Training
Horse that leans on the hand: what to do?
My 4-year-old pony gets really heavy in my hands, and I find it very easy to get too hard in the hand too. But as soon as I remember to soften, he just pulls his head down and drags his front hooves along the ground! Are there any good exercises for this? Or how should I adapt my riding?
Answers from HayHay's experts
A horse that leans on the hand can be doing so for several reasons. As a starting point, it is wise to have the horse checked by a vet, including the mouth. Another cause may be that the horse has not been schooled to the aids and is therefore protecting itself against the action of the bit by leaning on the hand. It can also be a response to the fact that you sometimes tend to become hard in the hand, as you wrote. Since your horse is young, my thinking is that he may not yet have understood how to respond to the action of the bit. I would recommend getting help from a good trainer who can help with his schooling! 😊
Elise Lindman
Sports Psychologist
