How to stop my horse chainging on to the wrong leg....

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Javabb94

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I bought my new horse in september this year, and i have been doing quite a bit of jumping at home,

however he keeps changing onto the wrong leg in canter, my instructor told me to keep his hocks underneath him and as soon as i feel the canter rhythm change to put my leg on. This normally works in my lessons but when i am by myself he does it more and more and its worrying me as if im showjumping and he does right before a fence he will knock it down and unbalance the rhythm. Its ok for smaller heights but im affiliating next year

Anybody have any ideas? his back has already been checked
 
Has your back been checked? And your position?

If he's all clear (hopefully you mean he's been checked all over by a physio, not just his back) then if you are 'skewed' you might be inadvertantly asking for a change of leg?

Just a thought.

Trina x
 
everything has been checked and he is ok,

my instructor who comes to me to teach said its a habit of his and its just him but we are trying to stop it and i cant! it used to be just on the right rein buts its on both now if i ride him forward it kind of helps
 
how old is the horse?

mine is currently going through a bit of a phase of doing this from right to left, sometimes cleanly and sometimes he goes disunited, linked to his stiffness on the left side so he pops out through his left shoulder so to speak. Ages ago it has happened on circles, currently just a niggle on straight lines when hacking and in the school. I can pre-empt a bit and seem to manage my style of riding to suit him as he does it worse with others. We both get stiff and tend to set eachother off so I have chiro that does both of us. I suspect he might have a bit of arthritis behind starting (he is nearly 18) which is making him use himself differently.
Last time my back lady came out she could find very little apart from that he was very tight in his left shoulder. I do a number of stretching exercises with him with all limbs and also use a massage ball particularly on that shoulder which seem to help and once she has been I build up the amount he canters on his 'bad' leg slowly and I know I can get him pretty much right again in a couple of weeks. Not sure if that helps at all but thought it was worth saying that sometimes the smallest niggles can cause an issue especially once habits start to form... and he is a cob not a sensitive sort really (it will quickly become habit with him too from past experience) . If he changes I stop him and start again, sometimes he is better to go from walk.

I do think its always difficult with a new horse, I have had him over 5 years now and can normally pick up on the v small niggles before it escalates beyond that.
 
He does it mainly coming off a corner and in circles and going downhill!

He is 12 allthough when vetted the vet said he was extremely low mileage and had absolutely no lumps or bumps said he was ones of the best 12y-o's he had seen. He passed his 5 stage vetting on september 12th this year
 
Kirsty+Java said:
He does it mainly coming off a corner and in circles and going downhill!

He is 12 allthough when vetted the vet said he was extremely low mileage and had absolutely no lumps or bumps said he was ones of the best 12y-o's he had seen. He passed his 5 stage vetting on september 12th this year
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Try putting a pole down in a corner of the school, as if it is facing from the corner across the track towards the centre and ask for canter over this pole. Keep the canters short and make sure your aids are very clear when asking him for the canter, not changing it every time or expecting him to just go on the correct leg. Also make sure YOU are well balanced and not confusing him in to asking for a change of lead when you're not meaning to.

You can also put more poles down in the same layout as I've described above but making sure they are on the track of the circle you're cantering, and get him to canter over these poles in a circle. (I really hope this makes sense! It's so hard to describe it.) this should get him thinking a lot more about what his legs are doing, and to help him keep a rhythm going :)
 
Is it worth getting his hocks/hind suspensories checked? In the past it has been the first sign in 2 horses I have known that they had hind leg issues. I hope it is not but neither ever looked lame - just used to change behind.
 
thanks for all the advice!

my instructor says its him not me, none of my ponies did it with me riding them ! my JC Showjumper just went on the correct leg as a matter or course and would always land on the right leg so im still getting used to thinking about what leg im on sounds odd but i have never had to think about it beofre
 
Kirsty+Java said:
thanks for all the advice!

my instructor says its him not me, none of my ponies did it with me riding them ! my JC Showjumper just went on the correct leg as a matter or course and would always land on the right leg so im still getting used to thinking about what leg im on sounds odd but i have never had to think about it beofre
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No, not odd at all, it's a changing to horses thing I should think.

My poor daughter managed to end up with a 14.2hh with the brain of a horse, and had to work all this out a bit too early, it's held her up no end!
 
See, I would be getting his front legs scanned.

Changing legs in front of a jump is a subtle sign of soreness somewhere imo - I have seen 5 horses do it to bigger fences and all 5 turned out to have weakness or damage to a soft tissue (tendon/ligament/cartilage) on they leg they changed.
Ie. if they changed from left lead to right lead infront of a jump they had problems arising in the left leg.

Not always the case I know, but I would be getting it checked out by a vet :)
 
He has been checked he did it when bought him and I got him vetted and he passed
His 5 stage with flying colours he sort of does a skip and does it with all his legs my instructor says it's a lazy habit of his as he doesn't do it all the time if I keep him coiled he doesn't do it as much it's more annoying than anything as in working hunter I will get marked down in the showing part
 
Is it just with the front legs or does he do a full flying change back legs and all, if its just the front I would tend to agree with the other poster that said have the front legs scanned and I am not usually one of those "lets get the vet out at everything" people. I had a horse that disunited with teh back legs and he half did this through unbalanceness and habit once I had improved his balance and I just did lots of reputition with him each tim he disunited I would immediatley ask something of him be it a 15m circle, a leg yield and in the exercise do a quick trot and regain of the correct cabnter he soon learnt that disuniting was no an easiy option. Reputition is key to teaching a horse something but I'd be a little more concenrned with it being front legs with your horse, can you find if he did it with the old owners then you wouold have a better idea if it is just habit, although good 5 stage vettings do not always show up everything.
 
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I agree with the others, I'd be inclined to ask vet to come out and do some more investigations. I know you said he did it when you bought him but it's been 3 months and a lot can happen in that time if there was a slight problem there in the first place that perhaps wasn't picked up on in the vetting. At least it would put your mind at rest and then you know it's a schooling problem which you and your instructor can work on together with the knowledge that there's no underlying niggles.
 
Kirsty+Java said:
He has been checked he did it when bought him and I got him vetted and he passed
His 5 stage with flying colours he sort of does a skip and does it with all his legs my instructor says it's a lazy habit of his as he doesn't do it all the time if I keep him coiled he doesn't do it as much it's more annoying than anything as in working hunter I will get marked down in the showing part
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unfortunatley a normal 5 stage dosent include scans or x rays unless you ask for them :)
 
Kirsty+Java said:
I bought my new horse in september this year, and i have been doing quite a bit of jumping at home,

however he keeps changing onto the wrong leg in canter, my instructor told me to keep his hocks underneath him and as soon as i feel the canter rhythm change to put my leg on. This normally works in my lessons but when i am by myself he does it more and more and its worrying me as if im showjumping and he does right before a fence he will knock it down and unbalance the rhythm. Its ok for smaller heights but im affiliating next year

Anybody have any ideas? his back has already been checked
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Where does he do it? Does he actually do it often right in front of the fence or are you just worried in case he does??

If he isn't doing in front of the fence then going on what your instructors says its a habit of his, I would say a firm 'NO' bring him back to trot and get the correct lead and go again, EVERY time he changes bring him back and say 'no' !! he will soon get the idea if he changes he is not allowed to carry on. Depending on how fast he learns and how long he has been allowed to get away with it will depend how long it takes him to figure it out, but you MUST be consistent and quick to pull him up

My lad does it sometimes but he is only young, he just gets excited. but doing this he is learning fast that he is not allowed
 
Really as all the others had said - I would be getting your horse checked.

A 5 stage vetting is only GOOD on the day of vetting!

You need to do it methodically! Firstly need to rule out you and the saddle!

Does your horse do it on the lunge (without saddle) but with side reins then without side reins - do not be tempted to just do 5 mins on each rein! If you lesson is for 30 mins then lunge for this amount of time! Boring I know but vary it - ground work can be fun.

Free schooling as well

If your horse Does NOT do the flying changes then this eliminates problems with the horse and then you need to look at your saddle and your position.

However if your horse DOES continue to do this the first place to start would be FEET! If the horses shoes/feet are not balanced then everything else will fall out of place causing strains on tendons, muscles etc. IT may be beneficial also to be having your vet present and get some xrays of the feet to rule out navicular for starters.

Your farrier, back person and vet should all work together to get to the bottom of this.

One thing I would NOT be doing is making the horse continue like this as horses will ALWAYS do what is easiest for them - therefore they will go on the correct leg as its easier!

Good luck
 
I agree with getting it checked out further but before this I would be inclined to ask:

Do you lunge/ free school him? If you do, does he do this without a rider on his back? I also understand what you say that your instructor thinks it is the horse and not you, since you have never encountered this problem before with other horses but if he has been trained incorrectly he may be used to responding to different aids as such you and your instructor may be completely unaware that it is you causing the changes/ leading leg problems.

If it was me, I would see how he carries himself without a rider, if there is no problem here then I would ask my instructor to pop on him and see how he behaves, if possible I would want to ring the previous seller and ask if this was ever an issue that they had with the horse, whether they had any tips on how to solve it. If they never encountered the problem I would enquire if the old owner/rider could possibly come and ride him to see if he did it with her. If you can do that, and the previous owner has no problems, then it may just be a difference in the way he was trained to the way you were. You then have a choice, match your riding style to his or take him back to basics focusing on allowing him to balance as naturally as possible and re-train him to the aids that you know. Poles on the corners of the school are fantastic, work from a few strides of the correct leg back to trot and continue to ask for a little bit more each time. bringing back out of canter every time he changes leg. If he doesn't do them already flying changes are great to teach for getting out of sticky situations like that!
 
foraday said:
Really as all the others had said - I would be getting your horse checked.

A 5 stage vetting is only GOOD on the day of vetting!

You need to do it methodically! Firstly need to rule out you and the saddle!

Does your horse do it on the lunge (without saddle) but with side reins then without side reins - do not be tempted to just do 5 mins on each rein! If you lesson is for 30 mins then lunge for this amount of time! Boring I know but vary it - ground work can be fun.

Free schooling as well

If your horse Does NOT do the flying changes then this eliminates problems with the horse and then you need to look at your saddle and your position.


Good luck
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Didn't read this before I posted.... great minds think alike!
 
he has already been checked and he is fine!
its fair enough saying a vetting is only good on the day but since then he has been turned out by himself so he casnt get injured, he hasnt competed with me yet, and he has only been ridden in the field and hacks, its just him being lazy, his last owner let him get away with it as when he does it he slows down and trots and his last owner let him trot and to him he has got away with it
i go straight back to canter on the right leg and he is learning that he is not to do it
all horses have their habits and this is his. it is nothing medical
I have jumped today and he didnt do it at all my instructor says he just needs told not to do it and eventuallly he wont it is getting less and less now!!

The saddle is fine that was only fitted last week its a pessoa legacy xp3 so very comfy for him
 
Kirsty+Java said:
he has already been checked and he is fine!
its fair enough saying a vetting is only good on the day but since then he has been turned out by himself so he casnt get injured,
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Actually, a horse can injure himself all by his lonesome - my last horse managed to twist his fetlock whilst in a field all on his own! Less chance of getting injured on own of course, but horses are horses :)


all horses have their habits and this is his. it is nothing medical
I have jumped today and he didnt do it at all my instructor says he just needs told not to do it and eventuallly he wont it is getting less and less now!!

The saddle is fine that was only fitted last week its a pessoa legacy xp3 so very comfy for him
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If it happens on the flat then it may not be any health issue, just laziness.
However, if it happens right before take off at a jump, then it is probably medical.
just because it is a pessoa does not mean it is comfy (although I am sure if fits if fitted last week) - brands aint everything.
 
1. your horse can't purely be being lazy since it takes more effort to go on the wrong leg than it does on the correct one.

2: how is he when there is no one on his back, lunging/ free schooling.

It is either down to a physiological problem with the horse or the rider not being able to communicate correctly (I am not knocking your language, just suggesting that perhaps you are used to communicating in English with horses and he talks french)

I think that if you loose school him and lunge him and he carries himself ok then you should be able to continue as you are, BUT if he goes on the wrong leg/exhibits the same behaviour without you on his back then you have got a problem with him (not his attitude or him being lazy but with him) that needs further investigation, at which point my first port of call would be to get a specialist out (Mc timony practitioners are good) and have him done top to toe, try this out then if no change or they find nothing then go down the x-ray route.

A horse does not make things 'harder' for itself when it is being lazy
 
when i mean lazy i mean that he does more of a skip but it puts it on the wrong leg,

its very hard to explain without a video

its not me and he doesnt have a physcological problem he is perfectly fine, some people are making it sound like i cant ride a horse properly, i can!!!! i have had show ponies and JC showjumper in the past. When I was 10 i did 1.15m courses on her she was 13.2hh

so to make it clear to anyone who i have confused with the way i have written it lol

he changes leg when he doesnt want to work ie on the days he a bit slow or tired many horses have days like this, when he goes Downhill, he does a skip tlo change onto the wrong leg as when he does I stop him to trot to strike off in canter again but his last owner left him in trot so he does it as he thinks he doesnt have to canter.

he has been checked, i have an excellent instructor who is very good at her job and has taught me since i was 8 she has no worries he just needs to be more forward, when i feel the rhythm change if i push him on he doesnt do it,

it is just him being lazy not being rude or funny in any way but i know my own horse
 
it is just him being lazy not being rude or funny in any way but i know my own horse
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I think everyone was offering advice because thats what you asked for in your original post?

It sounds as if you know what the problem is, and you feel confident your instructor is helping you sort it. I'm a little confused as to what you actually were hoping to hear?

Anyway, hope you get it sorted and it's just a little niggle to iron out. :)

Trina x
 
Putting pain aside for the moment - (and I think it does sound like a habit to me) do you think he is on your leg aids? can you move him off your inside leg effectively?

I find that leg yielding significantly improves the quality of the canter & also stops the leg swapping. when he does change I would stop, leg yield him a few steps & then ask for canter again, making sure that he is responding to your aids & coming off your leg. Then repeat. and repeat :)

Hopefully you will find that he becomes more supple & responsive & that his hocks come underneath him.
 
Okay, assuming it isn't you, and the horse doesn't have a problem, this is what I'd do.

Lots of work over raised poles to build muscle on his quarters and get him really supple behind. Turns, changes of direction, lateral work and transitions will all teach him to 'sit' better and engage his quarters rather than changing lead to escape having to use himself properly.

If he struggles when tired then you need to build strength and fitness gradually, so that he can cope better with what you are asking of him. And remember to give him rests when you are riding - 10mins of good work followed by a few circuits in walk on a long rein then 10mins more - don't let him get to the point where he starts evading.

Make sure that you keep only a light contact with your inside hand, and do not turn by using your inside rein. Please don't take offence at me saying this - obviously I haven't seen you ride! But if you block your horse's inside hind with your inside hand then that would cause him to change leads. Be prepared to give this hand forward and send him briskly on when you feel him go to change.

Finally, be very aware of sitting centrally and contolling your weight when you ride. Some horses are trained differently to others, so what has worked with your other horses might not do for this one. An experienced friend of mine got flying changes all over the place when she rode my horse, because he changes from a flick of my hips, and she uses the same aid to send a horse forwards! It wasn't that she is a bad rider but purely a communication issue.
 
I used to jump a big horse that did that all the time when Ifirst started riding him; for him it was an evasion and a way of taking the mick. I just used to give him a slap down the neck every time he did it and he stopped it. Yours might be sensitive though, this one categorically wasn't !
 
thundermacd said:
I used to jump a big horse that did that all the time when Ifirst started riding him; for him it was an evasion and a way of taking the mick. I just used to give him a slap down the neck every time he did it and he stopped it. Yours might be sensitive though, this one categorically wasn't !
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yes thundermacd!! my instructor says he is just taking the mick and its ok i give him a tap when he does it he isnt sensitive infact when you tap some horses they buck mine doesnt really do anything apart from get a little faster which is nice i suppose, finally someone who has had a similar problem and not someone telling me has physco problems!
 
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