For the past few months my horse has been super stiff just on my left rein. I recently had a massage person out to loosen her up hoping that would help. It improved her movement and loosened her tight little poll up, but she's still doesn't want to give the the left rein, especially when bending. Do you think her teeth could possibly be causing this...I don't know if she's had them done before... Or any other suggestions? I do carrot stretches every time before I ride and she has no problem with that. Thanks!
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"Think of riding as a science, but love it as an art."
The cost depends on who you have to do your animals teeth. Vets who are going to just float the teeth will be a little cheaper. If you get an equine dentist, and the animal has not been done before and they need a lot of work, it could cost up to $800 (we have had one cost that much once, but his teeth were so bad!!). The equine dentist (we use Kevin Rundel) costs around $300-$400 once a year but it is a great investment! I highly recomend him...He does a great job.
Hi, I don't know if this will help. The horse I ride is very stiff on the left rein, but started to notice that it was me that was the stiff one. The more I relax my stff side, the more freely I allow him to move. When I nocied that, I started feeling many other ways I was defeating myself with stiffness and tention.
Instead of doing a direct rein with your left hand to signal a turn to the left why don't you try advancing your outside rein, just a little. As a side benefit I find that I have to use less leg to keep up the speed in the circle. If the horse is good at staying on contact he will reach for the right rein when you advance your hand and automatically give himself the direct rein signal with the left rein.