[TwilightPetal]

Does anyone have any exercises to help keep my horse balanced?

I've tried riding lots of straight lines like my instructor says, but it doesn't seem to work. Maybe I'm giving up to easily?
Rambo is 5 and i'm wanting to start doing dressage on him, but he's so unbalanced I can't get him to trot a neat circle!

I would love to hear any ideas you have!

[Chester]

Are you sitting still?

[TwilightPetal]

Yep. I've checked before and it's definitely Rambo who is the problem, i'm sat still and balanced.

[GotaDunQH]

Originally Posted by TwilightPetal

Yep. I've checked before and it's definitely Rambo who is the problem, i'm sat still and balanced.

Well, 99% of the time it's pilot error. If your horse is unbalanced then he needs your help in keeping him balanced. Sitting still and balanced is a good thing, but what are you doing with your legs to help him stay balanced?

Jennifer

[rizzodm]

That is the purpose of dressage, to get the horse balanced. As your horse builds balance his circles will get better.
Do you have video of you riding circles? A better assesment could be given if you do.
I would begin dressage lessons and not wait until he is balanced since that is what the lower levels of dressage will teach you.

Dawn

[MuckMuck]

There is another way to build muscle and balance,but you have to be willing to head for the hills!

[rizzodm]

Oh I miss the hills, beautiful pic.

Dawn

[Rhythm 'n Blues]

While the rider CAN sit still, and be balanced, and the horse might not be centered & balanced, the rider is there to CORRECT the horse, and help the horse out. If the horse drops a shoulder, or leans on a rein, or leg, and the rider does nothing to correct it, then the horse will never learn that it's wrong, and not to do it.

So do you know where & when the errors pop up?? As a rider, you need to know what triggers them, so that you can be prepared to correct them when the time comes. You also need to know what he's doing so that we can suggest ways/exercises to improve it.

Example: the DWB I have in training, has 2 corners in the indoor that are terrible for him. I really have to ensure I set him up well for them, and am "on my toes". These areas have improved GREATLY, but they are still less consistant than the rest of the ring. if anyone else gets on him, he takes full advantage and those areas become big problem areas......he just knows he can get away with it. I should also mention, that this horse is really well trained, and while they are areas of concern for him & I, in the big scheme of things, they are really rather minor, and not overly noticable unless you are really looking for it What Torreau (horse) does is drop his inside shoulder, and tilts his head. My solvent, is to keep him going forward, which means hold outisde rein, encourage more forward with inside leg, and DO NOT drop anything on my inside at all! Also riding squares were a HUGE help for him.

[Chester]

Originally Posted by MuckMuck

There is another way to build muscle and balance,but you have to be willing to head for the hills!

I want to canter down that hill. I love hills.

[SuZQuzie]

When my horse is unbalanced, it is usually a combination of (1) he isn't fit enough for what I'm asking of him or (2) I'm not supporting him enough.

Whenever I'm bringing a horse back into work or into work for the first time, it is always important to gradually increase the horse's fitness so that they are actually capable of doing what we ask of them. For the first 3-4 of work, it is mostly walking while gradually increasing the time just trotting (mostly straight, in the open, starting to ask for lateral flexion) followed by the gradual increase of canter work (similar to trot work). During this initial phase, it is important to emphasize proper carriage in the horse, straightness, and being in front of the leg.

How are you trying to rebalance him?

It is very possible that you are misinterpreting self-carriage for balance. The rider helps the horse learn balance, which gradually goes to self-carriage.

Video would be helpful, as well.