Extreme Left Rein Stiffness!

[chapsi]

Thank you so much for your stretch workout tips.
I'm at a great loss in this country, as there are no equine chiros, and even the human chiros are all American or Canadian! :(  

I am certain there is something wrong with my mare's back.

[Mossy]

I had a similar problem with Conn, very stiff on one side. After the chiro had cost me a fortune I forgot all about cantering in the school, just did lots of hacking, up hill and down dale working on general fitness and big turns in canter on both reins. One day back to the school, we were cantering up the long side and instead of falling out of canter on the second short side corner as usual she just kept going! I do not know who was more surprised her or me. Since then I have dickens of a job getting her to canter large, on either rein.   Who hoo Mum, I can DO this!!!

[drummers mum]

Its official, its both of us! (and I think I was being a little extreme with extreme! :blush: )

I had a lesson last night (by none other than jvt herself! ) and it was brilliant, I now have so much motivation, you won't believe! She saw our problem immediately and this is how it went:

Drummer is stiffer on the left rein, he falls in because he finds it harder work and also has a tendancy to nap towards home!.... I am also not even, I put more weight in my right stirrup and while my right leg behaves itself, my left one is wobbly, so I am compounding the problem!

Jvt said I was too hard on myself! :blush: (aren't we all? ) The lesson went really well and without boring you with every little detail, basicaly, she said I must school little and often and that he must learn that when I say we are going somewhere that is exactly where we go! (this also has alot to do with him respecting me and having confidence in what I have asked him to do) When he falls in I should circle and he will soon learn that its easier to do whats asked first time! (But I also had him moving away from my leg so he didn't always fall in! )  He has also got to learn to maintain the same pace and I must just do nothing when he is doing the right thing and only correct him when he stops doing what I've asked!  

Funnily enough, its the doing nothing that is the hardest thing of all!

I also made her ride Drummer round to see what he was like (and my Fitform lol! Which she liked!)  she got him to canter left lead! So he can do it! <_<    

Thanks to everyone else who replied to this thread, I especialy like the stretching exercises and its great to hear from other people with similar problems!