Getting a young ex-racer to canter on the right leg

[katie_and_toto]

We've recently bought a 5 y/o ex racer, who has turned out to be a real sweetie He's being lightly ridden and lunged around 4 times a week while he fills out, he canters on the correct leg every time to the left, but almost every time he gets on the wrong leg to the right, and is often disunited. He seems to find it more difficult to bend on the right rein as well. Everything has been checked and he's had a new saddle, and we've been told its because typically racehorses are galloped to the left? Its not particulary annoying or anything because once he's more balanced we think it'll be easier for him (he's only been in training for a month or so, his last race was at the end of november). I have been doing a bit of polework (though i'm not intending to start jumping him until late March/April when he turns 6) and he's getting more supple and is bending better on the right, any tips to help him get on the right leg? Thankyou

 

[paddi22]

with my lad it was justr lunge, lunge, lunge and then he naturally did it..

 

[letrec_fan]

A racehorse trainer we knew said a lot of ex racers find canter most difficult because they are not really taught it - it is either flat out or walk/trot. You could always try a pole in the corner of the school across the track and then ask for canter as he starts to cross the pole to try and get him to pick up the correct leg first. You could also try to correct him on the lunge first. A lot of it I think is just feeling when they are on the wrong leg and just bringing them back until they get it correct - but if he just isn't getting it, stop and try again a different session and just carry on working on what you are doing. I am sure he will get it eventually once he begins to re-train his muscles to work the way you want. Sorry, not lots of help but could give the pole a go.

Good luck.

 

[NicoleS_007]

We had the exact same problem with my previous 4yr ex racer. We taught him by asking him for canter on a circle. When he went on the wrong leg he was brought back and asked again until he got it atleast once then left it till the next day. Worked for him Also the pole in the corner works with my friends horse.

 

[Laura1234]

^^^ This. Bring him back until he gets it correct, then LOTS of praise. Once they get it right and praise, they soon learn.

 

[Girlracer]

Major did this when i got him (also a 5yo ex-racer) a lot of lunging, repetition and a lot of praise when they get it right really. He's getting the idea now, but ridden he does occasionally stirke off on the wrong leg, but it's getting rarer and rarer. He's the same and also struggles more on the right rein, but he seems to be improving now (4 months on!)

 

[mainpower]

What worked with mine was to work on the canter early on in the schooling session, when he had more energy. To work on the bad leg first, so the brain/leg co-ordination wasn't stuck on left rein canter. Then pick a corner away from the gate/field/yard end, so you are riding towards home, bend to the outside ie left, to free up the right shoulder, and then ask for canter. If you get the wrong strike off calmly back to trot and repeat. If you are successful, keep the canter for a couple of laps, much praise, and repeat a couple of times. You could even give up left lead canter until the right rein is established.

 

[monkeybum13]

I find a pole in the corner often helps those who don't like to canter on one leg.
If you raise the end that's in the "inside" it helps them to lift their shoulder and should help with the correct canter lead.
Once cantering keep them on the outside track so they find their balance on straight lines rather than on circles.
It works for mine, might be worth a try.

Good luck!

 

[Maddie2412]

rosc is the same... been working long time and first right canter lead is easiest if you spiral in on a 20m in trot till a small circle then push back out leg yield as much as possible and then ask as soon as u r back on the 20m... because of the bend enduced and having to think about feet we nearly always get the right leg then praise and learn : ) !! also the more topline and strength the easier you'll find it... x

 

[poacher82]

I have had a phase of serious issues with right canter under saddle. It had always been ok, just an occasional wrong strike-off, but suddenly went to pot entirely!

Read something somewhere (I forget where now) saying make sure you really sit up tall and keep your right shoulder back, and problem solved for my boy! I think I had built it up in my head into a much worse problem than it was, and was leaning forwards and collapsing in, which basically put too much weight/pressure on inside shoulder and he couldn't strike off correctly. My poor horse!