Canter lead help, again!

[alice.j]

I posted a few weeks (months?) ago about my pony, who struggles to pick up his right leg canter lead. I got several good suggestions - asking for canter over a pole, and lunging him being the most repeated. However, in the time since then, he hasn't improved at all. In fact, I think he's getting worse!
He picks up left canter lead without blinking, and always has. I will turn him in smaller and smaller circles on the right rein while asking for canter, and still get his left lead - he's more comfortable doing half a counter-canter 5m circle than picking up his right lead!
When lunging, it's a 50-50 split which leg he picks up while on his right rein, but if he picks up his right lead, he will 9 times out of 10 do a flying change to go back into counter-canter on his left, within 10 strides.
Over a pole or a small jump, no matter what I ask for, it's always his left lead. I've tried making my aids really, really exaggerated, but it doesn't make a difference.
I was quite happy to just keep doing what we were doing until he finally got it (though it's been a good few months and still no right lead!) but he's started to tank off with me on his right rein while trotting, after I've asked for canter. On his left rein, bringing him back into a calm, steady trot is as simple as squeezing my thighs and my hands. On his right rein, although bringing him back to trot isn't too difficult, controlling that trot is a nightmare; I end up having to hang on to his mouth and yank him sideways so we don't end up on a bank or through a fence. His trot is brilliant on both reins until I start cantering. I figure that it's partly because when I ask for canter on his right rein, I end up bringing him back and asking him again 5 or 6 times before essentially giving up for the day, and so he's getting really wound up. So I really want to crack this lead problem as soon as I can!
I'm hoping to have a lesson with my instructor soon, but due to my friend moving from the yard and uni and work etc, it's difficult to find a good time for it. I'm completely out of ideas at this point, and I'm starting to worry that he's going to end up hurting one of us by just flying into a fence. Any help at all would be much appreciated, and you'll get lots of spotty pony love!!

 

[meesha]

I would start by getting back checked and teeth along with possibly saddle. Back lady will be able to tell you if horse has uneven muscle. I would also get an instructor to ride to see if he does the same with them! They are all a little one sided but sounds like there is more going on, hopefully easily fixable with above checks.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Time for the vet, I think. It sounds as if he has a problem with either his back or hind legs, which is getting worse as time goes on.

 

[PorkChop]

Does he always favour the same lead leg out hacking too?

Tbh if you are fairly competent and have not seen any improvement then I would definitely get him checked out.

 

[alainax]

What happens when you ask for canter from walk? It is very often the trot which is the issue.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Try bending him to the outside and tap his outside hind with a schooling whip. I wasted an entire year getting no where with various instructors and my jump coach sorted it in one lesson with this technique. Of course it needed lots of work still but this was the starting point.

 

[alice.j]

I would start by getting back checked and teeth along with possibly saddle. Back lady will be able to tell you if horse has uneven muscle. I would also get an instructor to ride to see if he does the same with them! They are all a little one sided but sounds like there is more going on, hopefully easily fixable with above checks.

Time for the vet, I think. It sounds as if he has a problem with either his back or hind legs, which is getting worse as time goes on.

Does he always favour the same lead leg out hacking too?

Tbh if you are fairly competent and have not seen any improvement then I would definitely get him checked out.

I would love to get his back and teeth checked but he actually belongs to a very grumpy man who won't even get the vet out unless there's blood pouring from a wound or a limb missing. I may be able to get his teeth checked in a couple of months when my friend gets her two done, but I'm unlikely to be able to get anyone out sooner. And I would offer to pay for it but that would just be a whole other mess with his owner :/
We (my friend and I) are going to be looking for a new saddle for him soon, so if that is an issue for the pony then it should be sorted fairly soon.

What happens when you ask for canter from walk? It is very often the trot which is the issue.

I haven't done this yet! I'm fairly competent with youngsters and 'arena-green' horses, but haven't ever schooled above prelim level; one of the reasons I'm having lessons with a good dressage instructor. I'm hoping (as I said) to have a lesson again soon, so will ask her about walk to canter and see if that can help!

Try bending him to the outside and tap his outside hind with a schooling whip. I wasted an entire year getting no where with various instructors and my jump coach sorted it in one lesson with this technique. Of course it needed lots of work still but this was the starting point.

I'll try this, thank you! I was worried that there was definitely something wrong with the pony (or me!) but it sounds like you were in a similar place to where I am now, so that's reassuring.

Thanks everyone I've found some 'tips and tricks' articles online but it's good to hear what real people think!

 

[FfionWinnie]

Yes I had all sorts of disasterous problems in my head with mine. Doing this trick lets the inside shoulder come forward and tapping the outside hind (the one that comes forward first) also helps. Make sure you aren't hanging on to his mouth or sitting squint yourself as well.

 

[vallin]

Will the horse leg yield? If so trot down the 3/4 line, leg yield to the fence and before you reach the fence (whilst still in leg yield) ask for canter - hope that makes sense!

 

[LiffWee93]

I'd also absolutely make sure you aren't sitting to the left, my girl is very sensitive to where your weight is and will strike off wrong if I'm sat wrong. I think of lifting my inside seat bone and pushing it forward as I move my outside leg back while keeping the neck straight

 

[alice.j]

Will the horse leg yield? If so trot down the 3/4 line, leg yield to the fence and before you reach the fence (whilst still in leg yield) ask for canter - hope that makes sense!

He does leg yield (and is much better on his right rein than his left!), and I've tried this before but no luck. I'm hoping that once he knows that he can actually canter on the right lead, doing this will help encourage him!

Yes I had all sorts of disasterous problems in my head with mine. Doing this trick lets the inside shoulder come forward and tapping the outside hind (the one that comes forward first) also helps. Make sure you aren't hanging on to his mouth or sitting squint yourself as well.

I'd also absolutely make sure you aren't sitting to the left, my girl is very sensitive to where your weight is and will strike off wrong if I'm sat wrong. I think of lifting my inside seat bone and pushing it forward as I move my outside leg back while keeping the neck straight

I feel like I'm straight but I'll have to check this today! I'll take him for a hack with a nice, long, straight canter stretch, and do some more practice!