canter question

[Hemirjtm]

I tried schooling Hemir yesterday, he would not strike off into left canter...He has been checked recently and everything is fine! I thought it could be me, but then we lunged him and he still wouldn't strike off in left and was even counter cantering! I got back on and in the end and was cantering him round on a circle in counter canter - he had perfect balance though

After about 10 mins of trying i got him to strike off in canter on the left rein and he was fine, adn after that whenever i asked him he was fine!! Could this be because i haven't been doing much schooling with him and haven't really worried about getting him to strike off correctly??

He's not doing anything to evade what i'm asking, not bucking, or running out, just not striking into canter!

or is it just be not asking right?? or do you think anything else could be up??

thanks for any input!
xx

 

[marieE]

how old is he, does he understand the aid?

 

[Hemirjtm]

He's 12, and last time i schooled properly he was fine!!

 

[marieE]

if youve not been asking him to strike of on the left leg hes probably been prefering the right lead, so finds it much easier, just stick at it, ensure you work him evenly on both reins so he is equally supple on both.ergh could try leg yeilding in trot on circle to get him moving from your leg and stepping under himself with his inside hind leg will help strenghten him up for when you ask for the canter, as he will need to support himself on this as his outside hind leg strikes off the canter?1 em ensure he is bending around his turns/corners of the arena (between inside leg.outside hand)
i sometimes ask for a step of leg yeild into the corner, then using half halt with outside rein bring horse back together then ask for canter. hopefully im not talking rubbish, but might be worth a go?

 

[Hemirjtm]

ok thanks! Thats what i thought

 

[Booosh]

Try looking over your right shoulder as you ask him to canter to the left - sounds odd but it works!