Canter right

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BobbyMondeo

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I have been having trouble for a while getting my boy to strike off on the right leg in canter on the right rein. He does it fine on the lunge so i know i think its something im doing wrong, ive had lessons and we get it a few times each session but its nowhere neaar consistant and its really annoying me, i was tears about it tonight (stupid i know but it just makes me feel im not good enough for him)
He is having the dentist out soon, saddle and back fine.
Does anyone have any tips? Im going crazy over it..
 
make sure you dont lean forward trying to go into it. sit in the saddle and lift your inside rein- this helped me with my old pony who wouldnt strike off on the right leg. if they strike off wrongly, bring them back to trot, raise the inside rein really clearly and sit into the saddle and give them very clear aids- outside leg back, inside leg on the girth, but make sure they dont just trot faster.
 
I think a lot of us go though this at some point or another with our horses, have done with both Bodey and Badger when they were learning to canter. So some things I did:
1)Try picking up canter going over a pole in the corner of the school, or even try over a jump.
2)Really over do the aids, like have your inside leg literally on the shoulder.
3)Try doing a 5 m shallow loop of the track and pick up canter as you reach the corner, this helps with the bend.
4)Try leg yielding in trot into the corner and then picking up canter.

Sure others will have more things you can try! Chin up, you will get it!
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I have this problem with George and I thought I'd conquered it, but it still seems to go wrong if I'm doing a dressage test. I am practising lots of transitions, liftting the inside rein and exagerating my leg aids. I also find leg yielding into the corner and then asking is really helpful.
 
I have been having exactly the same thing with my mare.

My instructor has been getting me doing loads of leg yield and a little shoulder fore to get her moving away from my leg nicely, and then using a little counter flexion as I actually ask for canter, to block the incorrect lead.

It sounded a bit wierd the first time she explained it to me - but it works - and my mare picks up the correct lead about 95% of the time now!
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it's funny but when we backed our horses they all favoured the left lead over the right. It was only when they got more established and balanced that they would pick up the right lead easily. I think that this demonstrates how much work needs to be put in to get them supple and balanced enough to take the required lead and so exercises that get them to bend will really help. So maybe try to bend and counter bend, push the hips in and out while circling and on the track, to strengthen and make your horse a little less one sided. Whilst it can be tempting to pull the head to the outside to unbalance the horse and cause him to pick up the lead you want, it doesn't really help to deal with the cause of the problem. Another thing to try is to push his hindquarters to the inside of the track, keeping his head and neck slightly tipped to the inside so he is looking in the direction of travel and do that for a few laps of the school, relaxing at intervals before asking again, and then when you feel that he is getting the hang of that, ask for canter from that position and hopefully you will find that he steps under with the outside leg, taking the lead you ask for.
It really sounds as though it is a training issue - I hope I don't sound patronising here but sometimes when you have these sorts of problems it is an opportunity to go up a level and learn something that increases your skill as a rider. They say that every horse has something new to teach us, if we're willing to learn! Don't be disheartened, I'm sure you will get to grips with it!
 
No you dont sound patronising at all i made the post for advice, i know that im no amazing rider just though i was capeable of getting the right canter lead. I have tried things like asking for canter over a pole and things. He is the first young horse i have had so it is all new to me two. Its just more frustrating because ive never had the problem untill about a month ago...just have to carry on i know

Thanks for all the advice , i will deffinately try these things out.
 
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