Can't get canter left - advice welcome!

[nutjob]

Also i would think it quite likely that if it was masked it was with joint steroids which won't, I think, show on the blood test.
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They do show up - clearance times quoted as 7 - 21 days.

I would get the horse checked out, particularly if it has come from a dealer and there is any possibility of returning if there is a serious issue. It's also worth getting a video of the movement when the horse actually does canter left correctly. I rode one which was for sale which was struggling with the correct canter lead. I thought it was just a schooling issue, but the video showed it was bunny hopping on the corners.

 

[LEC]

And sometimes it’s because they lack balance, flexibility and have learned habits. I had a hunter for a summer and it really struggled with canter one way so I used this exercise and it worked a treat to develop the understanding.
https://e-venting.co.uk/2014/05/tip-of-the-day-tool-to-help-the-correct-canter-lead/

 

[tristar]

what evidence is there that this horse was broken properly and schooled?

 

[Leandy]

If this horse has truly evented up to 1m then it should be educated enough to know how to canter with both leads reasonably reliably! I also smell a rat. Either there is a soundness issue here, or someone is lying about its previous performance history, or of course, both!

 

[Zoeypxo]

I hope you have found answers OP but if it helps i rode a 5yo for someone years ago that couldnt canter left, rider was wonky and leant to the right making horse even wonkier. Was sorted with a few months schooling evening him up.
The other one i know who could not canter right turned out to have severely arthritic hocks, hes had Arthramid injections and is probably 75% better but still unable to canter right so is just a light hack now

 

[irishdraft]

A livery I had bought a new forest x as a 5 year old that couldn't/ wouldn't canter on the left lead. As the lady only hacked it wasn't an issue as such but even with periods of schooling etc the pony would not canter on the left . She was here for 10 years and sold a year ago as a hacking pony, she passed a 2 stage the vet saw her on the lunge but didn't really say much about the fact she was on the wrong leg. Passed all flexions & trot ups x

 

[Ditchjumper2]

The horse is my avatar would struggle to canter left, especially if you tried! What worked for him was a slight bend to the right when you asked for left canter. As he was my hunter I never really cared which leg he was on and he happily changed legs whilst hunting and jumping. Fast forward many , many years and he is currently on loan to a college who have absolutely no issues with left or right canter. He was always sound and happy and I accepted that it was what he did, I had no reason to investigate. I do believe that "sometimes" we get too hooked up on perfection. We all have irregularities and adjust subconsciously to cope and deal. Sometimes, not always, it is the same with horses. I have known people in the past turn a perfectly sound happy horse into a lame wreck in the search of perfection. It is all about perspective. I am by no means saying don't investigate as it does sound as though there may be an issue, and it also depends on purpose of use. Am just saying sometimes one needs to look at the bigger picture. Would be interesting to know the outcome.