TIPS AND PITFALLS

If you have a very “bendy” horse, you don’t need to over-flex them too often.

Look out for the horse tipping his head to one side, which can happen if the horse’s bend isn’t true. If you notice the poll is leaning off to one side, for example, the poll is tipping to the left and the nose is going to the right, don’t do too much left bending — do more right bending to get the poll straight and vice versa.

If you find your horse is stiffer flexing on one rein than the other, you can counter-bend on the rein that is stiffer.