Always falls in around corners!!!!!

jumphigher · 11-04-2008, 02:47 PM

My horse is never going to be a dressage diva, but i have always tryed to get a basic schooling technique on him to improve his showjumping.

Problem is, when it comes to corners he constantly falls in and i have tryed hours of different exercises trying to stop it but nothing seems to work (i.e. leg yielding, circles, bending , sepentines etc etc). He seems to wizz round the corner and chucks his legs wherever he wants and had no bend in his body atall. His back/legs/shoulders are all completley sound with even muscle development on them,so this is not the problem.

I need to get this problem sorted because it's hard to jump courses when you turn corners in canter as he just falls in on himself.

Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions/exercises i could try??????

jumphigher · 11-04-2008, 03:06 PM

????????????????????????????????

Pally · 11-04-2008, 03:11 PM

First of all, can he go around a turn correctly bent without falling over at the walk and trot?

Secondly, what are your cues you use to turn him around the corner, and what do you do to help him stay upright as he turns?

Lastly, bumping up your post after 15 minutes isn't really necessary. Sometimes it takes time for the right people to catch your post...more people will be on as the evening progresses

Auzzie Honey · 11-04-2008, 04:44 PM

How is your lunging with him?
And your position?

Agreed - gotta leave the post a while .. we're all in different time zones

Jaenelle · 11-04-2008, 06:41 PM

As Pally asked, is he okay at walk and trot? If not then work on them before you even worry about them at the canter.

The first thing is to make sure you aren't "whizzing" as you approach the corner. Lots of half halts, keep the pace steady and don't lose your rhythm. Without that your corners will never improve. And make sure you are sitting straight in the saddle as well.

Also, get him bending off your leg even as you go straight. On the long side, change bend from inside to outside then back again to get him responding to your leg (This may be what you you meant when you said you'd tried bending, but I'm not sure).

It can also help if you try not to think of it as a round corner. As you approach, get him supple and get some flexion and some shoulder-fore. But think of the corner as a square. Ride deep into it, inside leg to outside rein. Sometimes it may help to actually do something in the corner... halt as you reach the fence, turn on the the forehand (though it'll only be 90 degrees). This can hep to show him that the corner isn't just there to be cut off and raced around.

Good luck!

amira_rox · 11-05-2008, 12:22 AM

does he drift a bit? my thoughbred did this cos I was trying to turn him by opening (but not pulling on) the inside rein, cos this is what I was taught at a riding school. Then my coach told me to put preasure on the outside leg and half halt with inside rein, and only then, when he is turning, start to flex him with inside rein and leg

amira_rox · 11-05-2008, 12:23 AM

sorry, half halt with the OUTSIDE rein

Chester · 11-05-2008, 12:35 AM

He isn't sounding soft and supple to me.

Try some 20 metre circles and use your leg to get him to yield it in and out. Don't use your rein to guide him in or out.

Lots of serpentines.

If he is starting to speed up coming to corners then do a circle with him. Stop his rush.

Remember jumping is 90% flat work.

jumpthemoon · 11-05-2008, 07:58 AM

What exactly are YOU doing to prepare him for the corners before you get him there?

LateralFlexion · 11-05-2008, 02:46 PM

Yup, this is likely an issue with lateral flexion.

11-04-2008, 02:47 PM	#1
jumphigher Full Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 254	Always falls in around corners!!!!! My horse is never going to be a dressage diva, but i have always tryed to get a basic schooling technique on him to improve his showjumping. Problem is, when it comes to corners he constantly falls in and i have tryed hours of different exercises trying to stop it but nothing seems to work (i.e. leg yielding, circles, bending , sepentines etc etc). He seems to wizz round the corner and chucks his legs wherever he wants and had no bend in his body atall. His back/legs/shoulders are all completley sound with even muscle development on them,so this is not the problem. I need to get this problem sorted because it's hard to jump courses when you turn corners in canter as he just falls in on himself. Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions/exercises i could try??????

11-04-2008, 04:44 PM	#4
Auzzie Honey Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: WA, Australia Posts: 1,011 Images: 11	How is your lunging with him? And your position? Agreed - gotta leave the post a while .. we're all in different time zones __________________ Training Sessions -- interesting, challenging and achievable. Don't complicate it any more than that. xx Jess, Honey, Jeddai, Jock, Sambo & Buxton xx

11-04-2008, 06:41 PM	#5
Jaenelle Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 425 Images: 6	As Pally asked, is he okay at walk and trot? If not then work on them before you even worry about them at the canter. The first thing is to make sure you aren't "whizzing" as you approach the corner. Lots of half halts, keep the pace steady and don't lose your rhythm. Without that your corners will never improve. And make sure you are sitting straight in the saddle as well. Also, get him bending off your leg even as you go straight. On the long side, change bend from inside to outside then back again to get him responding to your leg (This may be what you you meant when you said you'd tried bending, but I'm not sure). It can also help if you try not to think of it as a round corner. As you approach, get him supple and get some flexion and some shoulder-fore. But think of the corner as a square. Ride deep into it, inside leg to outside rein. Sometimes it may help to actually do something in the corner... halt as you reach the fence, turn on the the forehand (though it'll only be 90 degrees). This can hep to show him that the corner isn't just there to be cut off and raced around. Good luck! __________________ A horse gallops with his lungs; Perseveres with his heart; And wins with his character. It's a lot like nuts and bolts... if the rider's nuts, the horse bolts!

11-05-2008, 12:22 AM	#6
amira_rox Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Behind you! Posts: 1,116 Images: 20	does he drift a bit? my thoughbred did this cos I was trying to turn him by opening (but not pulling on) the inside rein, cos this is what I was taught at a riding school. Then my coach told me to put preasure on the outside leg and half halt with inside rein, and only then, when he is turning, start to flex him with inside rein and leg __________________ Miley Cyrus was voted worst celebertiy influence 2009. Finally there is justice We've all got a gun against our head. Its just a matter of when life decieds to pull the trigger.

11-05-2008, 12:23 AM	#7
amira_rox Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Behind you! Posts: 1,116 Images: 20	sorry, half halt with the OUTSIDE rein __________________ Miley Cyrus was voted worst celebertiy influence 2009. Finally there is justice We've all got a gun against our head. Its just a matter of when life decieds to pull the trigger.

11-04-2008, 03:06 PM	#2
jumphigher Full Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 254	????????????????????????????????

11-04-2008, 03:11 PM	#3
Pally Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,267 Images: 12	First of all, can he go around a turn correctly bent without falling over at the walk and trot? Secondly, what are your cues you use to turn him around the corner, and what do you do to help him stay upright as he turns? Lastly, bumping up your post after 15 minutes isn't really necessary. Sometimes it takes time for the right people to catch your post...more people will be on as the evening progresses

11-05-2008, 12:35 AM	#8
Chester Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: inland of the coral sea Posts: 13,479 Images: 869	He isn't sounding soft and supple to me. Try some 20 metre circles and use your leg to get him to yield it in and out. Don't use your rein to guide him in or out. Lots of serpentines. If he is starting to speed up coming to corners then do a circle with him. Stop his rush. Remember jumping is 90% flat work. __________________ Aussie Aussie Aussie OI OI OI Senior Australian Correspondent Is it full moon time again? Did the cereal truck overturn and fruitloops got spilt? Thanks for your time,then you can thank me for mine, after that's said, forget it. Rodriguouz

11-05-2008, 07:58 AM	#9
jumpthemoon Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: CA Posts: 5,102	What exactly are YOU doing to prepare him for the corners before you get him there? __________________ I love the Backyardigans! "Last I checked, the snarky kids were not the judges." kellidahorsegirl

11-05-2008, 02:46 PM	#10
LateralFlexion Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,940 Images: 29	Yup, this is likely an issue with lateral flexion.

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