Crookedness: The Silent Drain on Your Horse’s Energy & Comfort

Most riders know what it feels like:

• One rein stiffer than the other

• A saddle that always slips slightly to the same side

• Canter transitions that feel unbalanced or sticky

• Or just that niggling sense that something’s “off”, not feeling easy and smooth

But here’s the thing…

🐴 Crookedness isn’t just a training issue.
It’s a whole-body imbalance that affects posture, comfort, energy use — and even your horse’s long-term soundness.

Let’s explore how.

🌀 What Is Crookedness, Really?

Every horse is naturally asymmetrical — just like us.

They have a “hollow” side and a “stiff” side. One hindlimb might track under more easily. One shoulder may fall in. The ribcage may shift slightly off-centre.

These patterns aren’t always visible in a still photo… but they show up in:

• Uneven muscle development

• Shortened or rushed stride on one side

• Tension in the poll, neck, back, or hindquarters

• Difficulty bending evenly both ways

And the longer they go unaddressed, the more they affect how the horse moves, uses energy, and stays comfortable in their work.

⚖️ Crookedness = Energy Leak

When your horse is crooked, they’re constantly compensating.

Instead of using the body efficiently — with a soft, swinging spine and even push from behind — they’re:

• Tensing muscles to stay upright

• Bracing one side to avoid overusing the weaker one

• Struggling to find balance in transitions or turns

👉 All of this drains energy.
So if your horse feels flat, resistant, or lacking stamina, it might not be laziness. It could be postural fatigue from working in a body that’s out of alignment.

😬 The Comfort Cost

Crookedness also puts uneven strain on joints, ligaments, and muscles.
Over time, this contributes to:

• Saddle fit issues

• Muscle soreness

• Joint wear on one side

• And in some cases, back problems like kissing spine or SI dysfunction

It’s not dramatic at first — but it adds up.
Which is why I call it the silent drain: it’s subtle, but always working in the background.

💡 What Can You Do?

The good news: crookedness can be addressed with consistent, targeted work.

To change it, we need to go deeper than just riding “more evenly".

Step 1: Build a stronger, more symmetrical body

That’s what my Core Exercises for Your Horse course is all about. These stable-based techniques (no riding required) help:
✅ Activate the postural muscles
✅ Improve core strength and stability
✅ Support the spine and pelvis for more balanced movement

👉 Click here to explore the Core Exercises course

But — and this is important — core strength alone won’t realign limb patterns or correct crooked movement on its own.

Step 2: Add straightening & flexibility work

That’s where my In-Hand Exercises for Your Horse course comes in.
These gentle, structured movements help:
✅ Improve flexibility
✅ Encourage equal weight bearing
✅ Support long-term straightness from the ground

👉 Click here to explore the In-Hand Exercises course

Together, these two programmes create a powerful foundation for:
✔️ A more symmetrical horse
✔️ Better balance and energy flow
✔️ Greater comfort — and long-term soundness

Because when your horse’s body works with itself, not against itself… everything changes.