Thick question!! Canter leads

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lcharles

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So after riding for 21 years, it now seems i can't tell my leads and even diagonals have gone out the window :eek:

Been working on counter-canter and instructor says my horse is very evenly balanced now, which is why i can't tell the difference?

Before trotting on the wrong diagonal/wrong lead would be really uncomfortable and feel off timing, but now it feels the same on both!!

How can i tell the difference now?

Canter lead is the front leg furthest forwards isnt it? The rear outside hind moves first?

Trotting, i should be rising when the outside leg is going forwards?

Getting me down as simplest thing is confusing me!! x I want my wonky horse back!!
 
Trot- you should be sitting when the outside fore comes back.

Canter- the inside fore should lead, i.e that should be going forward before the outside fore.
 
Thanks, i think i've sussed trot again but still have to look to check rather than getting it right everytime!! x

Just needs anymore canter tips to tell? x

You say the inside canter leg leads and goes forwards before the outside one, but both legs do the same, even when i look in the mirror its hard to see :confused: His front legs do a very circular action, almost like he's pedaling a bike haha!

Is there a way i can tell from his shoulders? Or guarenteed tricks to always get the correct lead?

Frustrating!! x
 
Well if you look at his shoulder, it should move forward before his outside one, you may have to look down for a couple of seconds and look at both to see which one is leading then.

TBH, I normally just do it by feel and then if in doubt have a quick peek down. Try (if safe to do so) closing your eyes for a couple of seconds too and feeling which hind leg hits the floor first. (it should be inside hind)

Re ensuring correct lead, put more weight down inside stirrup, really make it obvious, you could also try establishing a slight inside bend a couple of strides before you ask too.
 
I'm dyslexic and always get muddled with this, but I remember it by thinking the correct canter lead is the inside fore is balancing the horse between itself and the wall of the school ( like an inner wall, I know, my brain is far too wierd!) and to get trot right it's the opposit, so outside leg back as opposed to inside leg forward. Sounds confusing but iv never forgotten it. My brain can't handle counter canter and luckily neither can my horse!
 
haha ok..so....

If i am going around clockwise (right rein), his rear outside hind leg will hit the floor first, followed by the diagonal pair (front outside and hind inside) and the third foot to hit the floor is the front inside leg-which is the lead leg?

So if thats right, by looking in the mirror, would it be easier to see the diagonals as the two legs move together? so if i was on the right lead the outside front and hind inside would move together and if i'm on the left lead then the outside front and inside rear will move together?

So if my inside front leg was part of the diagonal pair, then i'm on the wrong lead?

Does that make sense?! haha x
 
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