No right canter

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summertoots

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I have my first comp this weekend with my boy. It's just a couple of prelim tests to see how he behaves out. His schooling at home has come on well and I am very pleased with most of it as he stays soft round and forward with very nice paces.
However right canter is very much a hit or miss. He will do anything to ignore the right question and strike left instead, he even trips over his own legs he gets in such a tangle. I have tried every trick I know, I use circles, I flex left to open the right shoulder, Iv'e tried just using the outside leg, then just the inside, I crucify myself if I am not as perfectly balanced and positioned as I can be when asking for it. Iv'e had tack, back, teeth, looked at I've had better riders try to school it out of him, but even they find him very hard to get right.
Im not expecting a miricle between now and sunday so I have to ask advice on what to do in the test when he goes left when it should be right, do I spend the entire time I am in canter trying to corect him, its a long canter, or do I act dumb and sail along in left canter and not fuss him for all the canter movements??? Help I have never ever had a canter problem before like this.
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Ok, if he strikes off on the wrong leg you need to correct it and keep trying to correct it until you get it right, rather than ignore it and pretend you haven't a clue your horse is on the wrong leg!

In terms of getting the correct strike-off, have you tried schooling over a pole on the ground coming out diagonally in the corner and asking as he goes over it? That sometimes helps them.
 
Make sure you keep a contact with the outside rein and outside leg to keep control of the shoulder as a common mistake is to let the horse fall out through the outside shoulder and onto the incorrect lead. I used to have this problem with my mare when she was a real baby and I found that going into sitting trot earlier and really warning her that canter was coming up helped as I think if I asked too quickly for her she didn't understand and just panicked and went on the wrong lead.

I would definitely say to try and correct the canter lead if you do get the wrong lead in the test - the judges will prefer to see this than you ignoring it as it will look to them like you don't know the difference!

Good luck! Keep at it - it will pay off!
 
As you say it's hard to find a solution between now and the weekend. You sound like you're doing everything right. I suggest you continue with what you're doing but maybe try to be a bit more consistent yourself, as in always ask him the same way. Will he canter on the right leg lead for you on the lunge? you riding him on the lunge? or over poles or jumps? out hacking? if he constantly favours the left lead I would continue to question the physical aspect. Can you get someone to video you and see what happens exactly at the point of the depart, may give you a insight into something you may missed. Will he canter from walk? sometimes easier for them to chose the correct lead.

Lastly, I would be inclined to change the canter during your test, it will at least show the judge you know he's on the wrong leg.
 
Have you tried looking to the outside yourself when you ask for the strike off. i.e. when asking for canter right you look left. It works for some because it brings your right hip forward. Echo Spottedcat in that try a pole on the ground and figures of eight with a simple change in the middle making it very clear you are going in a different direction and with an obvious bend, but keeping hold of the outside rein so the shoulder doesn't fall out. Its just a matter of keeping at it with some of them! GL for your competition
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Yeh I have tried the pole as well, but he is such a spangle he leaps over the pole and strikes left!!!!!
Ok so I try to correct him, probably would have gone for that option anyway, would hate to ride away with the judge thinking I am such a numpty I cant tell what leg he was on!!
 
I had a similar prolem with my young hourse (except on the left) and a friend suggested I leg yielded in to the transition we have not got it wrong very often since! It really worked for me and it engaged him into the transition.

Good luck and enjoy
 
I gaurd the shoulder like a well trained soldier, makes not a jot of differance, the big git!!!
It's all just a bit frustrating to say the least. I've worked long and hard on him when others have said I was waisting my time, this feels like th elast hurdle to get over so we can realy get going, it's just a huge hurdle!!
 
In that case how about a tiny jump, and as you are in the air, open the inside hand and look to the right (as though you were turning to another fence) and see if he will land on right lead?

Another option is in trot, start on a 20m circle, spiral in to 10m, then leg yield out, and as you hit the track, ask for canter, I find that a useful exercise.
 
At the point of the transition I can feel exactly what he is doing. When I know I have asked bang on I feel him lift to strike right, I keep riding very strongly for right but then he manages to do the oddest thing, I supose its like a pause, but there is nothing I can do to stop the pause, I have very soft hands and my leg is there saying go, often backed by a stick as well but it's like he has popped off for a second and when he comes back he decides to go left. I will not wear spurs on him, cant stand the things on anyone but the best of riders, Im not one of those!
He will strike right on the lunge. I have thought is it rider error and my problem rather than his, but he does it no matter who is on his back, and I know some fantastic riders. I am also lucky enough to ride a huge amount of other horses and this is the first time I have had this problem.
 
A really good exercise to try is to ask for canter on a 20m circle in the centre of the school. As you are about to hit the track, look to either A or C (the marker towards the direction you are travelling in) and ask for canter.
The wall or fence naturally makes the horse sit back and take more weight, by looking to the bottom marker you will move your weight and turn your shoulders and hips which will encourage the horse to strike off correctly. OH uses this with baby horses and it really helps them sort their legs out!
Good luck for your competition
 
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