right canter lead issue

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serena2005

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Hello,
After some ideas.
I have a 5 year old who's schooling is going really well.
Well up until last weekend! He's recently been turned out at night and some times 24/7. He had about a week off of work and we went to a show which was awful!
Usually he's very very well behaved.

But he was napping and generally being an arse! Refusing to go on right canter lead.
In the warm up he was brilliant didn't put a foot wrong, but in the ring, spoilt brat!

So back at home he's in boot camp, lots of schooling. But we are having real issues on the right rein.
It's not his best rein any way but it's gone from bad to worse. Blocking with his shoulder and 1/5 times going on the wrong canter lead. But only on the right rein, being and canter lead on the left is perfect.

So I watched someone else ride today to see if he was a bit short or just didn't look right and the only thing I noticed was that he's carrying his tail slightly to the right.

To be honest I can't say I've noticed if he ever did this before or not.

What do you think? Just being a grumpy sod or is he actually trying to tell me something?

Teeth recently done, saddle is new and fitted.
 
Trying to tell you something from the sound of things, the saddle may be fitted but does he like it? has he tweaked something or been uncomfortable in the old saddle, I would get him checked as at that age a bad habit can become ingrained and difficult to undo, if it is pain related.
 
be positive said:
Trying to tell you something from the sound of things, the saddle may be fitted but does he like it? has he tweaked something or been uncomfortable in the old saddle, I would get him checked as at that age a bad habit can become ingrained and difficult to undo, if it is pain related.
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I haven't had any issues with the saddle before, been using it a few months.

His attitude has honestly just changed over night.

Who would you get to check him over? A vet? I'm always a little wary of back people. And the ones I've used I wouldn't really want to use again.
 
serena2005 said:
I haven't had any issues with the saddle before, been using it a few months.

His attitude has honestly just changed over night.

Who would you get to check him over? A vet? I'm always a little wary of back people. And the ones I've used I wouldn't really want to use again.
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If you don't have a regular physio you trust then get the vet and if they think physio is required ask for a referral, the other thing to ask is to do a short bute trial, it will not totally rule out pain but may give you a better idea of what is going on.

If the saddle is new, not just new to you, and been in use a few months the flocking will have settled so it may need doing, most require some tweaking after a couple of months.
 
Cair shouldn't drop like flocking so the saddle is probably ok unless he has changed shape recently which he could at 5.
 
Hind gut ulcers can cause issues on the right hand side due to the position of the colon! My mare had issues with jumping on right rein and tends to be stiffer on the right rein!
 
Mine refuses to strike off on the correct lead on the right rein-arthritic changes in his right hock. He's 13, so hopefully yours hasn't already got issues. Do a trot up with the vet, talk to your farrier (is he shod?) then debate whether you want a massage therapist/other professional out to see him.

Bute is a good idea for a couple of days to see if it makes a difference. He might just be loads stronger on the left and need schooling.
 
i had simular issues with my green 7yo TB - he lacked muscle on his near rearend so he struggled to strike off on his right lead, an exercise that really helped me was 4/5 trot poles down the side of the school followed by a pole on the diaganal as you turn on to a 20m circle and i ask for canter as approaching the diaginal pole. Once he had done this for about a week he could strike of perfectly on the right lead
 
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