stiff horse

Question
QUESTION: My horse is getting better at flexing on the ground, but he's still a very stiff horse. Whether I'm riding or lunging him, he doesn't try at all to bend unless I pull his head around, and he doesn't use his hindquarters when he stops or backs. He also doesn't flex at the poll, which makes him move with his head up and his nose stuck out. Being that stiff can make him hard to turn sometimes, and I'm not sure what exercises I could do to teach him to be a more flexible mount.

ANSWER: Hi Hannah,
Keep working on lateral flexing from the ground. Don't give up. Make sure that when you FEEL him give to you (even just a little) that you release the pressure. He has to learn that the release is the answer. When in the saddle do the same thing. But instead of pulling his head around, bump his head around. Bump, bump, bump. Once you feel him give just a tiny bit, release the pressure. The secret is patience. It may take some time. But keep doing it. The problem with giving at the poll goes directly back to the lateral flexing. If a horse is stiff laterally....you will never get him to give at the poll. I wouldn't worry about giving at the poll right now. One exercise you can try in the saddle is put him in a trot and bend him in tight circles with your leg on him inside the trot. The circle will be uneven and a little large at first, but keep working on him. You want him to bend around your leg and not turn like a stiff 2x4 board. As Stated, be patient and don't give up. Stay safe and remember, have fun.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'll keep working with him; he's getting much better about flexing laterally. Will that help him with neck reining as well? I'm wondering because he normally does that very well, but sometimes he's like steering a freight train, and I end up having to pull his head around with a direct rein. The problem there could be my hand position, but I've tried to keep my hand low and close to his withers as much as possible.

How can I teach him to move with his hindquarters tucked, instead of him being stiff-legged and unbalanced? That's a real problem going downhill or backing up. He's a pretty unwilling backer. I've tried to look that up, but most of what I see are videos and articles about teaching green horses that pick up the concept pretty quickly.

Answer
Glad to hear that he is showing some improvement at flexing. Just keep chipping at it. This won't change overnight. Yes, if the horse is soft in the neck, that will help when it comes time to work on neck reining. Don't rush things. Take it slow. Don't be too greedy. If you get a little improvement in a session, be happy with that. Think of it this way. If you get 1% improvement each session....in 100 days, you will have 100% improvement. Some days he will be better than others.
Remember....don't "pull his head around with a direct rein".....lay your indirect rein against his neck and "bump" him with the direct rein. Pulling will only increase the problem. Don't ask too much from your horse. Work on one problem at a time and don't work too long on it. As soon as you see him "try" or give to you even just a little, just let him walk out and relax. That will be his reward for giving it a try. If you keep "hammering" and "pestering" him to do something, he will soon give up and quit trying. Look for the little try from him. If he tries, let him relax and walk on. Then come back to it and ask "just a little bit more". Most folks are way to greedy and ask too much from the horse when teaching a horse something.
That all goes back to asking your horse to "tuck" his hindquarters and backing. You are trying to teach your horse too many things at once. The problems you are having is just a "symptom of the cause". If you work on getting your horse soft....I think you will see most of your other problems go away. So, I would just work on getting your horse soft in the neck for right now and don't worry about the other problems.
I hope I have been of help to you. Remember to keep it all fun and enjoy your horse. Don't hurry, go slow and don't ask too much from your horse. Just look for the little changes and tries from him.