How can I re-balance my horse? !!!

[emmag]

My horse excels in Cross Country, loves to gallop in wide open spaces, however she is under-schooled and when we come into the school everything goes to pot. She tries to evade the bit at every opportunity and does not like working in an outline. I've recently moved her to a gag from a pelham and she is now working in an outline in trot, however the canter is taking more time. When she canters in the school she is unbalanced and falls in on the corners :( , it's very umcomfortable for us both and sometimes she trips over her feet/trips. I am considering some balancing reigns, does anyone have any suggestions please?

[Afellpony]

You say she works in an outline in trot. What sort of an outline have you got?(Every horse goes in an 'outline' otherwise they'd flop all over the floor)! When you ask her to canter, what reaction do you get and what sort of canter do you get? Is she on her forehand at all?
To get the canter, you need to have her moving off the leg into a good active but controlled trot. To make it easier for the horse, you usually ask for canter on a corner as you know. Soon as you hit the corner, give her the aids for canter. Make sure you are not going too fast. Also make sure she isn't running onto her forehand. I'm sure you know this, it's easier getting canter from am energetic sitting trot. It's important that you have control and she is moving from her hind quarters rather than the forehand. May be I've not explained this very wel but good luck.

[Tangle]

How old is she and how long have you had her?

From what you say my gut feel is that she isn't working in a good outline in trot - but she can control herself well enough that she doesn't need her head an neck to balance so she can do what you're asking to some degree. She's most likely struggling not to fall in in corners in canter for exactly the reason you've given - she doesn't have the balance yet.

How were you at gym in school? I was never that great :o. I could just about walk along a beam as long as my arms waved around and my hips wriggled (sadly I'm really not joking here :eek: ). If someone had tied my hands behind my back and then asked me to walk the beam, I'd have made it one step and fallen off. Horse's use their heads and necks for balance - as they get stronger and more developed their balance improves, their head becomes more stable and they become capable of working in self carriage and in a good outline.

Key to developing her balance is getting her working from her bum and lifting her back. You can help her with this by doing lots of work to get her to use her quarters - do lots of transitions, do lots of lateral work, do lots of trotting poles, do lots of serpentines. How well does she listen to your seat? You should be able to control her speed, gait and direction without really touching the reins at all - and the more she listens with her back the more likely she is to be balanced :)

I'd recommend you leave canter for now and spend a lot of time in (and even more going between ;)) walk and trot. If you want to canter, don't make it too hard - if you try and go deep into the corners you're asking her to canter (part of) a <10m circle - so make it easier for her and stick to 20m circles for now ;)

After all that (and to finally answer the question you actually asked :o) I wouldn't go near balancing reins or the like - the guy who invented the Abott Davis balancing rein was killed when he put them on a horse and the horse didn't like it! By restricting your mares head you're stopping her balancing herself - help her build the muscle and the balance will come. And when her balance is improved, I'm betting your cross country will get even better as well :D

Good luck - and welcome to NR :)

[doris]

In a word - TTEAM, TTOUCHES on the body, TTEAM ground exercises and the problem solving from the saddle.

[Cheeky]

Hey there

Okie-dokie .. lets get some balance!

- Trotting poles .. can never get enough of them :p Poles are such a great source of balance control .. start riding over some ground poles .. walk, trot .. etc .. she will need to use herself, and her rump to get herself evenly and smoothly over them. She will deffantly start to use herself move over poles .. and are great for warm up exercises :)

- Stretching .. make sure you do some simple stretches at the beginning of each session .. nose to toe, backing up, etc .. get her prepared for the work ahead, as well as getting some balance in from halt.

- Circles, circles, circles! Another beautiful balancing secret ;) They may looks easy .. but for an unbalanced horse to work on a circle, in trot, let alone canter, is a real test. You can then include poles on the circle .. but remember to get her going correctly .. use her bum! You should almost feel 'lifted' out the saddle when working in a proper trot or canter .. simular to the feeling (not so pushed though) as when you go over poles ..

Balancing reins - I have to admit, I have used these on a VERY unbalanced mare. She is an ex racer .. and her balance was like watching a toddler do a hand stand .. not so co-ordinated :rolleyes: We did use these reins .. and I think they helped her a lot. They encouraged her to keep her head long and low .. let her stretch out when working .. she could still easily raise her head right up, but the reins encouraged for her to keep calm by lowering her head. Basically .. she figured out that the more she uses her hindquaters .. the easier it was to work ..

She doesn't have them on any more .. I don't know how long she has been ridden without them .. but she now just automatically lowers her head when worked .. and is much more calmer in the canter (she'd race around the arena like fire was on her tail).

[CMR]

First, make sure she's in no pain, get the typical body check; teeth, back, etc.

Is there any reason for the harsh bit? I know they are more common in XC, but is a pelham neccessary for schooling? Your post just comes across as though you're using a harsher bit in order to force her into an outline.

Something that I do to help my WB get more balanced(and give him a break from contact) is just let him have his head, and ride him on the buckle.
This is an exercise from Level 1 Parelli. You ride with your reins on the buckle, and ask them to do a specific gait. Leave them alone once they pick up the gait, and don't guide them. This helps the horse get used to carrying someone without them messing with their head, so that once you do take up contact, they know how to carry themselves better.

You've also gotten some other good exercises, good luck with her. :)