New Member

Posts: 9
From:Swartz Creek, Michigan, United States
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-12-2004 07:01 PM         

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Hello! I need some help. My horse is really hard too keep on the wall, and I have to use I ton of leg to get him on the wall. I have tried spurs but he is a bit afraid of them. Is there anything that i can do to get him used to spurs? Is there anything else I can try?
Also, he doesnt have a very balanced canter. It is pretty good in one direction, but in the other is it very unbalanced and fast, and he leans. It is very hard for me to get him to use the areana, and he tries to go in circles and is hard to control. What should I do? Anything would help, thanks buh bye

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Member

Posts: 47
From:Oakton, VA USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 03-13-2004 06:08 AM         

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For keeping him on the wall, you may want to try a dressage whip on the inside, if he's uneasy with spurs. Because the dressage whip is longer than a crop or bat, it can help act as your leg. Use it behind the saddle at the same time you're using leg, so he learns to associate the two, and in time, should begin to move more willingly off your leg and you can ditch the whip. (note: whip not meant for whipping, just as an added leg aide to move over, not faster)
As for the leaning, it sounds like he needs a lot of muscle building to that side. Do a lot of trot work to his bad direction with bending and circles. The more muscle he builds up, and the more in shape he gets, the more balanced his canter will end up being. You may want to lunge him at the canter for a while to his bad direction, to help build up muscle without the risk of him leaning in and falling over on you. Once he begins to build up the muscle, ride him through circles and figures, making sure you're sitting tall and helping him balance, rather than lean, through his turns. It's not an overnight fix, but it's worth the time. You'll have a safer, easier ride in the end.
Good luck

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New Member

Posts: 9
From:Swartz Creek, Michigan, United States
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-13-2004 07:50 AM         

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Thanks! I'll try that!

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Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 03-15-2004 09:05 AM         

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How well are you at side passes? Try working him on them on the wall. Also, when on the wall, keep your reign slightly pressured to the outside of his neck... remember, where the horses head goes, his body follows. Don't allow him to look around.

You can try the ladies spurs, they are blunt and have no rollers. IF spurs are frightening him, get a harder soled boot.

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Member

Posts: 10
From:Amarillo, TX, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-18-2004 10:37 PM         

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I don't know what style you ride and this may be more difficult to do if you ride English but it may be worth a try. You will need a deep seat. Try working him into the wall. Turn him tight into the wall. He will most likely not like this because he will be losing control of what he wants to do. I take my mare down the wall then turn her to the wall making her sit back and turn more on her haunches. Then I do the same thing only in the opposite direction. Try to mix it up or he will think that everytime you get to a certain spot then it's time to turn. I also agree with the dressage whip suggestion. Make him use the whole arena. Make sure you take him in every corner all around the arena. If he decides he wants to do circles then do circles for a long long time until he decides circles are not that much fun anymore. My mare is also one sided. She has a tendancy to prefer turning one way than another. For your unbalanced canter make him work on his weak side. Lung him on his weak side even if he doesn't like it. Also check his feet on that side. One sole may be lower to the ground than the other causing that side to be weak because he favors it.

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