Correct Canter lead...

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Morrigan_Lady

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I spent ages last night trying to get Arch on the correct canter lead on the right rein. He is perfect on the left, but for some reason we really struggle on the right. Feta even rode him and had a job aswell, so I know its not me. When he gets it right, its perfect. We think it might be a balance thing, so just keep on at it. But anyone got any other tips?
 
If you leg yield just before the corner your horse should be really using the inside hind and find it easier to canter. Also if you have too much bend to the right you will find you tend to force the horse to strike off on the incorrect lead.
 
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If you leg yield just before the corner your horse should be really using the inside hind and find it easier to canter. Also if you have too much bend to the right you will find you tend to force the horse to strike off on the incorrect lead.

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Thats a good point, I might have too much bend. So holding the outside rein should help that, right?
 
It's very possible it's your weight that's causing it then.
Mine used to be terrible on the right leg, but fantastic on the left.
My RI pointed out that on the left I just sat and asked and got! Whereas on the right I was stiffening up, and flinging my weight inside because I was so desperate to get the right lead, which meant she went out through her shoulder.
Leg yielding really helped us to straighten up.
It might be worth you doing some work on the lunge, so that you can just sit there and take away the pressure from yourself.
A pole placed diagonally across the corner can help as well.
 
Holding the outside rein should help. My horse tends to change legs so gets me to keep slight outside bend to keep her on the correct lead
 
Another thing you could try is asking over a pole at the corner of the school. This worked with my last horse.

Another one of my horses just had to be left alone totally as if i started fiddling with the reins she would strike off wrong not matter what i did. When she got her balance then i could ask properly but until then i had to let her do it her own way.
 
I used to ask just as your about to go over it (kinda like you would if you was asking a horse to take off for a jump) if that makes sense.

It didn't take long for my last horse to pick it up and once he had cracked it we didn't need the pole after that.

Just make sure that if he strikes off wrong, immediatly bring him back to trot and ask again. If he strikes off right then give him lots of praise and keep going but i'm sure you already know that anyway.
 

Thanks very much guys, youve been really helpful.

I shall be schooling on Friday, so Ill let you know how it goes.
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I didn't think he was that bad - it only took me a couple of tries each time, but i do think working with a pole will work!

It'll come luv - just need to keep at it.
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Ah I have the exact same problem with my horse, or should I say me! So this has been lots of help! With the pole thing do you place the pole coming straight in from the corner?
 
We had this problem for a while when I first had my boy - I actually cheated initially and asked for too much bend to the outside which meant he ended up falling onto the right lead...but then at least he knew what I was asking

Then I accepted it was me tensing up & anticipating the problem (I got on another horse & pratised transitions & tried to figure out what I was doing differently on my boy - it really helped!)

And yes every time you get it wrong back to trot & ask again straight away, no worrying about setting him up because tbh with me all that made me think too much about it - when I just relaxed...it came!

That's what worked for me....oh and lots of work on the bad rein in walk & trot too if it is stiffness to help loosen him up
 
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