Correct canter lead

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Hedwards

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I've started to build up the work i'm doing with my loan horse - bit of background, i got her about 7 weeks ago, straight from the field after 3 years of no real work, aged 17. we did our first dressage last weekend (Walk & Trot) and came 1st - was so chuffed!

But, i really struggle to get her to canter on the correct lead on the left rein. she's had back, and saddle checked, teeth being done on the 9th Sep - but she doesnt seem uncomfortable in her mouth (i know it might still be a possible problem). Anyone got any good tips on how to get her to strike off on the right leg, so far i havent managed to pursuade her to, even with her head to the inside she still goes on the wrong leg. it may have something to do with her owner only really using one leg due to having a hip replacement... any advice would be great - would love to start doing some Prelim with her...
 
I have the same problem but on the other lead. I try asking for canter over a pole on a circle, or sometimes I trot her in small circles and then ask and becuase the bend is quite exaggerated she has to take the right lead.

It's a really annoying problem isn't it!
 
my boy had an issue on the right rein after a pelvis problem, if having the head to the inside doesn't help sometimes you can be using too much inside rein, I was told to counter flex then ask and it worked! becuase you free up the inside shoulder to move forwards. Also think I used a big flick behind to get the inside hind to shift.

I also spent time only asking when the trot was really good and he was between both my legs and listening so that it became less of a habit to wrong strike off.

what is she like on the lunge.
 
hadnt thought of a pole, will have to try that one JosieSmith - Thanks - have tried circles even really small ones, dont know how she does it, but still manages to use the wrong leg... it is so frustrating!

Made even more annoying by the fact its always a lovely transition - just the wrong blummin leg!
 
she doesnt really know how to lunge - her owner never ever did it (and she had her pretty much all her 17 years), i have tried a couple of times, and shes just about got the hang of lunging, but still strikes off on the wrong leg. have tried flexing both ways, but maybe need to try flexing to the outside again... Thanks ester.
 
would she change over a pole, or a small cross, in order to build up the muscles on the other side, I did this too!

though frank would always pick up the right lead if I asked before a jump.......
 
one of mine had this problem 3 days ago, problem was also there on the lunge, i got McTimoney Chiro out today and sure enough, she's wrong behind and very tight down one side, hence she couldn't canter on the right lead. i'd get someone else to check her back tbh, most horses will go on the right one because it is much easier for them to balance, they don't usually get it wrong repeatedly unless there's something physically wrong imho.
 
Try looking over your right shoulder at the same time of asking him for canter. Works 98% of the time and is a really good little trick. Let me know if it works!!
 
It does take time to teach an old dog new tricks!

I got my boy aged 10, having been in a hacking home for the last 4 years. He couldn't canter to the right, simply because I think he had only ever been asked to canter in a straight line.

After months and months of concentrated schooling we have finally cracked it most of the time. Make sure there are no physical problems but it may well just take time and patience. What worked well with my boy was ask for shoulder in to the outside down the long side of the school then ask for canter in the corner whilst maintaining outside bend.
 
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Try looking over your right shoulder at the same time of asking him for canter. Works 98% of the time and is a really good little trick. Let me know if it works!!

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I have the same problem but on the right rein....so would I look over my left shoulder??
 
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one of mine had this problem 3 days ago, problem was also there on the lunge, i got McTimoney Chiro out today and sure enough, she's wrong behind and very tight down one side, hence she couldn't canter on the right lead. i'd get someone else to check her back tbh, most horses will go on the right one because it is much easier for them to balance, they don't usually get it wrong repeatedly unless there's something physically wrong imho.

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agreed kerilli, it is always indicative of Frank having an issue, I felt guilty not spotting it the first time it happened. Now, whenever he gets too much disunited in a SJ round/landing on wrong leg I get him checked.
He was like this sunday, checked on tuesday and sure enough very down on left side (I could see it to) now seems to have much more energy

I think I would get double checked if this is constantly presenting but as I said did take a couple of months to reschool frank after the initial episode.
 
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have you tried putting more weight to the left side. i dont mean loads just slightly lean to the inside.

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hhmmm I've been told to try to ensure my weight is slightly more in my outside seat bone
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