I need a plan for sorting out disastrous canter!! Long!!

[bex1984]

My ponio almost alwasy canters on the wrong leg on the left rein. This has got progressively worse over the past year to the point that it is very rare that he goes on the correct leg.

I want to work on this over winter - he is much more forward going in winter so it will be a bit easier than it is at the moment!!

I have asked experienced riders to have a go, they haven't managed to get him on the correct leg and were of the opinion that he anticipates everything you try to get him on the left canter lead. The only time you really can get him is if you take him by surprise

So I need a plan to get this sorted over winter. Funds will not allow me to have regular lessons unfortunately. Teeth have been checked recently, but will get back and saddle checked - his back was checked when he first started doing this by a mctimoney person but that was a while ago. The others who have ridden him have said they don't think it's physical, but I'm thinking it's worth checking anyway just to rule everything out.

So - how do i approach this?

who would be best to do a back check (physio? mctimoney?) Any recommendations for a saddle check type person in Leicestershire?

What schooling can I be doing to work on this? Obviously there's no "quick fix" but I really would like to sort it out this winter

Am currently working on improving his trot.

 

[OrangeEmpire]

If you're sure that there is nothing physical wrong I'd try the following:

set up a trot pole in the corner of the school after a short side (eg after 'C'). Trot a nice 20m circle ensuring balanced and calm. Go to sitting trot at 'M', prepare for canter at 'C' and ask as you approach the pole. They usually stretch over the pole and fall into the correct canter lead naturally...

alternatively you can try a few strides of leg-yielding before the corner.

But I would first check all possible physical issues and also look at yourself - do you lean at all? you need to make sure you are sat on your bum and not leaning into the transition.

 

[kit279]

Does he canter on the wrong leg on the lunge with no rider? Worth checking to see whether it's the rider that affects him.

 

[bex1984]

OE - I was thinking it could be me, as I probably do sit a bit wonky (espesh as my back is a bit dodgy), but he does it with everyone else too. We have tried putting a pole out, it worked the first few times, then he started anticipating it and sort of changing legs in the air going over it

kit279 - TBH I've only tried cantering him on the lunge once or twice, he is horrible on the lunge so I avoid lungeing him like the plague

 

[Jellymoon]

It sounds to me like it could be a physical problem, and for that I would always go to the vet first before I spend lots of money on back people/saddles etc etc. Even if he's not obviously lame, and your friends think it's not physical, there could be something going on that an expert would find.

If the vet doesn't find anything wrong, then I would spend my money on a really good trainer to help sort it out - I know you say you can't afford lessons, but if it were me, I would spend my money on that rather than saddlers and chiropractors.

 

[tracyt]

a friend of mines's horse used to be like this - she could only get him on the right leg by surprise too but we got it sorted eventually by keeping him in canter on the correct leg on his bad rein for as long as possible (after she got him on it by surprise of course!

)

after a while of doing this he is nearly perfect every time!

 

[kit279]

Try popping over a very small cross pole on a left rein circle and seeing if he lands on the correct leg, that usually sorts them out. 9/10 the wrong leg is to do with the rider but after a while they build up muscle on one side and start to find it easier. Have a look at him cantering in the field and see if he's always on the right leg. I'd also try in the school, asking for the canter transition at the same place every time. If he goes on the wrong leg, immediately bring him back to trot and turn a very small circle back to the original spot. Ask again - when he gets it right, he gets to go large. They usually get the idea pretty quickly!

 

[Stacie_and_Jed]

[ QUOTE ]
If you're sure that there is nothing physical wrong I'd try the following:

set up a trot pole in the corner of the school after a short side (eg after 'C'). Trot a nice 20m circle ensuring balanced and calm. Go to sitting trot at 'M', prepare for canter at 'C' and ask as you approach the pole. They usually stretch over the pole and fall into the correct canter lead naturally...

alternatively you can try a few strides of leg-yielding before the corner.

[/ QUOTE ]

This worked very well for me. I used jumps though instead of ground pole's as he doesnt respect them. He used to be exactly the same as yours but on the right rein. Also how do you ask for canter? Try over exaggerating when you ask. Ie:- Inside leg right on the girth and out side leg right back, keeping a constant contact so he doesnt run into a fast trot with you. I kept him to a 20m circle in the middle of the school as he used to disunite on the straight.

Practice practice practice as well!!! Jed's right rein now is better than his left and i couldnt be happier. I was ready to throw the towel in and give up but i kept at it and got the results.

Good luck.

 

[bex1984]

tracyt - thanks, will do that as once he's on that leg he's fine, it's just getting on it that's the problem.

kit279 - I like the idea of asking in the same place and circling back, will try that, if it's harder work to get it wrong he might start getting it right - that sort of thing usually works with Murphy!!

SFA - thanks, vet is coming to the yard next week so may ask them to have a quick look while they're there.

 

[0ldmare]

I really think that it may be physical and would definitely get a physio or chiro to take a look. If it isnt then one exercise I like to use is doing walk to canter. The good thing is you can be sure you are properly balanced and sitting correctly, with them on the right bend, before you ask and also you can feel as they bring their leg underneath them so you know which leg they are going onto before they do it (if that makes sense)

 

[harmony_]

i had exactly the same problem, for starters i didnt ask, i sat and clicked as my mare is quite forward going so i did this just to make sure everything was ok and so i could work her on this rein, Now she can do more work after her previous injury i dont canter her and went right back to basics with bending etc as if the horse is bending correctly they shouldnt be able to strike off on the wrong leg, Sorry if you dont understand lol!
good luck! i know how annoying it is!

 

[summertoots]

I know where you are coming from with this as I have the same problem as you, but with the right lead. It is driving me nuts. I know it isn't me as he does it with everyone. Also have back, teeth, saddle looked at at least every six months so all is well there as well.
I do have regular lessons, at least once a week and have been working like mad on this. I now know that on the right rein he will curl round my inside leg at the moment I ask for him to canter, this opens up the left shoulder and allows him to take his favoured lead.
So we have been working on lateral bend. We have been counterflexing on a large circle as well as using leg yeald shoulder and quarters in. I have found it has helped him to use his muscles and build up the strength to make things easier for him to strech his right hand muscles along his whole body making him a much more even horse. It is still very early days and like your lad he is quick to pick up what I am doing and will try to out smart me. But this weekend we did a prelim and he gave me right canter!!!!! I was over the moon with him. I can only advise you to get a good instructor to help you as often as you can afford it. Good luck and try not to get to down hearted.

 

[TheresaW]

Mac has similar problems on the right rein. We believe it is caused by the arthritis in his hocks making it uncomfortable for him to strike off correctly. When we get him on the correct leg, he has no problems maintaining it and is quite comfortable with it.

 

[summertoots]

Well you could have a point there. My lad has spavin, but only in his right hock. it has fused now and is causing no pain what so ever, but perhaps its habbit now.

 

[CBAnglo]

Is he bending correctly on that rein? If he is giving a proper inside bend then he will not be able to canter on the wrong lead - he would otherwise fall in with shoulder and try to bend to the outside.

Mine used to do this as he has a sacroiliac injury. I spent months cantering him on the lunge (he was awful to lunge too as it hurt - as his muscles built up correctly he became an angel). Once he had his balance I then built up the ridden work.

I too would be looking for a physical reason. If not, I would be working in trot, doing counterflexion and bending to supple him up on both sides and then once balanced and supple on both reins I would be asking for canter.

 

[bex1984]

ooohhhhhhh I am now worried there is something horribly wrong with him

But then he does sometimes choose to canter on that leg if it gets him where he wants to go faster

He probably isn't bending correctly - his schooling does need a huge amount of work.

 

[sherbet]

Same problem , I have had my boys back checked etc. They said he was just weak on this rein and to try doing some work over raised trotting poles to help builed up the muscle and strengh in the weaker leg. It has help we get it correct 95% of the time