Horse won't turn right in trot/canter?

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fasteronmyown2legs

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Got a new horse on loan at the moment, but for some reason when I try to get him to turn right in trot / canter he pulls his head hard the other way... he even ran into a fence to avoid turning right. He will turn right fine when in walk and he turns right if it's a gentle right, but not if I try doing a 20m circle in trot or canter- there doesn't seem to be any mouth problems he doesn't buck or anything so I don't think he's in pain. I'm a fairly inexperienced rider I suspect I'm confusing him a bit with my aids, but then again I've never had this problem on other horses?

Any training / techniques I can try?
 
Can you say how you are asking for the turn?

I find it hard to imagine a horse will not turn one way or another unless it is getting mixed signals or being blocked...

What level did you ride before?
 
Cowpony said:
Sounds like he might have a physical problem. I'd be getting the vet.
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Owner thinks its just how he's built or because he's never been schooled to do 20m circles... problem is I don't want to undermine the owner and get a vet?

As for my aids, I'm only trying to turn him by looking in the direction I want to go and using the rein - my legs are all over the place often my saddle ends up slipping to one side because im leaning unevenly on the stirrups? Been riding about a year.
 
Maybe not vet just yet... maybe just find out more about pony and rider?

Could be mixed signals or confusion and if not then thankfully we are blessed with vets and physios.
 
fasteronmyown2legs said:
Owner thinks its just how he's built or because he's never been schooled to do 20m circles... problem is I don't want to undermine the owner and get a vet?

As for my aids, I'm only trying to turn him by looking in the direction I want to go and using the rein - my legs are all over the place often my saddle ends up slipping to one side because im leaning unevenly on the stirrups? Been riding about a year.
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How is he on the lunge on a circle?
 
A friend of mine had a horse that used to do that - it is very strange to watch. He was a very tense soul (poll and neck mainly), and a good physio helped him a lot. But he was fine on the lunge (ridden and free), so the vet put it down to a training/general tension issue.
He came good after a year or so of mainly hacking and a bit of schooling.

Best to get him checked by a vet as a starting point
 
Are you sure ycbm? I've had a few horses with ulcers in my time and that is the first time i have heard someone say not turning right is a symtom of ulcers. Do you have any studies to prove this?
 
my horse would do the same but turning left, had the vet out did the whole teeth, back and saddle check, turns out it was muscle damage from his previous home, he has craniosacral therapy now, and its definitely working for my boy
 
tallyho! said:
Are you sure ycbm? I've had a few horses with ulcers in my time and that is the first time i have heard someone say not turning right is a symtom of ulcers. Do you have any studies to prove this?
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I have read in other places online that ulcers can cause it. But then again, I'd never self diagnose myself from something I've read on the Internet!

Will bring it up with the owner again tomorrow about getting a vet but it really isn't up to me.
 
What breed is he OP? What has he done before? It could be a pain issue or it could be he is a lot weaker on his right side due to unbalanced training. I once had an off the track trotter and it took a lot of suppleness training to get his right side as strong as his left. He was initially stiff as a cardboard to the right and fine to the left. He was also only used to going left when speeding up...

Maybe you could take some lessons to work on your leg and position as your balance will affect him, given you say your legs are all over the place and you're steering by rein only. If you work on your position you will be able to support him better. :)

If the saddle slips it is probably not a right fit and could very well be contributing to the issue by causing pain and further imbalance and uneven muscling so it becomes a vicious circle.

Personally I'd get both the horse (neck, back, how is he muscled) and the tack checked out and go from there. :)
 
If you have the horse on full loan then the decision is very much yours.

But as previously asked, how old is the horse and what's its history. Also what's its condition like - fat, thin, just right?
 
Additionally, if he checks out alright I would take it back to basics and work on getting him softer in walk on both hands before bringing trot and canter in. You'd probably find it would benefit your balance on him as well before asking for more. :)
 
It could just be a schooling thing. If a novice rides my mare and they don't ride inside leg to outside hand on turns, she will take counter bend and fall in on the circle. If they then use the outside rein to correct the falling in the bend to the outside will get worse.

It would be worth getting the horse checked over by a vet though as the last thing you want is to get attached and find that it has longstanding issues (that the owner may or may not have known about) and you are left footing the bill and have a horse you can't ride.

I would get an instructor to watch you ride though to see if it is something you are inadvertently asking for.
 
tallyho! said:
Are you sure ycbm? I've had a few horses with ulcers in my time and that is the first time i have heard someone say not turning right is a symtom of ulcers. Do you have any studies to prove this?
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Yrs I'm sure. Loads of references on Google on vet sites and from people warning of sensitivity on the right side of the horse, strong reaction to the right leg and either refusing to turn right or bolting when turning right.

My own horse's first symptom was refusing to turn right, he was treated with omeprazole and the problem disappeared in two days.

There are of course tons of other things that could be wrong with this horse, but ulcers is one to check, and very common.
 
I used to struggle to turn my pony right, our 20m circles were more 40m eggs! I got lessons with a fantastic instructor, she sorted my rubbish riding which was mostly the cause along with pony's lack of schooling. Over the years we have also changed his bit, changed his saddle and he's had physio but the absolute first step and key thing is to get a good instructor to help as they will advise on all the other stuff too. (3.5 years later we can now turn, pony has turned into a fab alrounder and now competes affiliated BD at novice level and progressing all the time).
 
Just a thought but he may be sore in the mouth. My friends loan horse would turn the wrong way however he was asked. The dentist found huge hooks and sharp edges and sores inside the mouth. Weeks later the horse was only just beginning to turn more easily because he still thought it was going to hurt.
 
ycbm said:
Not wanting to turn right is a key symptom of ulcers.
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I have a horse that won't turn left & I am very experienced. What is the source of this information? Was it any way or just left? My vet, trainer & Osteopath dismiss ulcers & hind gut issues
 
Is the horse on full loan? Who is responsible for welfare management?
Does the horse turn right for a different rider?
When did it last see vet/physio/saddle fitter /farrrier?
 
tallyho! said:
Can you say how you are asking for the turn?

I find it hard to imagine a horse will not turn one way or another unless it is getting mixed signals or being blocked...

What level did you ride before?
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I have a horse that won't turn left at canter & I am an experienced rider. I have had professionals ride him & they have the same problem. Struggling now to pinpoint the issue without a second mortgage!
 
VJH said:
I have a horse that won't turn left at canter & I am an experienced rider. I have had professionals ride him & they have the same problem. Struggling now to pinpoint the issue without a second mortgage!
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This thread is 10 years old so you would be better off starting your own thread. Welcome to the forum and I hope you can get to the bottom of the issue.
Canter issues could be lots of things from mixed signals from the rider, PSSM or SI problems.
 
FieldOrnaments said:
This thread is 10 years old so you would be better off starting your own thread. Welcome to the forum and I hope you can get to the bottom of the issue.
Canter issues could be lots of things from mixed signals from the rider, PSSM or SI problems.
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Definitely not mixed signals from the rider as 4* riders are better than that! It is where to start & investigations being affordable as vets just want to refer you these days rather than diagnosing.
 
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