Corner problems

[Comanchegurl14]

Ok, so both my English ponies don't like to go into corners while cantering. At a walk and trot they'll curve and bend into the corners really well, but at the canter they just don't seem to get into the corners. As hard as I put my leg into them it doesn't help. They have SOME trouble at the trot too. How can I fix this?? They also canter pretty fast...too fast. Any suggestions?? I'm really discouraged because I've tried everything I can think of. :(

[StarGirl]

Do you use half-halts to slow them down? If that doesn't work (as they don't with my mare) give your inside rein a little pull toward your outside hip, my trainer told me to do that when my mare wouldn't respond to the half-halts and it worked like a charm.

About the corners, I'm not sure what to tell you, maybe a bat or crop would help? Gently of course...

[Comanchegurl14]

That might work to slow them down...Thanks!!

[Skip_n_Hide]

I dont know what else to add to what Stargirl has said really... I agree with Stargirl! :p

[equine_enthusiast]

Do you recieve the Dressage Today magazine??? If so, read through the Jan. 07's issue. Starting on page 42, there is an article done by Courtney King, aptly titled "Dont Just Ride Your Horse Train Him!". If you dont recieve them, then find someone that you know that does and read that article.


Let me know if you cannot do either one of these things, I think I can give you a little hint on what the article says.
~*nickers'N'neighs*~
-§am

[Comanchegurl14]

I don't know of anyone who does because where I live, most people ride western and the ones that do ride English don't take it seriously enough to get magazines and stuff about dressage!! I can def look into it though!

[alliekk]

If both of your horses are doing this have you thought that you might be doing something wrong? Try having some knowledgeable trainer watch you and see what they have to say. Maybe you are leaning too far into the corners. If it isn't something you are doing, try doing leg exercises at the walk and trot, making sure they know exactly what you are asking. Side pass, two-track, haunch turns, forehand turns. Just to make sure they really know what leg pressure is supposed to mean. It could be that they aren't too sure what you are asking when you dig your heel into their side. Once they are comfortable with leg pressure (doing EVERYTHING you ask of them) walk into the corners and stop, doing those very same leg exercises in the corner, backing them up until there is hardly any more room for their legs (this is to show that they CAN get in there, that there is room for them. horses don't have depth perception so it's really hard for them to trust that there is enough room for them without getting tangled up in fences). I hope this helps, it's what I do when my horse is being stubborn and has always worked.

[DixieGirl]

Maybe you can put barrels or cones at each of the corners and have your horse go around them.

[Barrelbabe_23]

I agree with DixieGirl and StarGirl

[PeteyBean416]

My gelding had the same problem, I wore spurs to help with the bending, and did a LOT of circle work, And pushed him outward by sqeezing my spur [[not hard]] right in front of his girth. And also, you can pick up the inside rein, and just hold it up, so they get their pressure of the inside foot, if you do it a few times, they usually get the hang of it. If you need to, use a bat or crop, and everytime you trot, or canter to a corner, give them a tap, while squeezing with your inside leg, and make sure that your outside rein isn't loose. Keep a nice bend.

Sorry my post is so long, but this was my most recent problem with my gelding, and I fixed it after a few rides.

Good luck with your ponies!

[dandyroxmysox]

i would definatley try draw reins.
and half halts.

hope that helps.
good luck.

o.
i would also try to longe.
push them in the corners with a longe whip.

[bethfornow]

Draw Reins are NOT a good idea in this instance. Most horses try to run through them any way.

It sounds like what your ponies are doing is a common training issue. they are leaning to the inside of the turn and dropping their inside shoulder. What this does is shortens the corner (ie they cut it) and it speeds them up. Basically, your ponies are being lazy on you. It is much easier to drop your shoulder and pull with your front legs at a canter than keep yourself level and push off the rear legs. I know this sounds stupid but to fix for this is simply not to let them do it.You need to get a little aggressive with your ponies. do they know how to leg yield? If so, legg yield them into corners at a walk and a trot then at a canter. If they try to cheat (ie cut a corner) bump them with your inside rein tward your outside hip and drag your heel up their belly (gently at first untill you know what to expect). eventually they get the message that it's easier to give a little more effort than to be punished for being lazy.

The barrells or cones are also a good idea, to give you a visual as to where you are going to draw the line as to what is acceptable and what is not.

hope this helps.

[jayeloveschloe]

Bethfornow's thought on laziness is a good one, but on the contrary, could your ponies just have balance/strength issues? Rushing the canter (as well with Beth's explanation of the dropped inside shoulder) could also have to do with a lack of strength needed to properly execute even the little corners.

It takes a certain amount of power and balance for an equine to slow themself down at higher speeds- the only analogy I can think of for this is when you trip slightly. If your toe catches, you tend to take a few quick steps forward to balance yourself out and not fall down, right? Perhaps your horses are experiencing the same thing; they are finding it hard to balance themselves and run off a bit in the canter to try and correct it.

Sorry if I've repeated my thoughts a bit. Hope you solve your problems!

[jilllovesgus]

I agree with Jaye. (: I have a question; are your horses just avoiding the corners, or are they bending to the outside when going around the corners? If so, press with your inside leg and tickle the inside rein. However, if they aren't bending to the outside... well, just listen to everyone else's advice, haha.

[Carys]

hey! i find lunging really helpful in trying to overcome a problem...my horse used to refuse to do circles...she used to trot up the menage with her head sticking inwards but her bum sticking out...with lots of lunging shes prefect doing circles so maybe trying that will help? also having their teeth and back looked at??
hope this helps

[MarshmellowManda]

People have mentioned what I did also but this is exactly what i did with my horse when we were having this same issue.
CONES!!! I put cones inside track a bit off the corner where I should be. Really focues on the cone and not knocking it over or cutting in front of it. I knocked them over quite a bit but now we've conquered that issue. Also if your horse leg yeilds even just the slightest take him a bit off the wall on the long side and then really focus on getting him like yeild over before the corner and when you get into the corner still continue leg yeilding him over. Ya get me? Try in the walk then trot and then canter. I still really use the leg yeild feeling in the corners with marshal just so that whole issue dosen't come back haha. We've got too many I don't want an old one resurfacing!!

[BluRockGirl614]

Can your ponies do square turns just in the arena (not the corners?) If not, I would practice these. Go down the wall and at P do a square turn to L and another at V then continue down the long side till you get to S. Do a square turn at S to I and another at R. Contine this "square" until your pony is supple, listening, and responsive. (this is also a great exersice for self carriage and suppleness)

Once your ponies are doing this at P L S and R, you can move the exercise to the corners. I would start with the same size "square" which would mean you can start doing a square turn at B or E, and continue to the short side and do your square turns in the corners. Just make sure you go very deep into the corners. Keep doing this (make sure you give praise, breaks, and dont focus just on this for too much time at once) until your poines stay supple in the corners and actually go into the corner to make the turns.

Once they are doing this, you can begin to just half-halt infront of the corner, and ride the corner as you normally would.

(remember your half-halts during the square turns, its the biggest part of making a square turn... if you need help with the square turns feel free to msg me)