Struggle with left canter, which leg is the issue?

Hormonal Filly

Hormonal Filly

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Horse had bad PSD on his left hind (RH was fine) and had nerves cut a year ago in both hinds. X-rays all good.

He struggles with left canter still, right canter is lovely and better than previous. By struggle with left canter I mean constantly gives a right canter when i ask for left, but when he does canter left rein its much weaker and he struggles to hold it.

I was thinking his left hind with the PSD would be the issue for the poor left canter, but am I now right in thinking its the opposite? So his right hind leg could be the issue if its the left canter thats the problem?

Vet out Friday, but just thinking it over in my head...
 
My boy struggles with right canter and i know his issue is mainly his left hind with some weakness in right fore. So I would think yours would be the opposite?
 
SpringArising said:
Sounds like he might be struggling with the weight on the left. Does he do it on the lunge as well?
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Thanks everyone. I'll pass it onto the vet!
Not as bad on the lunge, but I barely ever lunge him due to his issues.. last week i did and he tends to get the correct leg but tires fast/falls into trot on left canter where as right he will happily canter for a much longer period.

He did get a major infection in his right hind after the op, tons of scar tissue up his cannon bone and around his hock so unless thats why hes struggling with left canter now compared to before it wasn't this bad.

Issue is claim for PSD was maxed out and expired, so will see what vet thinks.
 
You need to be able to see him cantering to see where the issue is, it could be reluctance to strike off, so RH the problem, or difficultly taking the weight so LH causing it and him being cautious to strike off, either way the vet is coming and should be better placed to see what is going on, it may just be a bit of tightness remaining higher up that requires some physio and straightness work to resolve.
 
be positive said:
it may just be a bit of tightness remaining higher up that requires some physio and straightness work to resolve.
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Hes only really done straightness work (cantering a left circle he finds even more difficult) and each time the physio comes she says how great he feels, she only came a few weeks back. Will see what the vet says. Horses are always such a worry!
 
ForbiddenHorse said:
Hes only really done straightness work (cantering a left circle he finds even more difficult) and each time the physio comes she says how great he feels, she only came a few weeks back. Will see what the vet says. Horses are always such a worry!
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It was worth the thought, shame as that could have been the best scenario and easiest to find.
 
Two of mine struggle with canter leads if their saddles do not fit quite as perfectly as they might. Sometimes there is a more simple explanation?

One of my older horses also had problems as a youngster which gave her a weaker leg. Lots of strengthening later, she was well able to canter right, but still refusing to. I had to make her, so she could realise that it was no longer hard/a bit ouchy. Once that was sorted, she got the idea and was fine. Is your horse remembering past pain, or still muscled unevenly and not straight?

Just trying to think of less stressful reasons why. I hope it isn’t bad news when the vet comes!
 
Bent too much to the left, i.e. inside, so it allows the outside shoulder to strike off first? Have you tried walk to canter and keep him straight, or even in extreme situation, slightly bent to the outside.
 
Quick update as vet came Friday!
It’s his hind left leg that’s the issue, oddly enough... he’s slightly uneven on it and much worse after a stifle flexion. The right hind leg was sound even after flexion so vets sure it’s his left leg, again!

Canter on the lunge - on the left canter he would go and stay in canter but was dreadfully bunny hopping, right canter not to bad but so obvious on left and looks clearly to be his LH that’s the issue. Vet coming out next week to xray stifles now - it’s the ONLY place we didn’t xray so what’s the chance it shows something?! but wants to try a strong bute trial between now and then to see if it makes any difference. As @be positive said the vet thinks it’s LH not wanting to take the weight so more noticeable on left rein.

Today (Ridden on bute) there was a big noticeable difference in him, much happier in himself and walked much freer downhill (was struggling down hill too) So definitely know it’s pain!
 
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Orangehorse said:
Bent too much to the left, i.e. inside, so it allows the outside shoulder to strike off first? Have you tried walk to canter and keep him straight, or even in extreme situation, slightly bent to the outside.
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Just to double check. If it’s his left canter he struggles with would it help bending his neck to the inside or outside?
 
ForbiddenHorse said:
Just to double check. If it’s his left canter he struggles with would it help bending his neck to the inside or outside?
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I mentioned straightness work earlier as it can really help to know how straight the horse really is, not just on a straight line but also on turns and circles, does it tend to go slightly quarters in, or out, does it try to bend or hollow one way or another, unless you know whether it is genuinely straight just bending the neck one way or other will not help.
They often bend more to the side they are stiffer and less able to take the weight, probably swing the quarters a little the same way so rather than trying to bend the neck or pushing the hind quarters out think of riding shoulder in to help get the front end over so it is directly in front of the quarters and have a little less neck bend than he may offer, if he is sore he will probably struggle to go truly straight but it is something to think about when he has been treated.
 
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