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Alright, so at the moment I'm riding my instructor's Saddlebred gelding Bailey. During our lessons, I've noticed that Bailey has gotten increasingly worse with pulling against the reigns. For example, one of the most frustrating times he won't quit pulling against the reigns is when my instructor has me do an exercise where I have to change canter leads three different times across the middle of the arena. In order to do so, I have to stop him after each short distanced canter. However, I can barely stop him because of how horrible he is with responding to my command and he will not keep from pulling! And because I ride him saddle seat, his tendency to tug at the reigns and lower his head makes him (and me) look terrible.
Are there any suggestions as to how to better control Bailey's frustrating habit of pulling the reigns and keeping his head down while doing so?
.::.::.::. [[8.29.07]] Forever&Always, Allie. I will never forget you.
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Well all I can say is, make sure you have contact with his mouth but aren't pulling on it when you're just cantering, and also make sure your reins aren't too short. And it goes without saying to have your reins longer if you're just walking than when your cantering, and if you ever just halt when your trainer's talking to you, give him a loose rein. I've seen a lot of horses pull just because they're frustrated, and their riders keep them on a short rein for an hour or their rein is too short so it's a constant pull on their mouth.
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Thanks, that sounds like it is probably the main problem with Bailey... I'm sure he's frustrated with the short length of the reigns and wants more give. However, my trainer hasn't said anything about letting up, unless it is for the obvious, walking or just standing to talk to her. Also, when I do give him his head during these times, he always thinks that means it's time to walk off and explore. xP Not to mention he completely loses his headset if I don't keep the reigns at the shortened length.
Ugh.
.::.::.::. [[8.29.07]] Forever&Always, Allie. I will never forget you.
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Make sure you keep your body still then. And when you give me a loose rein but he starts to walk off, ask him to halt until he comes to a complete halt, and then when he does, let him have his head again. If he even takes another step, ask him again. He'll know what you mean.
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Thanks a bunch. [:
I'll be sure to try that on him at my next lesson. Now I'm sorta excited to try and fix him up without my trainer having to direct me. xP
.::.::.::. [[8.29.07]] Forever&Always, Allie. I will never forget you.
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| Okay so I have some questions...are you doing flying lead changes or simple/change lead thru the trot changes? If you are doing flying lead changes your horse could be uncomfortable, because most S.s horses can be quite unbalanced, and this could cause the pulling. Now to get him to stop pulling you could legthen your reins as someone said above and this could solve your problem but most likely is just covering it up. So I would suggest pushing him forward into your hands and doing figures to soften him. PM me for more!
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What works with my horse is to do a bunch of circles at the counter-bend, and when he gives I push my hands forward in a big give. Also, do lots of small circles and serpentines and stuff like that and make sure you give him a chance to accept the bit. Hope that helps!
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[quote]SandandSableRKR (6/16/2009)
Okay so I have some questions...are you doing flying lead changes or simple/change lead thru the trot changes? If you are doing flying lead changes your horse could be uncomfortable, because most S.s horses can be quite unbalanced, and this could cause the pulling.
Now to get him to stop pulling you could legthen your reins as someone said above and this could solve your problem but most likely is just covering it up. So I would suggest pushing him forward into your hands anddoing figures to soften him. PM me for more![/quote]
Alright, I'm going to guess I don't do flying lead changes.
I simply stop him after cantering a few yards [or attempt to] and am supposed to then pick up the opposite lead.
But Bailey refuses to come to a complete, clean halt and believes it is best to tug his head as far forward and low as he can, so I'm practically out of the saddle trying to pull his head back to me.
.::.::.::. [[8.29.07]] Forever&Always, Allie. I will never forget you.
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This horse i ride pulls against the reins pretty hard if i half halt and fuss with his mouth. He likes a steady contact. I don't know what you're doing with your reins but steady contact helps.
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Try longer reins (I knew Boom's real funny about everything and he'll pull sometimes) or some half-halts.
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Emma (6/16/2009)
SandandSableRKR (6/16/2009)
Okay so I have some questions...are you doing flying lead changes or simple/change lead thru the trot changes? If you are doing flying lead changes your horse could be uncomfortable, because most S.s horses can be quite unbalanced, and this could cause the pulling.
Now to get him to stop pulling you could legthen your reins as someone said above and this could solve your problem but most likely is just covering it up. So I would suggest pushing him forward into your hands anddoing figures to soften him. PM me for more!
Alright, I'm going to guess I don't do flying lead changes.
I simply stop him after cantering a few yards [or attempt to] and am supposed to then pick up the opposite lead.
But Bailey refuses to come to a complete, clean halt and believes it is best to tug his head as far forward and low as he can, so I'm practically out of the saddle trying to pull his head back to me. OK, you're right those are flying changes. I'm actually wondering, if you ride Saddleseat, what the purpose of this exercise is? You should ask your trainer why you do this because I don't know how much it could benefit you. Now a canter to halt transition is REALLY hard for an unbalanced horse. In dressage canter-halt transitions aren't asked for until third or fourth level where they have supple, balanced, etc horses. I would be quite suprised if your horse came to a clean halt when you asked. As for the pulling, you could try longer reins maybe your horse simply doesnt have enough rein. Or, you could first ask for the canter-walk transition before you halt to hopefully reduce pulling. You could also ask for a REALLY slow canter before your transition and if he pulls release your reins so he is not pulling you out of the saddle or sit deeply. To also help reduce pulling try doing these transitions on a circle or figure to keep your horse bending and hopefully supple. I really hope that helps and PM me for more!!!
- - - - Haley - - - - -
Thanks ponyjumper93 for the siggy!!
PM me if you wanna chat!
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SandandSableRKR (6/17/2009)
Emma (6/16/2009)
SandandSableRKR (6/16/2009)
Okay so I have some questions...are you doing flying lead changes or simple/change lead thru the trot changes? If you are doing flying lead changes your horse could be uncomfortable, because most S.s horses can be quite unbalanced, and this could cause the pulling.
Now to get him to stop pulling you could legthen your reins as someone said above and this could solve your problem but most likely is just covering it up. So I would suggest pushing him forward into your hands anddoing figures to soften him. PM me for more!
Alright, I'm going to guess I don't do flying lead changes.
I simply stop him after cantering a few yards [or attempt to] and am supposed to then pick up the opposite lead.
But Bailey refuses to come to a complete, clean halt and believes it is best to tug his head as far forward and low as he can, so I'm practically out of the saddle trying to pull his head back to me. OK, you're right those are flying changes. I'm actually wondering, if you ride Saddleseat, what the purpose of this exercise is? You should ask your trainer why you do this because I don't know how much it could benefit you. Now a canter to halt transition is REALLY hard for an unbalanced horse. In dressage canter-halt transitions aren't asked for until third or fourth level where they have supple, balanced, etc horses. I would be quite suprised if your horse came to a clean halt when you asked. As for the pulling, you could try longer reins maybe your horse simply doesnt have enough rein. Or, you could first ask for the canter-walk transition before you halt to hopefully reduce pulling. You could also ask for a REALLY slow canter before your transition and if he pulls release your reins so he is not pulling you out of the saddle or sit deeply. To also help reduce pulling try doing these transitions on a circle or figure to keep your horse bending and hopefully supple. I really hope that helps and PM me for more!!! Flying lead changes aren't when you stop and break to the trot, picking up the opposite lead. They're supposed to be a simple, smooth transition from one lead to the other, at the CANTER the whole time.. If I'm correct.. ^.^
~Brooke
Rest in Peace, Cal. I love you soo much and I'll never forget you! Thanks for...everything. <3 
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Most of the time when a horse has a pulling problem, the rider is also pulling. Everyone is guilty of it at some point. I would focus on keeping you hands steady, but still following the horse's canter, and ask for the transition with your seat and leg without pulling on the reins. I know it sounds weird using leg in a downward transition, but you need to prevent the horse from just splatting into a halt completely on the forehand which is where the leaning down on your arms is coming from. Think about riding forward into your downward transitions. Even if he has to take a couple trot steps before the halt, it's okay as long as he isn't leaning on you. He needs to carry himself. When he does try to lean on your arms after you transition down, push him forward.
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Don't pull on the reins or keep them too short at a canter, as was said already by sfhorsechick. I sometimes exercise a horse that pulls on the reins, and what I do is half halt and give and take with the reins. I also try to bring the horse from a canter to a halt to help him practice stopping without pulling.
I'll be leaving YR. Bye, guys.
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HuntSeat (6/30/2009)
SandandSableRKR (6/17/2009)
Emma (6/16/2009)
SandandSableRKR (6/16/2009)
Okay so I have some questions...are you doing flying lead changes or simple/change lead thru the trot changes? If you are doing flying lead changes your horse could be uncomfortable, because most S.s horses can be quite unbalanced, and this could cause the pulling.
Now to get him to stop pulling you could legthen your reins as someone said above and this could solve your problem but most likely is just covering it up. So I would suggest pushing him forward into your hands anddoing figures to soften him. PM me for more!
Alright, I'm going to guess I don't do flying lead changes.
I simply stop him after cantering a few yards [or attempt to] and am supposed to then pick up the opposite lead.
But Bailey refuses to come to a complete, clean halt and believes it is best to tug his head as far forward and low as he can, so I'm practically out of the saddle trying to pull his head back to me. OK, you're right those are flying changes. I'm actually wondering, if you ride Saddleseat, what the purpose of this exercise is? You should ask your trainer why you do this because I don't know how much it could benefit you. Now a canter to halt transition is REALLY hard for an unbalanced horse. In dressage canter-halt transitions aren't asked for until third or fourth level where they have supple, balanced, etc horses. I would be quite suprised if your horse came to a clean halt when you asked. As for the pulling, you could try longer reins maybe your horse simply doesnt have enough rein. Or, you could first ask for the canter-walk transition before you halt to hopefully reduce pulling. You could also ask for a REALLY slow canter before your transition and if he pulls release your reins so he is not pulling you out of the saddle or sit deeply. To also help reduce pulling try doing these transitions on a circle or figure to keep your horse bending and hopefully supple. I really hope that helps and PM me for more!!! Flying lead changes aren't when you stop and break to the trot, picking up the opposite lead. They're supposed to be a simple, smooth transition from one lead to the other, at the CANTER the whole time.. If I'm correct.. ^.^ I forgot to put the "n't" on that. If you had read her post and then mine you would see that it was a mistake.
- - - - Haley - - - - -
Thanks ponyjumper93 for the siggy!!
PM me if you wanna chat!
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1. try a stronger bit
2. he's depending on you to hold him up so when he pulls just let go (not literally) but let him know that you aren't the one responsible for holding him up. if you let him keep pulling, he's getting away with it so eventually he might think that thats what he's supposed to do
*Christine* 
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