HELP, he does it all... one way!

[alfirules]

well theres this horse i ride, he is quite young, only 6, and he hasnt really done alot schooling wise. last year i he started schooling and he was doing well. has been doing light hacking over the winter and i am starting to do more schooling and longer hacking, etc.

anyway, last year we never had many problems, he was a bit unbalanced at first and did go on the wrong leg a few times, but now he will only lead with one leg in canter, no matter how hard i try, he only leg yields to the side that he leads with in canter, and he will only flex this side as well. he also feels very odd on one of the trot diagonals.

so do you think this can be corrected with schooling, if so could you suggest some exercises. or do you think it could be something else?? he did have a splint on theleg that he always leads with, would this have anything to do with it? he is sound now, and it was a last year he had it, but the splint is still very big.

any comments will be appreciated, thanks for reading!

 

[berry]

Have you had everything checked ie his back, teeth etc, Horses that tend to only give correct canter lead on one rein tend to be stiff some where or in pain.

 

[Jemayni]

Echo Berry, Also get someone to watch you and check you are sitting straight, I sit crooked and therefore both my horses are crooked!

 

[merlinsquest]

Hi, Merlin was always a devil to canter on the left leg (unless on the lunge) and I did struggle to get this sorted tbo.

Last year he was diagnosed with serious arthritis in his left hind fetlock (he was not hopping lame just not quite tracking up) which has been treated over the last 5 months. He was also in quite abit of discomfort with his back, under the saddle on the left side, probably connected with the fetlock.

Since the treatment, although I realise that not cured, he has been far better and I rarely get the wrong lead now, and if i do its just as likely to be the wrong lead on either leg not just the left!!

 

[alfirules]

ok thanks, i he does get teeth checked regularly, but may get owner to get a back person out!

as it isnt just me that rides him i dont think it me, hes the same whoever rides him.

 

[Haflinger]

Get his back and saddle checked. The pony I share wouldn't go on the correct leg in canter, all because the saddle was pressing and was hurting him.

 

[TarrSteps]

I'd add hocks/stifles/hips to the check, especially if everything else checks out. It's pretty common for hind end pain to cause a horse to "lose a lead."