Overbent pony HELP!

[Alfies-slave]

I have just bought a new pony for my son. Lovely pony, but as soon as you take up a contact he goes overbent. He was a show pony.... that explains a lot.

No pain, back & teeth just checked by vet.

I have never experienced anything like this before. Its head is almost on its chest! Any ideas how to get him working better?

 

[iloveshearer]

Push him on as much as you can with your legs, really drive him forwards even if it means you lose the outline all together. Keep him going forwards as much as you can and when he's starting to go off your leg, gradually start to ask for an outline again. Also make sure you're not giving him anything to lean on with your hands, if he is leaning then just drop the rein contact so he can't.

 

[Bay Mare]

The first thing that I'd do would be to get a physio/chiro out as the muscles will have been 'formed' incorrectly and he's probably quite stiff in his neck and poll which will inevitably have an influence on his back and hind legs. Getting some stretching exercises from the physio that you can do when the physio has gone may be a good idea too.

With regards to work I'd probably want to do long reining and in hand work initially focussing on getting him to stretch out and start to build the correct musculature.

Riding wise, long and low to get him stretching out over his topline and lifting his back.

Good luck x

 

[Showjumper]

Ditto Bay Mare - I've seen loads of horses with sore backs/necks/etc that vets have given the all-clear. Get a physio/Bowen/similar out to have a look - best to rule out pain first before treating it as a training issue.

 

[sheryl]

Hi,
What sort of bit is he in? Maybe the action is too strong.
Could you try riding him in a headcollar, to see if he's any different?

He's a lovely pony by the way

 

[Afellpony]

If I were you, I'd get the vet to check him thoroughly and if there's nothing wrong with him, when you're riding him try and encourage him to go long and low so as he can stretch his neck out. This will relax him. After a few minutes, gradually take the reins up but do not pull as this will encourage him to become overbent. Push him forward into your contact but if you feel he's becoming overbent release his head and ask again. Do not pull the reins towards you but gently squeeze with your fingers. If he reacts without getting overbent, ride one circle of the school on each rein, praise him, then end the lesson.

 

[showjumper-zoe]

Free school him and she if he goes like that whithout a rider then it may be that the muscles have been formed incorectly but if he dosn't do it it's probably his training from being a show pony.

 

[Wally]

One of Heather's schoolmasters had a habit of going too deep. All she asked us to do was raise our hands and ask him to get up and out of his silly over flexing. It worked.

It came from bad training as a younger horse which did his pelvis in in the long term. He was rehabilitated with correct training, but old habits die hard and every now and again he'd offer this silly, overly way of going.

 

[Alfies-slave]

Thank you everyone! The vet is also a McTimony practitioner so I am satisfied when he said 'no pain'

Fourtunately the pony doesn't do it when in draft... I got him tyre pulling today. hopefuly a bit of driving will build up the right muscles!