Feeling really down

[ClaraJones3421]

I feel like a rubbish rider. My horse and I have been together four years and I can’t get him on the correct lead on one rein. It’s killing me. I have to circle him really tight and that doesn’t even work. My instructor can’t even see when he’s on the wrong lead half the time because he disguises it by going equal. Honestly, Even I can’t see it unless I video. From the saddle it looks equal too. He goes through phases when I think he’s getting it right every time but I don’t trust myself anymore. I’m so sad that I can’t do anything right. He’s not in pain etc, everything perfect otherwise. He just can’t do it and it’s breaking my heart. I’m so bad at riding and I feel like crying.

 

[mini_b]

I feel like a rubbish rider. My horse and I have been together four years and I can’t get him on the correct lead on one rein. It’s killing me. I have to circle him really tight and that doesn’t even work. My instructor can’t even see when he’s on the wrong lead half the time because he disguises it by going equal. Honestly, Even I can’t see it unless I video. From the saddle it looks equal too. He goes through phases when I think he’s getting it right every time but I don’t trust myself anymore. I’m so sad that I can’t do anything right. He’s not in pain etc, everything perfect otherwise. He just can’t do it and it’s breaking my heart. I’m so bad at riding and I feel like crying.

Ok take a few breaths and break it down.

what checks have you done to check he’s not in pain?

does he do it without a rider? Can he pick up correct lead on lunge or loose schooling.

can your instructor get him to pick up correct lead under saddle.

I’m not totally sure what you mean by your instructor can’t pick up he’s not on correct lead.

Horses, like people are weaker on one side than the other, if your saddle fits, no pain etc it might just be that your weak side is his weak side and you’re not helping each other out. You might unbalance him and he feels it’s easier to pick up on the leg he’s stronger on.
This doesn’t mean you are awful, just means he’s highlighted a weakness and I’d get a trainer that can pick up on that and help you BOTH.
Another tip - Don’t try to pick up the correct lead by over bending him as it will cause him to fall out through outside shoulder and lead with that leg.
slow it all down and make sure he’s going really straight through the body.

 

[Auslander]

I feel like a rubbish rider. My horse and I have been together four years and I can’t get him on the correct lead on one rein. It’s killing me. I have to circle him really tight and that doesn’t even work. My instructor can’t even see when he’s on the wrong lead half the time because he disguises it by going equal. Honestly, Even I can’t see it unless I video. From the saddle it looks equal too. He goes through phases when I think he’s getting it right every time but I don’t trust myself anymore. I’m so sad that I can’t do anything right. He’s not in pain etc, everything perfect otherwise. He just can’t do it and it’s breaking my heart. I’m so bad at riding and I feel like crying.

You need a new instructor. If your current one can't tell whether your horse is on the correct lead in canter, that is not a person who should be teaching. Canter is a 3 time gait, and it is completely impossible to disguise what lead the horse is on.

How do you know your horse isn't in pain? They are flight animals, so they are very good at disguising pain, so unless you've had a poor performance work up from a vet, you can't ever be 100% sure that there isn't pain.

 

[Annagain]

Mini-b has already asked the questions I was going to ask. The only tip I can give you is to canter on his good rein first, then do a half circle across the middle of the school. As soon as you start to turn off the track come back to trot then change onto the bad rein and ask for canter immediately. This has really helped two of my horses to get the correct lead in the early days. Once they're established with that, you can start leaving it later to go back into canter so they're doing more on the bad rein in trot before you canter.

 

[mini_b]

Canter is a 3 time gait, and it is completely impossible to disguise what lead the horse is on.
.

Could be disunited which is confusing Rider and instructor?
feels like you’re sat on a broken tumble dryer so it’s a dead giveaway!

 

[Auslander]

Could be disunited which is confusing Rider and instructor?
feels like you’re sat on a broken tumble dryer so it’s a dead giveaway!

It could, but it's easy to tell from the ground if the canter is disunited - and anyone who teaches should be able to spot it straight away

 

[stangs]

This doesn't mean you're a rubbish rider. It means that either he or you have some biomechanical problem that's making it hard to pick up one of the canter leads.

If your instructor can't get him on that lead, I'd ask a physio to check him over.
If your instructor can get him on that lead, I'd look at getting a riding lesson on another horse - or a riding simulator too - with a better instructor to figure out what you're doing with your body that's making it tricky for him to pick up that lead.

 

[mini_b]

It could, but it's easy to tell from the ground if the canter is disunited - and anyone who teaches should be able to spot it straight away

…which is precisely why we both said get an instructor that can help ?

 

[ClaraJones3421]

Ok take a few breaths and break it down.

what checks have you done to check he’s not in pain?

does he do it without a rider? Can he pick up correct lead on lunge or loose schooling.

can your instructor get him to pick up correct lead under saddle.

I’m not totally sure what you mean by your instructor can’t pick up he’s not on correct lead.

Horses, like people are weaker on one side than the other, if your saddle fits, no pain etc it might just be that your weak side is his weak side and you’re not helping each other out. You might unbalance him and he feels it’s easier to pick up on the leg he’s stronger on.
This doesn’t mean you are awful, just means he’s highlighted a weakness and I’d get a trainer that can pick up on that and help you BOTH.
Another tip - Don’t try to pick up the correct lead by over bending him as it will cause him to fall out through outside shoulder and lead with that leg.
slow it all down and make sure he’s going really straight through the body.

On the lunge it’s 50/50 as well. Saddler, back person, vet all say he’s fine. I also know instantly when he’s not himself, and he feels fabulous right now. My instructor and others watching can’t tell if he’s wrong because he “looks” equal. It’s hard to explain, but he isn’t noticeable unbalanced and his strides look even.

 

[Trouper]

If you would feel like showing us so we can perhaps help, can you take a video of him on the lunge or get someone else to video you riding so we can see exactly what you mean? I'm sure you are not a rubbish rider - you just have a horse with a particular problem.

 

[sportsmansB]

On the lunge it’s 50/50 as well. Saddler, back person, vet all say he’s fine. I also know instantly when he’s not himself, and he feels fabulous right now. My instructor and others watching can’t tell if he’s wrong because he “looks” equal. It’s hard to explain, but he isn’t noticeable unbalanced and his strides look even.

This doesn't really make sense for the canter - it is a 3 beat gait, and even if he was 'hopping' behind with his back legs together slightly, it would be clear in front what he was doing and you should be able to look down and see which shoulder is in front... Is your instructor suitably experienced and qualified?

 

[Prancerpoos]

Hmm. It would never be possible not to be able see which leg is leading in canter, from on top or the ground.

What is the problem OP if he feels fabulous and isn’t unbalanced, as you say above?

 

[mini_b]

On the lunge it’s 50/50 as well. Saddler, back person, vet all say he’s fine. I also know instantly when he’s not himself, and he feels fabulous right now. My instructor and others watching can’t tell if he’s wrong because he “looks” equal. It’s hard to explain, but he isn’t noticeable unbalanced and his strides look even.

thank you for replying.
i had a horse that wouldn’t pick up correct lead once coming back into proper “work”

i got a new vet, a new saddler and a new chiro…

I am just saying, they aren’t always right. I’d be looking for a new instructor too.

if you want help from the forum, a video would be super useful. Otherwise we are just guessing really and all saying the same thing. No one can give you a definitive answer to your problem I’m afraid.

 

[Annagain]

On the lunge it’s 50/50 as well. Saddler, back person, vet all say he’s fine. I also know instantly when he’s not himself, and he feels fabulous right now. My instructor and others watching can’t tell if he’s wrong because he “looks” equal. It’s hard to explain, but he isn’t noticeable unbalanced and his strides look even.

I don't want to sound like I'm patronising you so forgive me if you already know this and he really is doing something to disguise it but even if he feels balanced in canter, one front leg will always land further forward than the other. The one that lands furthest forward is the lead leg and it should be the inside leg. Even if he feels balanced, you should be able to glance down at his shoulders and see that one is going further forwards than the other. Someone watching from the ground should be able to see this very easily.

 

[[153312]]

I agree wholeheartedly with the suggestions of a new instructor, alongside a vet and physio for your horse.

But I would also say, get yourself checked by a physio/chiropractor too as it's possible the imbalance is actually in you, and you may not be aware of it at all, that means you're inadvertently preventing him striking off the correct lead.
How does he canter on the lunge/loose?

 

[[59668]]

I don't understand what this "looks equal" means. This just isn't possible in canter be it disunited, incorrect lead, bunny hopping behind....and having an instructor who cant tell is.....weird....

 

[HashRouge]

I don't want to sound like I'm patronising you so forgive me if you already know this and he really is doing something to disguise it but even if he feels balanced in canter, one front leg will always land further forward than the other. The one that lands furthest forward is the lead leg and it should be the inside leg. Even if he feels balanced, you should be able to glance down at his shoulders and see that one is going further forwards than the other. Someone watching from the ground should be able to see this very easily.

This. I really don't understand how it can be hard to see what lead a horse is on in canter. OP do you have a video to illustrate what you mean?

 

[mini_b]

I agree wholeheartedly with the suggestions of a new instructor, alongside a vet and physio for your horse.

But I would also say, get yourself checked by a physio/chiropractor too as it's possible the imbalance is actually in you, and you may not be aware of it at all, that means you're inadvertently preventing him striking off the correct lead.
How does he canter on the lunge/loose?

he’s 50/50 on lunge

50/50 what though I’m not sure because I don’t 100% understand what’s wrong with the canter

 

[Annagain]

I don't want to sound like I'm patronising you so forgive me if you already know this and he really is doing something to disguise it but even if he feels balanced in canter, one front leg will always land further forward than the other. The one that lands furthest forward is the lead leg and it should be the inside leg. Even if he feels balanced, you should be able to glance down at his shoulders and see that one is going further forwards than the other. Someone watching from the ground should be able to see this very easily.

Just to add, practice looking at (glancing down at, not constantly watching) his shoulders in trot, first. Choose a shoulder and shout "now" (or any other word you fancy ) when that one is furthest forwards. Once you've got it by watching, see if you can feel it. Then do the same in the canter.

 

[[153312]]

he’s 50/50 on lunge

50/50 what though I’m not sure because I don’t 100% understand what’s wrong with the canter

ah thanks had missed their reply lol!!

No I'm not sure what exactly is wrong with the canter either

A disunited horse isn't disguisable so I don't think it could be that, they'd feel if their horse was going disunited.

 

[AmyMay]

If he looks ‘right’, chances are he’s leading with the correct leg, but possibly offering a four time beat from behind - which would indicate a hock problem.

You really do need a good equine vet to look at him.

 

[EllieBeast]

I had this issue and it made me feel equally sh!t. I wish it had just been my inadequate riding but unfortunately it was hock arthritis (in my 9 year old horse ?)
I’d definitely want a work up to check no mechanical issues before trying to push through it. I wish I’d checked earlier

 

[canteron]

You are not a rubbish rider you are cantering, aware of technicalities and trying to find a solution.

First off don’t ever compare your self to someone else’s journey, you must ride for yourself and yes, to me your post says you need to try someone/something different … good on you for recognising it.

I sometimes think that’s why we ride, so we can have the joyous moment it goes right after all the bad days!!

 

[Leandy]

I'm another one who does not understand what you mean when you say he is on the wrong lead but noone can see it because he is equal. This does not make sense. Does he have a clear three beat canter with a moment of suspension? Agree that we need a video.

 

[Jenko109]

I'm desperate to see a video!!!

 

[TotalMadgeness]

Both my horses struggled with correct lead and in both cases it was hind end issues. Once diagnosed, treated and managed / exercised correctly they have both improved. It has been a long arduous journey!

 

[FestiveFuzz]

he’s 50/50 on lunge

50/50 what though I’m not sure because I don’t 100% understand what’s wrong with the canter

I’m guessing the OP means it only happens on the lunge 50% of the time maybe?

I think on this occasion OP it would be great if you could share a video of what’s happening so people can better advise, as I’m another that’s struggling to visualise what you mean.

Ultimately try not to beat yourself up over it, I very much doubt this is down to you being a rubbish rider.

 

[Jenko109]

A friend of mine (who rides like 8000× better than I can) had a mare who she struggled to get to take the left lead in canter.

I could manage on the mare just fine.

The difference between us was that she weighed a little more than me. The mare was a little weak behind and that little bit of extra weight seemed to make it more of a challenge for her.

It's unlikely to be down to you being a poor rider. More likely a weakness in the horse, especially if the problem is evident on the lunge when you aren't even on the horse.

 

[oldie48]

tbh I don't think it's that unusual for a horse to take up the wrong lead on the lunge when the handler is not experienced at lunging and is letting the horse look to the outside. Also not that unusual for a well schooled horse to give the wrong canter lead when ridden by a crooked or unbalanced ride, years ago riding a schoolmaster at Talland I am ashamed to say I was getting perfect changes, just not what was required but what my unbalanced position was asking for! I'm also not clear exactly what the problem is so it's impossible to suggest a solution.

 

[Grassy]

I think the horse is in a 4 time canter