without hi-jacking the thread. As obviously our training practices are worlds apart.
What makes you think that you are the only person that knows the difference between a horse that is playing up, and one who genuinely needs time.:confused:
See, I know the difference as do many board members on here. We just choose to explore all options before wading in heavy handedly. Resulting, as you can see from my photos, happy healthy animals.
I think its insulting that in your mind, patience = weakness. When its quite the contary.

[de_Stille_een]

What makes you think that you are the only person that knows the difference between a horse that is playing up, and one who genuinely needs time.:confused: We just choose to explore all options before wading in heavy handedly. Resulting, as you can see from my photos, happy healthy animals.
I think its insulting that in your mind, patience = weakness. When its quite the contary.

I think... somewhere, you've completely misunderstood my opinions, or I've done a horrid job of trying to translate them to you. But in the mean time, I think it's insulting that in your mind, you've written me off as a overbearing, unknowledgeable horseman with bad ethics. If you'd carefully re-read my posts, you'd see, for example, that I never suggested that you couldn't tell the difference-- I was clearly and directly referring to the owners of the horses that've been sent to us for retraining.

I agree-- without patience in all situations, you will make very little progress with your horse. But there's a big difference between being patient and letting your horse get away with murder (or whatever minor issue that may arise). When a small problem arises, and it's pretty clear that he's just resisting you (resisting being of his own decision-- not fear, pain or confusion. I'm also assuming that you recognize that he's being defiant, because you earlier stated that you can), you can just deal with it and move on-- (I heard a saying that perfectly encapsulates how your response should be-- "your persistence should be just an ounce greater than his resistance"). If you deal with it right away, he goes "oh-- I guess I can't do that" and then goes back to his ride.

Or, you can try to avoid being the "bad guy" (as you've seemed to think of it), and get off and put him back in his stall while you call the vet, or go back to something simpler, just in case he's not ready. But if you do this, even though you know with 95% certainty that he's just being stubborn, you're just teaching him that if he resists, you'll inadvertantly "reward" him by backing off and going back to easier work. That's not patience, that might be "giving him the benefit of the doubt," and that's most definitely going to teach your horse how to get his way. It may sound like I'm making a big deal of nothing, but trust me-- sometimes having to make your horse do something he doesn't want to do looks mean, abusive, unfair, selfish, or even just uncomfortable for you-- but you're doing yourself and your horse a disservice.

I most definitely think riding and training should be fun for both horse and rider, but yes-- there will probably be times when you need to be serious and things will be a bit rough. Of course, this has a great deal to do with your experience (I've gotten the impression you have a decent amount of this), and the experience of the horse.

[casey]

Just edited because even I dont undersatand what I wrote :D

[cvb]

I think... somewhere, you've completely misunderstood my opinions, or I've done a horrid job of trying to translate them to you.

guys, any chance we can quit with the "who insulted who" and maybe think about how we communicate as there does seem to be something not hitting the intended point here...

I figure - you're digging a hole in the ground. Someone comes by and says "why are you digging that hole ?". Do you just say "because I am" and dig it deeper ? Or do you stop and have a word and ask them some questions, and answer their question, because actually they might know that you are digging in the wrong place ? or they might want to dig a hole themselves and learn from you ?

Mark Rashid comments that we only ride for a limited amount of time, but what we do for the rest of the time can be used to "practice riding". If we have communication issues like this in that "practice time", does it tell us anything about how we react to our horses ? Is it how we would like to react to our horses ?

I still reckon I treat my horses better than my colleagues :rolleyes: :p so its something I am practicing and working on. I can thoroughly recommend it ;)

[casey]

Mark Rashid comments that we only ride for a limited amount of time, but what we do for the rest of the time can be used to "practice riding". If we have communication issues like this in that "practice time", does it tell us anything about how we react to our horses ?

cvb, I dont think Stille and I are "insulting" each other in any way shape or form. Just debating a subject. Which is allowed on NR.;)
I think you'll find the "mis-communication", is based on being unable to articualte, or see a reaction as we do in normal circumstances on a one to one basis. Things as you must be aware of by now, dont always come across bets in type. But thanks for your concern.
IMHO I also think the manner I debate such a subject, has no relevence to how my horses are trained.:)

[cvb]

Casey

So you didn't write "I think its insulting that in your mind, patience = weakness." and De_Stille_Een also didn't write "But in the mean time, I think it's insulting that in your mind, you've written me off as a overbearing, unknowledgeable horseman with bad ethics. "

My apologies as I clearly am fantasizing !

[de_Stille_een]

So you didn't write "I think its insulting that in your mind, patience = weakness." and De_Stille_Een also didn't write "But in the mean time, I think it's insulting that in your mind, you've written me off as a overbearing, unknowledgeable horseman with bad ethics. "

My apologies as I clearly am fantasizing !

Casey and I have actually traded PMs, and both of us agreed that neither of us were really insulted-- I think we all get frustrated with the miscommunications and misunderstandings that occur on any forum at some point. We both know not to take it personally.

And to answer your earlier question, CVB... I'm often told I've got two completely different personalities-- lol. When I ride, I'm completely quiet, focused, non-confrontational (this little debate is a bit... uhh.. what's the word for friendly confrontation?), and I don't challenege or question my boss when he tells me a different way to do something. :p So no, this isn't a reflection of my riding or horse-handling. I kinda wish my everyday self was more like my horsey-self, though...

--Stille :rolleyes:

[cvb]

Stille

pleased to know I haven't completely lost it... yet !

you (both) wouldn't get frustrated if it wasn't something you cared about and were passionate about...

and I'd rather be around people that care than ones that don't..