canter lead probs

P

pagancluf

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 July 2006
Messages
1,164
Location
Notts
Visit site
Am wanting to do our first show in Oct (Im a scardy cat!!) so thought would do a local one and do tack and turn out and try a dressage test too - BUT my neddy will not do left canter lead (goes on wrong leg 9/10 times!!)
confused.gif
can do 5/10 times if asked over a pole in the corner, but wanted to know if any ideas can get him to do schooling wise to correct.

He has mild arthritus on right hock but is athletic with all medication he is on (no bute, glucosomine, msm, chronditin etc... like boots the chemist I know
crazy.gif
) So any ideas very welcome please - thankies
smile.gif
 
Pretty good funnily enough, but when he knows the canter bits are coming he leans outwards and makes a bannana shape - so have tried lifting inside rein up to get head round etc - but he still wins bless!!

Gonna get my burning pizza out of oven now - so back in a bit, lol!!
 
i take it everything else is fine, back saddle etc etc.

what about your position? when my ned was having problems going off on the right leg my instructor point out i just slightly turned my shoulders inwards and effectivly put more weight on his inside leg so he went off on the outside leg.

so keeping him together more and trying to twist my self the other way helped him to go on the right leg!
 
The only thing that really helped on my non-cantering monster was to really hold the outside rein so he couldn't fall out into the outside lead. That and really exaggerate the outside leg behind the girth. It doesn't look pretty but we're still working on it!!!
smile.gif
 
We had the same problem but it's sorted now
laugh.gif
Try asking for canter on a 20 metre circle (just as you come onto the track) so he's bending to the inside. I was also taught to lift up my inside hand slightly. Hope this helps and good luck in the show
smile.gif
 
My horse used to do this - when she doesn't want to go forwards she can twist herself into all sorts of funny banana shapes, and fall in/out you name it! We found leg yielding out on to the track and then asking for canter as you hit the track helped. Keep practising - you'll crack it eventually! Took us ages but get it every time now.
 
I'm not saying it is, but could it be you?

I'm just saying as I know its me with my horses. A few weeks ago Flo just would not strike off on her right rein. I tried everything, but then noticed it was me! I was sitting crookedly and my right hip was collapsing which made a lot more weight lean on to the left leg! So I'm very aware of my leaning now and I really concentrate.

Its probably not you, but a lot of people forget that they are the biggest factor.
 
Some horses find it easier to step under to strike off on the right leg if you allow them to flex their neck the other way... so, if you're trying to get left canter lead, flex his neck to the right, but keep your weight on the outside and apply leg aids as usual. Once you're cantering on the right lead you can do 50p shapes or circles increasing and decreasing in size to encourage him to flex inwards.
Does that make any sense?
smile.gif
 
Thanks to advice I got on here I've been raising the inside hand slightly and looking to the outside - has helped a lot. I was also interested in what Papa Frite said about flexing the horses neck the other way - my western rider friend does this and it works for him.
 
So bend his head out to the right and me look to the right too, will try this - I do have a tendancy to lean to the left when riding so this wont help either will it. Poor boy he's been getting mixed signals bless him -no wonder he is confused
blush.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top