Pony battling on left rein

bree_marfia

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I've had this pony from a very young age. Started lunge work. She always battled on her left rein. Always wanted to turn around on the left rein in lunge ring in walk trot and canter. Anyways I moved overseas so I sold her to a friend. I wasn't able to do much with her. I started backing her when I came back for a holiday. Same issue. Except I started doing smaller circles with her, backing up and long lining to strengthen her. It seemed to work. Here and there she would turn around on the left rein but not often. During my time away she was used to lead rein only. Eventaually i put a rider on her. She seemed fine, when she wanted to turn around on the left rein, the rider corrected her. There were no issues on the right rein whatsoever. She walked, trotted and cantered, and backed up on each rein well. Then came the second time with rider on and the canter story was back again. Even lunging she wouldn't canter properly on the left rein. The rider was able to correct it in the trot but not in the canter. I feel I am too big for her, but I got on her the one day and stuck my outside rein on her neck and wrapped my outside leg around her and was able to keep her cantering on the left rein. But her rider is small. I long lined her today. She went beautifully in the walk and trot. Cantered well on the right rein and then I did the left rein. Napping and stopping and turning around. Once she canters on the left rein, something triggers her and she even starts napping and turning around in the trot. I have to slowly work through it. I've worked it out of her in the walk and trot. But the canter is just not working. I don't know what else to do. She isn't unsound or has uneven hips. Unfortunately we cant get the physio out at this stage due to lockdown. I do think there is something wrong, unless I missed something in the training. She goes out hacking and on beach rides and canters on both leads. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
 
Unfortunately I think getting his pelvis checked with a physio/osteo is a good next step - if they are a bit stuck or uneven they can cause them not to be able to step under and give that feeling of not being able to maintain the pace - especially in canter. And because the pelvis can be an issue on one side only, it can cause them to feel one-sided!

Oh and teeth!!
I get my horse done every year and he is only 8, he was a bit sticky on the right rein the last while & it kinda just crept in, I just noticed everything was a bit little less soft, checked my diary & he was due teeth in May! So I got the dentist out & he was pleased with them, nothing major just a tidy up but said they were slightly (only slightly) worse on the right - bingo!!! I was delighted cause there was an immediate difference!! (we are out of lockdown in Ireland though!)
 
My mare was getting very tetchy on the right rein but looked sound (even to an osteo vet). Even in the field she was preferring to canter on the other rein. X ray showed damage to the navicular bone, so it is a pain issue with her.
 
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