help with cantering on correct lead...PLEASE!

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westernriderH

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This is a cry for help tbh, I've owned my criollo horse for just over a year and recently he has started cantering on the wrong leg, but mostly on the left rein. He has got so good at counter canter that he will do 10m circles on the wrong leg, and it's getting a bit ridiculous now. I find it incredibly frustrating and I just don't know what to do to correct it, I've tried asking for canter coming out of a circle but he just seems to anticipate it, and then out of every circle he'll try and canter, but still on the wrong leg. In the rare event that he strikes off on the right leg, it's more luck than anything else. He did used to not like cantering on the other rein, but that was about 6 months ago and it took one or two schooling sessions to sort that out. Please help, I'm ending up dissatisfied after every ride and feeling like a failure, and it can't be good for him
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ETS he is a western-trained horse, and so I wonder if he understands different aids for canter? I don't know.
 
Hi! I don't ride western more classical dressage - well I try... I have a similar problem at the moment and am becoming quite obsessed with getting the lead correct. My instructor noticed I am now tense when asking for canter and as such am bending too much to the left. His advice was to concentrate only on left lead, make sure I keep his neck straight, SIT UP (I hear that shout so often!!) and put the aid on clearly. I have had sucess with this and give him lots of praise when he gets it right. Don't know if this will help you but I empathise with the frustration...
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Difficult one...just try to make sure he is well collected and not running away from you before you ask for canter, so you can emphasise your aids clearly without anyone getting in a tizz. Maybe over emphasise the inside bend before asking and over exageratte the inside leg on the girth, outside leg behind. Maybe if you have an good instructor ask him/her to have a sit on for a session or two, then have a few regular lessons for a while. This must be very frustrating but hang in there! Our horses are sent to try us!
 
Don't worry. Just try and relax and not get so het up about it. I am assuming that everything is ok with his tack, teeth and back. Try a couple of thease suggestions and see how you get on.

Firstly ask for canter going into a corner. Make sure you have your contact in the outside rein and that you are not trying to pull him round using your inside rein. try and let the inside rein contact be fairly loose to start with. As you ask for canter on the corner, briefly turn your head to the outside so you are looking away from the direction you want to go as this will move your body weight to the outside and also help to stop the horse from falling in. Obviously once canter is established resume situation normal!

Or try and ask for the canter lead you want over a pole on the ground or lunging him to let him find his own balance . Hope this helps and good luck.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions, will try!
It does get very frustrating, I just hope I can get him to understand what I'm asking of him eventually
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I ve always found trot leg yield down a 3/4 line then ask for the canter as you hit the track a good one - don't know if there is a similar move in western riding
 
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