How to get him on the right leg???

[Stacie_and_Jed]

Well as some of you may know me and jed have started from scratch....New instructor and whole new way of riding for me and working for him.

We have a slight problem in canter. Left rain is fine but on the right rain he hardly goes on the right leg. I had to trick him into it last night....For example, stop thinking about it get him concentrating on something else then, BAM, ask for canter and he went off on the right leg. I havent been doing much canter work recently as ive been told that it will come when i get it in walk and trot. Im going to try him tonight over some poles and see if it helps him strike off on the correct leg.
Any suggestion greatly received.

 

[carthorse]

If you raise the inside of the pole this helps as it encourages him to put down with outside fore first ,hence correct leading leg.

 

[Morrigan_Lady]

I thought youd got this sorted?

But by the sounds of it your doing what I do.....Think too much!

Since Arch has had his back done he can canter on the correct leg on the right rein now, but last night I was asking and asking and I still couldnt get it, so I tried from walk and he got it straight away! Odd ay!

 

[alicedove]

Try some shoulder in if he is familiar with that, into canter? Gets the weight in all the right places. Or smallish circle into canter as you are leaving it, but still bent the right way.Or smallish circle then leg yield a little (just like shoulder in) then canter as you are leaving that, kind of approaching the beginning of a long side.

Or all those three one after the other, really get his mind occupied and not allow him to cotton on to anything you are doing?

 

[Stacie_and_Jed]

That sounds a good idea....He needs lots to keep his mind active, although i dont think it will take him long to cotton he's rather smart!

I will also try the raised pole thank you creepy.

 

[Drummer]

I had HUGE issues with getting this canter lead to and now he is off on the right leg pretty much every time! My problem was also thinking and panicing about it too much. I had it perfected then as soon as I was in the showring my nerves and everything would just ruin it and it would go out the window, fine in the group part but when all eyes were on me that was it!

What really helped with us was practising it out on hacks and not letting him canter on till I had him on the leg I wanted and would do this little and often with lots of good boy, well done. In the school I needed to make sure I had enough contact on my outside rein really exagerating the bend if needs be and putting more weight into my outside seat bone and it just got easier and easier. Probably not much help but I know how frustrating it is so good luck!!

 

[Stacie_and_Jed]

That is exactly it. Fine when i stop thinking about it then when i do and start getting frustrated he goes up and throws his toys out of the pram and doesnt want to do it any more.

But hey practice makes perfect right? And i dont give up any more until i have it, where as before i used to get frustrated and give up. (let him win)