Left rein canter problems - advice please!!!

[redmone]

Hi everyone,

Just want to pick your brains for some advice regarding the above. I'll tell you what Dolly does.

Walk, trot, canter on right rein - absolutely no problems. Picks up canter really really nicely. She's always been better on this rein.

Walk and quiet trot on left rein - fine. Active trot in group lessons - fine. Active trot whilst schooling alone - occasionally naps to the door. Canter on left rein, not brilliant at all at the moment. In group lessons, she sometimes goes ok. Schooling alone - last 2 sessions - has pretty much refused to canter on that rein. Will pick up canter and then dive to the right, or run to the fence/door/gate/other ponies/me (didn't like it when she cantered at me!)!!!!!

Daughter is trying her best to steer to the left, but not always successfully.

Just wondering whether it's naughtiness or something more.

Daughter has been doing lots of bending to the left exercises. Leg yielding, turning on forehand, small circles etc....and I've been making Dolly bend whilst in the stables, using small treats to get her to slowly stretch that way. She seems happy enough.

She's always been better on the right rein, and has had a history of running to the door/other ponies, although she got out of it for a good while. Only a few weeks ago she was doing 2/3 laps of the outdoor in canter on the left rein, so it's not like she's always done this.

To throw into the mix, her saddle has been away for mending this last week, but she did this before it went away (and mend was cosmetic only).

We decided to take her out hacking on Sunday to give her a break from lessons/schooling etc... we don't hack out enough really. I wondered if she just needed a change of scenery!

Group lesson for daughter tonight, so will see what happens then.

Any advice would be gratefully received. Thanks

PS Cornettos all round!

 

[Marydoll]

What is your daughters instructor seeing in the group lessons and is she giving any help ?

 

[redmone]

What is your daughters instructor seeing in the group lessons and is she giving any help ?

Yes, a couple of instructors have seen it and are giving lots of advice on how to stop it. They are who mentioned the small circles, bending etc....and one has been particularly good at helping daughter to deal with it from a steering point of view!

She's only done it once (recently) in the group lessons. It's definately much worse in the private lessons/schooling alone, which is what makes us think it's Dolly "trying daughter out"!

Dolly has lacked bend on the left for a while (not so bad on the right) so perhaps it's just lack of suppleness.

Just wondering really if anyone else has any suggestions on how to deal with it/work to fix it.

 

[BlueCakes]

I was a little confused by your thread, should probably go and read it through again slowly.

Horses always have one rein slightly better than the other. My boys left canter is much nicer than his right rein, but he finds it more difficult to pick up whereas he can pick up right rein canter, but it isn't as nice as his left once he gets going.


I would try trotting or cantering your horse into a small jump, and as you go over the jump try shifting your weight to the left hand side and asking for left rein canter as you land. I wouldn't canter for long periods on the left rein once you get it, just enough until you have a balanced canter and then stop and ask for it again, as you are only trying to correct the transition.

I would however say, it seems asthough your horse is purely napping, and is using something that it finds difficult, or that the rider finds difficult to use as its excuse to nap. When you ask for canter, you let the horse go to a certain extent and are probably not as balanced when asking for left rein, which is why the horse is running out and napping.

Also try lunging every so often. Say twice a week, and practising canter transitions. Again, don't let the horse go round in canter for long sessions once you have it, you want to look for the balance and a nice easy transition.

Good Luck. x

 

[AshTay]

Have you had her back looked at? I used to struggle to get my old pony to strike off on the correct canter lead on the right rein. I thought it was me. Everything else was fine, a bit one-sided sometimes but nothing I really worried about. I had back lady out (for no real reason other than he'd never been looked at before) and one of the first things she said was "does he struggle to strike off correctly on the right rein?". Er, yes! She did her stuff and he was instantly loads better and it was never a problem again. Just a thought.

 

[chestnut cob]

Have you checked there is no physical reason for it? My horse tends to struggle with his left canter (he can do it and strikes off correctly, he just isn't as soft) when he is feeling his hocks.

 

[redmone]

I was a little confused by your thread, should probably go and read it through again slowly.

Horses always have one rein slightly better than the other. My boys left canter is much nicer than his right rein, but he finds it more difficult to pick up whereas he can pick up right rein canter, but it isn't as nice as his left once he gets going.


I would try trotting or cantering your horse into a small jump, and as you go over the jump try shifting your weight to the left hand side and asking for left rein canter as you land. I wouldn't canter for long periods on the left rein once you get it, just enough until you have a balanced canter and then stop and ask for it again, as you are only trying to correct the transition.

I would however say, it seems asthough your horse is purely napping, and is using something that it finds difficult, or that the rider finds difficult to use as its excuse to nap. When you ask for canter, you let the horse go to a certain extent and are probably not as balanced when asking for left rein, which is why the horse is running out and napping.

Also try lunging every so often. Say twice a week, and practising canter transitions. Again, don't let the horse go round in canter for long sessions once you have it, you want to look for the balance and a nice easy transition.

Good Luck. x

Sounds like you've got it down to a "t" there!

It's my daughter's pony, so not sure about whether she's better on one rein than the other, balance wise. Possibly. She's just learning to jump, but Dolly loves to jump and hasn't done this at all whilst jumping.

We've had our napping problems with her before - heading for the door/gate, wouldn't "go", odd bucking etc... all of which have disappeared in a couple of weeks, so I'm hoping it's just a little phase. The RS have been great in helping us in the past, so I'll mention it and ask them to perhaps get someone more experienced to ride her and see if she does it. She used to be perfect (well ish!) for everyone else but my daughter! But now she's great for my daughter apart from this left rein!

Good point about not over doing it once we get left rein canter. We'll aim just to achieve it rather than do it lots and lots.

Thanks for your advice. You've made me feel better!

 

[redmone]

Have you had her back looked at? I used to struggle to get my old pony to strike off on the correct canter lead on the right rein. I thought it was me. Everything else was fine, a bit one-sided sometimes but nothing I really worried about. I had back lady out (for no real reason other than he'd never been looked at before) and one of the first things she said was "does he struggle to strike off correctly on the right rein?". Er, yes! She did her stuff and he was instantly loads better and it was never a problem again. Just a thought.

Not had back checked yet. Wasn't sure whether it warranted it as she seems to be picking and choosing when to do it.

I'm not a very experienced horse owner, but I'm getting the feeling she's playing up rather than in pain.

I'm happy now we've got her saddle back, as I don't want to use the saddle as an excuse.

I might give her this week to see if she's better, and then think about getting someone to look her over if it doesn't get any better.

Thanks for your help.

 

[redmone]

Have you checked there is no physical reason for it? My horse tends to struggle with his left canter (he can do it and strikes off correctly, he just isn't as soft) when he is feeling his hocks.

I suppose that's what I'm trying to work out.

Is it napping or is it something else.

As above, might give it this week and ask someone to look her over if she's not stopped doing it. She's always been a little bit nappy, and does try it on when she can get away with it!

Group lesson tonight, so will see how she goes. That's another thing that makes me think it's more napping - does it mainly when working alone.

Hmmmmmm confusing ponies!!

 

[Tickles]

If it is new I'd agree that something physical is probably making her natural footedness (like our 'handedness') more pronounced. I used to ride a pony who, due to an old injury, couldn't canter on one rein in a circle. But most cases there will be something hurting or stiff (could be serious, could be as simple as a twinge getting up awkwardly one day) on one side that can be fixed/may get better by itself.

 

[redmone]

If it is new I'd agree that something physical is probably making her natural footedness (like our 'handedness') more pronounced. I used to ride a pony who, due to an old injury, couldn't canter on one rein in a circle. But most cases there will be something hurting or stiff (could be serious, could be as simple as a twinge getting up awkwardly one day) on one side that can be fixed/may get better by itself.

That makes sense.

But the thing that makes me think it's napping is the fact that she hardly ever does it in group lessons (done it once so far) but lots and lots when working on her own (watch now, tonight she'll do it in the group lesson!). Also, she'll pick up the canter on the left ok and do a few good strides, on the right leg, until she reaches door/fence/gate etc... which she then heads for.

If she was doing it all the time (group lessons, and when ridden on her own) I'd probably be thinking straight away that she'd pulled something.

I'm not adverse to getting someone to look at her. I just do wonder if she's trying it on, as she's done quite a few times in the past! She used to completely plant when schooled on her own. And I mean wouldn't move at all, until I would run in front of her and then she'd happily trot behind me!

Love that pony to bits, she keeps life interesting!!!!

 

[Wagtail]

That makes sense.

But the thing that makes me think it's napping is the fact that she hardly ever does it in group lessons (done it once so far) but lots and lots when working on her own (watch now, tonight she'll do it in the group lesson!). Also, she'll pick up the canter on the left ok and do a few good strides, on the right leg, until she reaches door/fence/gate etc... which she then heads for.

If she was doing it all the time (group lessons, and when ridden on her own) I'd probably be thinking straight away that she'd pulled something.

I'm not adverse to getting someone to look at her. I just do wonder if she's trying it on, as she's done quite a few times in the past! She used to completely plant when schooled on her own. And I mean wouldn't move at all, until I would run in front of her and then she'd happily trot behind me!

Love that pony to bits, she keeps life interesting!!!!

I am certain it will be a pain issue. Horses tend to mask problems when they are in a 'herd' situation and so the fact that she does not nap so much in group lessons is largely irrelevant. Napping is often the first sign of something being wrong (pain) with a horse. They experience the pain and that makes them nap just to get away from it. They are effectively saying (as they head for the door) 'lets stop now shall we? It hurts!' Other horses are not so kind and simply explode and dump their rider. Your mare is warning you something is wrong and you need to listen.

 

[Luci07]

Both mine have their backs checked regularly along with the saddle checks as so much can change. Normally I do it every 6 months (although having to do the saddle more frequently with the youngster atm). Its not expensive and I look upon it as maintenance. If you can rule that out completely, also worth asking the RS to really check your daughters position. We as humans are all one sided too and she could well be shifting her weight without realising it. I know I do and its something I really have to be careful about - as an example, courtesey of wrecked knees I will be overly strong on the right rein given half a chance. If you can rule out both the above and your saddle is fine, then you can look at other ideas.

Just a thought but has anyone more experienced also sat on Dolly to see what they think? and if they have the same problem

and finally - you learn more on slighly odd ponies who make you think than on 100% well behaved ones - honestly!

 

[redmone]

I am certain it will be a pain issue. Horses tend to mask problems when they are in a 'herd' situation and so the fact that she does not nap so much in group lessons is largely irrelevant. Napping is often the first sign of something being wrong (pain) with a horse. They experience the pain and that makes them nap just to get away from it. They are effectively saying (as they head for the door) 'lets stop now shall we? It hurts!' Other horses are not so kind and simply explode and dump their rider. Your mare is warning you something is wrong and you need to listen.

Thank you for your advice. I will definately listen. It doesn't do Dolly or daughter any good for her to be doing this so will get her looked at.

I find the "herd" thing very interesting. I suppose, in the wild, they wouldn't want to show any weaknesses for fear of reprisals. I'm facinated by how all of that works, and how relevant it still even, even out of the wild - I just couldn't think of why she would do it more alone, other than naughtiness!

Thanks again!

 

[redmone]

Both mine have their backs checked regularly along with the saddle checks as so much can change. Normally I do it every 6 months (although having to do the saddle more frequently with the youngster atm). Its not expensive and I look upon it as maintenance. If you can rule that out completely, also worth asking the RS to really check your daughters position. We as humans are all one sided too and she could well be shifting her weight without realising it. I know I do and its something I really have to be careful about - as an example, courtesey of wrecked knees I will be overly strong on the right rein given half a chance. If you can rule out both the above and your saddle is fine, then you can look at other ideas.

Just a thought but has anyone more experienced also sat on Dolly to see what they think? and if they have the same problem

and finally - you learn more on slighly odd ponies who make you think than on 100% well behaved ones - honestly!

Well I did wonder with the saddle - we've recently had it repaired (as I said, cosmetic only) but she has changed shape quite a bit since we bought her so I've asked saddler to check the fit next time she's down.

I will ask about daughter's position. I'd not considered that that could be a cause, but of course, it could.

With Dolly being on working livery, she does have other riders. So I will ask around to see if anyone else has struggled. I was thinking that that would be a good guide as to whether it was just her playing my daughter up! If I'm honest, she's been as good as gold recently for my daughter, so that's why it's bothering me. A few months ago, I would have probably thought it was just Dolly keeping things interesting!!!

As for the learning more bit, I couldn't agree with you more. Daughter's riding has changed so much since we got Dolly. Best thing we ever did. I know all mums say this, but she's such a good little rider. And handles everything with a big grin on her face (most of the time). Her smiling does my nerves the world of good!!!

Thanks for your advice x