If you’ve ever felt like your horse is a completely different animal depending on which direction you’re going, you’re not alone. Almost every horse has a naturally stiffer side — and for most, it’s the left.
Why Does This Happen?
Horses, like humans, are naturally asymmetrical. Most horses are “right-hooved,” meaning they prefer to push off with their right hind leg and carry more weight on their left shoulder. This creates a pattern:
- The left shoulder tends to fall in
- The right hind tends to push out
- The horse feels “stuck” on the left rein
This isn’t a training problem — it’s anatomy. But it becomes a training problem when we don’t address it.
The Mistake Most Riders Make
When a horse feels stiff to the left, most riders do exactly the wrong thing: they pull harder on the left rein. This actually makes the problem worse because:
- The horse braces against the pressure
- The shoulder falls in even more
- The hind end swings out
You end up in a pulling match that nobody wins.
What Actually Works
The key is to think about the whole horse, not just the side that feels stiff. Here are three exercises that help:
1. Shoulder-In on the “Good” Side
Before trying to fix the stiff side, do shoulder-in on the easy side. This helps the horse understand what you’re asking without the physical difficulty. It also warms up the muscles you’ll need.
2. Leg Yield Away From the Stiff Side
Leg yield right (if left is the stiff side) helps shift the weight off that overloaded left shoulder. Think of it as rebalancing the load before you ask for bend.
3. Counter-Flexion in Walk
On a circle to the left, ask for a tiny bit of right flexion while keeping the bend. This supples the poll without the horse bracing. It feels weird at first, but it works.
The Long Game
Fixing asymmetry isn’t a one-ride solution. It takes consistent, patient work over weeks and months. But every ride you address it, you’re building a more balanced, comfortable horse.
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress.
Want to dive deeper into building suppleness? Check out my course From Stiff to Supple in 28 Days.
