|
|
Discussion on Tango Tight to Right: Is it Mind or Body or Both?
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
ajudson1
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 7, 2010 - 7:17 pm:
DrO, not sure if this is the correct place since I put "mind" in the subject line too.
Those of you who have been following my progress with Tango know I have finally go to the point of RIDING him. Ya hoo!! We are still only walking around in the round pen, and my small arena.
We have issues with what appears to be extreme stiffness on his right side. This is the side he spooks more easily on, and I've always known he isn't as flexible on the right.
Since I know he KNOWS how to move both directions as in a side pass (kinda) move his hindquarters over both directions, and we can go along the fence line shoulder in to his RIGHT, so moving away from my left leg.
Asking him to move any body part to the left, away from my right leg, results in him tensing up. Even turning to the right it's a wiiiddeer turn then to the left going around cones for example.
Since he still has fear issues on his RIGHT side, does anyone think that is contributing to his stiffness on the right?
Anyone have suggestions for what to do/how to go about it with Mr. Sensitivity/Goofy Gills?
We are doing lots of walking, then a bit of turning, stopping, standing, then what I consider to be asking more and supp-ling a bit. I don't know the technical terms (dressage lingo) for all of it but basically controlling body in 3 areas: shoulder, middle, and haunches. I know I have to be careful not to ask too much or he may hop up a bit in front!
I want to trot in successfully yet this year with me in the saddle but this stiffness on his right, body and/or mind thing, worries me.
BTW, to some this may sound like I am asking way too much for just starting riding him, yet he's done all this from the ground for a couple of years. And my goal is always to stay relaxed with reins, and my body. Not riding him tight fisted, and expecting perfection, just relaxation and moving the direction I ask.
Such a challenging horse for me!
|
New Member:
reubenr
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 8, 2010 - 12:17 pm:
Hi Angie. Have you tried chiropratic treatment? I have a 5 y/o APHA colt in training and he had the same problem. Following his adjustment the results were dramitic. He carried his head to the left while cantering in the right lead so I suspected something was wrong. Additionally, he was stiff on his right side. Turns out he was out in his right shoulder and poll. Good luck with Tango.
|
Member:
canter
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 8, 2010 - 1:16 pm:
Angie, have you done 'carrot stretches' with Tango i.e. put a treat in your hand, let him know it's there and with that hand, scratch one shoulder. When he stretches his nose to get the treat/touch his shoulder, reward with the treat. Do the same thing with his hip, and then repeat on the other side. I also do it to the front to get the horse to stretch down over its back. Do on both sides, but presumably, it would be most helpful if done more frequently on the stiffer side. Eventually, all you will need to do is scratch the shoulders/hips and the horse will swing around to touch the area with its nose and you can reward with a "good boy", and scratch on the neck.
I can actually hear Sparkles joints pop when she does these stretches. I don't have the chiro out much, but he did recommend these stretches 2 years ago since she is getting older - I incorporate them into the tacking up process.
Shoulder-in is another very good exercise to supple a horse. Just make sure that you are not just pulling Tango's head and neck in. To be effective, you really need to help him move his shoulder to the inside while his back end stays on track.
|
Member:
lhenning
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 8, 2010 - 3:01 pm:
Cutter used to be like this quite a bit on his left side and I figured it was his underdeveloped side. Same thing, where he would spook more often on that side and always be more stiff when turning left. He would even try to turn the other way to get us going to the right which I did not allow but his preference was very obvious.
I found lots of serpentines, where I really got him bending around my leg, have helped and over time it has diminished, but he still prefers his right. Be careful that you are being very centered and not contributing to the situation as I was doing when I realized I was riding with a bit more weight in my right stirrup.
You have only been riding Tango for a short time so this seems like it will improve the more you ride him and the softer you get him while you are riding. Work on getting him to relax his head, neck, and body and reward him for relaxing. Always try to end with both of you feeling happier than when you began.
Good luck! I'm so happy you are making such progress with him.
|
Member:
ajudson1
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 8, 2010 - 3:15 pm:
Thanks so much everyone! I would love to have a chiro out, thought of that myself. Keep saying when I have teeth done, but short on the green stuff, don't help I had to run up a $500.00 vet bill on the dog! Charged on CC...grrrrr...would have done teeth and chiro with that!
Have company coming for the weekend, don't know if I will get ANY horse time, but if anyone has more ideas, exercises, or the mind causing the body to stiffen up or the body is causing the mind to react type of thinking, would appreciate your thoughts!
Gotta run.
|
Member:
ajudson1
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 8, 2010 - 11:19 pm:
Got a few minutes alone here.
Fran,
thanks for reminding me of the carrot
stretches, that is a great idea! It may be much simpler to do things like that from the ground when both of us are not trying to do get everything just so with me in the saddle. Without an instructor I am sure I am making mistakes and would probably get royally put in my place by any knowledgeable person watching on the ground.
Linda,
Did you find one of your legs always felt it was out of place? I seem to have trouble with my right leg which may be from him being unevenly muscled? I try to be very conscious of my weight placement, of course that's another thing hard to know if I am doing right being a self taught rider. We do always start riding to the left as he needs that time to get his brain engaged. Once he starts snorting and flapping his lips a bit, then we go right.
I see I need to do some reading up on the finer points of horsemanship as this horse is just too sensitive and/or messed up for me to mess up.
I may have an answer to my question: If I think my neck is going to pinch turning say, right, my whole body will tense up just at the thought of turning my head. Neck, shoulders, ribs...and I am guessing more so on a horse than human.
I knew if I posted here ya'all would get my thinking straight!
(yes, I need lots of luck yet, lol!)
|
Member:
canter
|
Posted on Saturday, Oct 9, 2010 - 9:42 am:
Angie, remember, horses are 'crooked' to one side, just as we are crooked to one side. Even the very best riders have weaknesses in their position. Without an instructor, they are hard to realize because they feel normal to us. One of the best ways to see your 'weaknesses' is to get yourself videotaped while in the saddle and watch carefully.
I can't tell you how many times my trainer has pointed out a deficiency in my position (too many argh!) that I didn't even realize. It's possible that a weakness in your riding (a leg forward or DrOpped hand or sitting unevenly on the seatbones) might be making Tango's stiff side worse. I think I have told this story before: I had a lot of trouble cantering Sparkles to the right. She threw her head out to the left and was leaning on her shoulder. The only reason for this was that I was forgeting to turn my shoulders in the direction of travel. It was enough to unbalance her. Once I fixed it...new horse for the right lead canter. It was really remarkable. But I had NO clue that I was not turning my shoulders until it was pointed out to me.
Videotaping yourself may give you a few clues as to whether the issue with Tango is him, you or both!
|
Member:
sunny66
|
Posted on Saturday, Oct 9, 2010 - 11:10 pm:
Hi Angie, I would say chiro as well - it could be his neck, withers, ribs, could be his sac is out and it's affecting the muscles along his back also throwing his hip/pelvis out - don't ask me how I know... lol
For those of us with "green" issues...You could feel along the right side of his body for any tenseness or knots. Using accupressure in the middle of the tense/knot, you press lightly, then harder, then harder still and hold. Wait for him to relax his head down, soft eye and licking and chewing, then release your point. The first few times it will take a long while, but if you keep doing it he will relax faster. If you do it before each ride, or even if you don't ride, it may help. If he doesn't have any issues with the right side, check the left. Start at the poll just below the crest and work your way down the neck and spine to the tail bone, along/in front of the shoulder as well. If you get a big reaction, you hit a sore spot. Do not increase pressure... lol... but you knew that... but do hold light pressure.
I do this in between Brave's chiro visits and it really helps.
That said...How relaxed are your legs? Is he on a long rein or on contact? Do you stretch before you ride?
Fran is absolutely right that a video would help you immensely 
|
Member:
ajudson1
|
Posted on Sunday, Oct 10, 2010 - 9:22 am:
I am glad I posted here. I see I have been thinking that with Tango it's more "his mind" and now I have lots of ideas for some other methods that may help solve his sticky issues. I am pretty good at finding those knots, got a hubby who works too hard, and a daughter who plays too hard! We are a family who gives massages, pops backs, and rubs out muscle knots. And I do have an equine massage DVD; forgot about that.
I ride on a loose rein as much as possible making contact only as needed and trying to keep it light. We also sit a lot, and I just ask for his eye on one side. I wasn't going to do the Clinton Anderson gives to each side, but started to do that a bit as he is so stiff. I thought since I could do that without him walking, he might have an easier time as it is only one thing for him to think about.
A video would be good. Methinks I should start out a well trained horse and then repeat the taping on Tango. Now I am curious to see if I am doing anything different on him.
He's in process of making me a better rider along with making me a better hoof trimmer. And to think my hubby thinks he's so useless and we should get rid of him, lol!
|
Member:
lilo
|
Posted on Sunday, Oct 10, 2010 - 9:35 am:
I think it is the difficult horses that teach us the most! Lilo
|
Member:
sunny66
|
Posted on Sunday, Oct 10, 2010 - 4:06 pm:
That sounds like a great plan, Angie. One other thing that works for my horse but may not work for yours... I give him half a large banana or a full small one daily. I also add about a teaspoon of salt (half plain and half lite) to make sure I don't unbalance him. I haven't had to do as much treatment with him, maybe once a week instead of twice a day, since I have done this.
I also make sure I eat a banana before a lesson, stops any cramping before it starts
Good luck with him Angie!
|
Member:
lhenning
|
Posted on Monday, Oct 11, 2010 - 10:21 am:
Yes, Angie, I did have trouble with my left leg feeling . . . and being, out of place. I've had to be very conscious of my left leg at all times to correct this. Exercise helps too, so that my left side is stronger. I too am a self-taught rider but I can feel when I am riding right because Cutter's reaction tells me so. I have learned if he is not doing what I want, to think very carefully about my riding. I used Sally Swift's book "Centered Riding" and went through it chapter by chapter, and I want to say mastering a chapter before I moved on but I have far to go to be a "master" at this, lol. Perhaps "learned" is a better word. It has helped me become more balanced and centered, resulting in better behavior from Cutter.
|
Member:
ajudson1
|
Posted on Monday, Oct 11, 2010 - 3:08 pm:
Funny it's my right leg feeling weird; it's everything on the LEFT side of my body that is usually in pain! Left ear, left upper back, left lower back/hip, left achilles tendon. Maybe my right leg is "normal" so it bugs me? Ahh...whatever!
I have Sally's book, might be time to review it!
|
|
|
