With Jenny Adamson, Equine Physiotherapist & Rehabilitation Specialist
You can have a horse that looks “fit”, but still feels stiff, heavy, or uneven to ride. More often than not, the missing piece isn’t more work. It’s flexibility. Because without it, your horse physically can’t move as well as they’re capable of — no matter how hard they try.
Crookedness has been framed as a training flaw, a rider problem, or something that should disappear if you just ride straighter, add more leg, or school harder. But here’s the truth: crookedness is not a failure. It’s a natural starting point. And when we misunderstand it, we often end up creating tension, compensation, and long-term issues instead of strength and balance.
After winter, many riders notice old patterns creeping back in. You’re putting in the work, but straightness seems elusive. The truth is, straightness isn’t something you correct in one moment. It’s something you build progressively, by working with the body instead of against it.
If you’ve ever had a phase where your horse suddenly feels softer in the contact, easier to bend, more relaxed through their back — only to find yourself a few weeks later dealing with the same old issues again… You’re not imagining it. This cycle is incredibly common, and the missing piece is where the training focus is placed.
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