help with canter lead

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horseandshoes77

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mare really struggles with left lead showjumping and schooling but not xc had lesson with different instructor today and she tried a different approach..made me do circle on left rein but on wrong diagonal and then rise in trot and when ready ask for the canter in one sit down movement... worked ... mare struck the correct lead and maintained it so can i ask why ? i know the instructor said it was to do with her hind legs and asking then would make her choose that leg but i still dont get it lol and any insight why she always favours right lead...her counter counter is amazing as she is so smooth on the wrong leg lol she has not had much schooling so her balance and suppleness is not there yet but all checks were done for pain etc in last 2 years and shes still the same !! instructor said xc shes more forward and thinking for herself so leads are automatic but obviously not when shes schooling etc
 
Ah you have my horse's right leg and I have your horse's left leg :D

Looking forward to responses because my mare will only canter on the lead rein on one particular point on a hack involving the right sort of hill and a tight right hand bend :o. Only just started going for lessons but we are going to try her on the lunge next time with no rider, there is no way she will canter in the right lead in the school. Like yours her counter canter is excellent :rolleyes: and her right lead canter is horrifically unbalanced. I bought her from a young girl and I reckon she didn't know or couldn't sort it. I will but it will be a long process I think.

I am working on her suppleness in walk and trot mainly for now.
 
Seemingly, horses are left or righted legged, like we are left or right handed, so find one rein easier. So work on the weaker rein more, (not too much), and it should happen. I think it's all about balance, and they strike off on the wrong leg to balance themselves. (From what i have seen).
With my youngster, when I was lungeing him, ever before backing him, If he struck off on the wrong leg, back to trot and go again, and repetition worked. He is riding about a year now, and hasn't strock off on the wrong leg since the begining really. ther were a few mishaps at the start, when he had rider on board, but it was balance again, once he figured out how to carry the rider, he was sorted. Maybe try lungeing, and make sure that correct leg used. It worked for me, thankfully!!!!
 
Shes fine lunging and when we go xc she finds the lead easily its just when we are schooling so im guessing it could be something im doing wrong...when instructor had me ask her on wrong diagonal she said it would be a different timing so how would i correct this.. as i cant go on wrong diagonal in dressage test for instance ??:)
 
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