Weak left leg and canter issues

[FestiveFuzz]

So some of you guys know I've been insanely lucky in being offered the ride on a super talented horse. We get on really well and it's been lovely to see him come out of his shell...he's really growing on me and for the most part my riding is coming on in leaps and bounds too.

The trouble is he's way too talented for me...before me he was competing at AM level and schooling at GP at home, whereas for the last few years I've only done prelim (due to having a green horse who wasn't a dressage fan) and even when I was younger I only competed up to novice/elem. He's so generous when I mess up, and absolutely tries his heart out for me, but I hate feeling like I'm ruining him.

We have weekly lessons with my trainer (sometimes twice weekly), but I feel like we've really hit a wall with our right rein canter. I have a weak left leg, which isn't helping but I just feel like we're going backwards at the moment. On the left rein, we just pop into canter and it's lovely, whereas on the right rein I can only manage a matter of strides before he ends up throwing in a flying change...sometimes I get lucky and manage to stop him before the change but not often enough to feel I am competently in control of it. I'm trying to keep my seat and legs still to avoid confusing him, but this just makes matters worse when I try to canter 20m circles as I lose him out of the outside shoulder as I'm not keeping my legs on in case I accidentally ask for a change. I'm also struggling not to rely too heavily on my inside hand on the circle which is only making things worse.

My trainer thinks it's a case of needing to be more bodily aware on my left side. It's very obviously my weak side and it's clearly holding me back. I'm trying to strengthen it with pilates and resistance work, but in the meantime I need to find a way to overcome the issue.

Has anyone had a similar issue or any tips that might help me fix this?

Here's a pic of the handsome chap in action for all that got this far...

 

[JGC]

I saw another thread somewhere on a very similar issue and lots of the responses were about using a spare spur strap to attach the stirrup on wonky side to the girth or saddle, to prevent too much movement of that leg as a temporary fix (presumably would be a terrible idea when jumping ...)

 

[Bernster]

I saw another thread somewhere on a very similar issue and lots of the responses were about using a spare spur strap to attach the stirrup on wonky side to the girth or saddle, to prevent too much movement of that leg as a temporary fix (presumably would be a terrible idea when jumping ...)

I've wondered about something like that too, for my wonky left leg which spends a lot of time up near my backside. Maybe something with a tiny bit of give, but gives you a little reminder/tug so you know when your errant leg is waggling about! Not sure that fixes it though, just makes it more obvious when it's happening.

 

[Red-1]

I have a very weak left leg, in fact it sometimes goes completely numb, and can have a time delay in use, and then I am not always in fine control as to how hard it works.

I spent ages berating myself, and "trying" to make it work. I tried to use it stronger, and was even told by one trainer that I was ruining the horse. I tried so hard, but it seemed the harder I tried, the worse the problem was.

A new trainer was so kind, she had the ideal answer. If left leg does not work well, then I must lighten my aids so the horse is REALLY light on both. In fact, for a while we trained the horse to respond to a tap with a flicky stick on the left, no leg required, so if it was numb I could simply not use it.

Once I relaxed and actually started moving my body through not bracing through trying to make stuff happen.... then stuff just started to happen! I found that forcing the left leg into action was causing blocks in my seat, and a never ending spiral. Releasing that pressure had me riding with the horse again, and seat and balance became more important.

The re-training of the horse was largely done in one hour, as he was quite well trained, we were just fighting each other through my block. I have to say, it was such a relief I cried!

I had to give myself a good talking to, and had a look at our Paralympians, they too may have a weak/stiff leg, but the horses go beautifully. I recollect there was an article in H&H after 2012 or around that time, about how they are trained.

If the trainer is also the horse's owner it could be awkward as they will know what works for them, and may inadvertently not be as open to see that you need to do it differently. It sounds like the horse is right there waiting for you to relax, move, and explain how you would like him to do it.

 

[milliepops]

yup agree, this is not about making your left leg stronger (though that will help your riding in general) but about making the horse more tuned in AND I would add, you developing your seat to give the aid & ride the canter through that.
If the horse knows his job, which it sounds like he does, then he should not require loads of leg when actually cantering. What happens if you give the canter aid (I use outside leg and invite it with a lightened inside seatbone) and then sit with legs fairly quiet but with your seat providing a little 'keep cantering' aid? Not scrubbing your bum into the saddle but following and slightly adding to the jump in the canter. Think more about using the inside leg if you need to add power, as that should engage his inside hind. Try pushing him to the outside hand gently (shoulder-fore would help) to get the connection you need to straighten him.

Can you change him back, if he changes? That might make you feel more in control of it.

FWIW I think this horse will do you the power of good, I love schoolmaster lessons for exactly this - reminding me that a horse should be reactive to my aids, and my end of that deal means that I shouldn't be giving random aids by mistake

 

[FestiveFuzz]

Thanks folks, lots of food for thought here. Trainer imported the horse many years ago, but is not his owner these days and I have the option to purchase him at the end of the year or continue having him on a permanent loan basis so I basically treat him as mine and don't feel under pressure from the owner outside of not wanting to let her down or ruin her lovely horse.

I don't jump so the extra spur strap might be a good idea to give me a reminder of where my leg should be as I too am prone to finding my leg up by my bum if I'm not careful.

Speaking with my trainer last night she very much thinks the issue is not so much in my actual transitions, but in where I'm putting my weight during canter and has recommended I think about stepping into my right stirrup as a way of making sure the weight is through my inside seat bone more.

Red-1 I think you're on to something in the sense that the more stressed I am about where my left leg is and not accidentally asking for changes, the more I'm locking my hips and blocking his movement which is possibly why I'm not getting the results I want.

MilliePops you're also totally right that I need to work on developing my seat more. I think having this super talented and highly trained horse is shining a light on the fact that whilst my aids/riding were fine for something at a lower level, this chap is so highly tuned that I need to work on developing a better feel and awareness of my body so I'm not accidentally giving aids for something else. I can sometimes ask for the change back, but equally sometimes that doesn't quite go to plan cue us doing tempi changes half way up the long side the other day

He's such a clever boy, and I long for the day when I can actually ride him properly as he's so much fun to have around. That said, I know it's early days (and everyone keeps telling me how lovely we are together) but I just want to make the most of this opportunity and not mess him up in the process!

 

[FestiveFuzz]

So I think I've ended up buggering things up further now...

In the past few days I've ended up in extended trot every time I ask for right lead canter...this makes sense in terms of aids as I have a terrible habit of throwing the reins and tipping forward if I don't get the transition when I initially ask, but I've tried to really focus on sitting up and back and asking calmly and still I'm getting extended trot

I did manage to get around it last night by starting out on the left lead on a 20m circle and then changing the rein and asking for the right lead, which resulted in us managing two 20m circles without flying changes and felt a lot more balanced, but that's not really fixing the issue...aside from having proved that deep down I am capable.

I'm hoping to have a lesson with my trainer this week and will probably ask her to school him next week as I'm a bit worried I'm teaching him bad habits now. But I know she's a bit frustrated with me as I'm more than capable, I just keep hitting the occasional mind block

 

[milliepops]

Oh FF don't get disheartened, you're just learning the buttons on a new horse and he'll be figuring you out. This would be the same even if he was as green as grass. I suspect you've dumped a heap of pressure on yourself which is making things worse... you need to re-find the muscle memory of riding a canter trans to stop you overthinking it and inadvertantly doing the wrong thing through trying too hard

Is it worth getting a fresh pair of eyes on the situation? Nothing worse than feeling like your instructor is losing patience, you need someone with MORE patience than you to spend the time quietly putting it all back together IMO. It's one of the things i love about my trainer, if we get stuck with something he will always say there's plenty of time to do it and we just carry on until it falls into place.

 

[Bernster]

What she said ^^

 

[1life]

What she said ^^

I agree. A trainer should make you feel that you want to carry on and improve, should find many alternative ways to explain something to you, should have many tools in their box to give you the gradual, step by step route to where you want to be. If you want to learn, they should be happy to take as long as necessary to get you 'there'.

Small steps will soon lead to bigger steps and you'll build on foundations, gradually. Don't be disheartened, turn your frustration around and call it determination - it will be worth it. You'll find the buttons with the right trainer - enjoy the journey

 

[D66]

Could you ride side saddle? A side saddle trainer might have a different approach even if you didn't want the new saddle.

 

[Cortez]

If I ever feel like blaming some sort of wonkiness on my part for my inability to make something happen, I just remember watching a Danish rider who was riding Grand Prix after being paralysed from the waist down. She had trained the horse herself before becoming paralysed and had had to totally refine the aids. If she could do that, then I really have no excuses....

 

[crabbymare]

dont worry too much about it as the horse has not understood that you want canter so you can give a pat and he will think he has done well plus there are a lot of people who would love to be able to do an extended trot just try to slightly shorten the front end before you ask so that the horse comes a bit more up for canter than out for extension and think outside shoulder fractionally back which may also help

 

[Queenbee]

So some of you guys know I've been insanely lucky in being offered the ride on a super talented horse. We get on really well and it's been lovely to see him come out of his shell...he's really growing on me and for the most part my riding is coming on in leaps and bounds too.

The trouble is he's way too talented for me...before me he was competing at AM level and schooling at GP at home, whereas for the last few years I've only done prelim (due to having a green horse who wasn't a dressage fan) and even when I was younger I only competed up to novice/elem. He's so generous when I mess up, and absolutely tries his heart out for me, but I hate feeling like I'm ruining him.

We have weekly lessons with my trainer (sometimes twice weekly), but I feel like we've really hit a wall with our right rein canter. I have a weak left leg, which isn't helping but I just feel like we're going backwards at the moment. On the left rein, we just pop into canter and it's lovely, whereas on the right rein I can only manage a matter of strides before he ends up throwing in a flying change...sometimes I get lucky and manage to stop him before the change but not often enough to feel I am competently in control of it. I'm trying to keep my seat and legs still to avoid confusing him, but this just makes matters worse when I try to canter 20m circles as I lose him out of the outside shoulder as I'm not keeping my legs on in case I accidentally ask for a change. I'm also struggling not to rely too heavily on my inside hand on the circle which is only making things worse.

My trainer thinks it's a case of needing to be more bodily aware on my left side. It's very obviously my weak side and it's clearly holding me back. I'm trying to strengthen it with pilates and resistance work, but in the meantime I need to find a way to overcome the issue.

Has anyone had a similar issue or any tips that might help me fix this?

Here's a pic of the handsome chap in action for all that got this far...

I have no words of wisdom for you really... as I am still weaker on one side, to sod it all its also the beasts weaker side so we have a right time of it sometimes.

I think though that your RI is correct that it is about being more bodily aware, and that yes core strength is key... however, I will tell you a little tale, something that I still find highly inspirational and something I bring to mind when I am excusing my failings or feeling sorry for myself.

I was at camp, being taught by the best instructor I think I have ever had. it was day 3 I think, and I was battling a bit with ben and this chap had us doing all these exercises at trot for core strength and balance and it was a * insert word that rhymes with witch*, at one point I said that I do struggle due to a past back injury which makes my one side weaker than the other. (Remember at this point that I had spent three days having lessons with this chap), he looks me square in the eye leans down and knocks on his leg, rolls up his lower trouser leg and reveals he has a prosthetic limb, he tells me, it has never bothered me, if I can deal with this, you can deal with that. For three days I had not noticed, it did not hold him back, was not even noticeable until he pointed it out and he is the same under saddle. So whenever I inwardly curse my weakness, I now curse myself for cursing something that I know should not hold me back, if I am doing the rest right... my weak side should not be an issue.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I just wanted to come back and share a bit of an update and I'm pleased to report we've only gone and cracked the canter!

After having a think as to how to stop me overthinking, my trainer came up with a great pole exercise that saw her placing 4 poles at quarters on a 20m circle. She then had us trotting the circle, followed by a 10m counter circle ensuring I changed the rein just as I reapproached the bottom pole, made M wait and then asked for the canter as we came over the pole. M LOVED the exercise...I'm pretty sure we jumped the pole a couple of times, which meant he wasn't getting stroppy with me when I did mess up! And it was great to have something to focus on, which helped with him falling out through his outside shoulder. It also made me realise how reluctant I had been to put my weight through the inside...which was probably a huge part of my struggles as now I'm actively sitting on my inside seatbone we suddenly have steering again!

I've had a couple more lessons, all of which have been pretty positive, and am chuffed to say we haven't had an unplanned flying change since Now I've just got to work on getting him more responsive in the canter again, as I think my apprehension has flattened him a bit. But we had lots of fun practicing yesterday in the brief bit of sunshine we had so I have no doubt we'll get there soon.

It's been a tough old week what with losing Pops, and M will never take her place, but he has definitely been the reason I'm still smiling and I'd honestly be lost without him.

 

[Red-1]

I just wanted to come back and share a bit of an update and I'm pleased to report we've only gone and cracked the canter!

After having a think as to how to stop me overthinking, my trainer came up with a great pole exercise that saw her placing 4 poles at quarters on a 20m circle. She then had us trotting the circle, followed by a 10m counter circle ensuring I changed the rein just as I reapproached the bottom pole, made M wait and then asked for the canter as we came over the pole. M LOVED the exercise...I'm pretty sure we jumped the pole a couple of times, which meant he wasn't getting stroppy with me when I did mess up! And it was great to have something to focus on, which helped with him falling out through his outside shoulder. It also made me realise how reluctant I had been to put my weight through the inside...which was probably a huge part of my struggles as now I'm actively sitting on my inside seatbone we suddenly have steering again!

I've had a couple more lessons, all of which have been pretty positive, and am chuffed to say we haven't had an unplanned flying change since Now I've just got to work on getting him more responsive in the canter again, as I think my apprehension has flattened him a bit. But we had lots of fun practicing yesterday in the brief bit of sunshine we had so I have no doubt we'll get there soon.

It's been a tough old week what with losing Pops, and M will never take her place, but he has definitely been the reason I'm still smiling and I'd honestly be lost without him.

That sounds really positive, and I am glad the month is coming to a close with good times.

 

[peanut]

A great update - well done.

I'm another with a weak left leg and there's been lots of food for thought in this thread. Thank you everyone.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

That sounds really positive, and I am glad the month is coming to a close with good times.

Thanks Red-1. It's been hard work but it's great finally seeing it all coming together and I've definitely appreciated the distraction. Onwards and upwards!

 

[FestiveFuzz]

A great update - well done.

I'm another with a weak left leg and there's been lots of food for thought in this thread. Thank you everyone.

Thanks so much! The other thing that's helped is I've swapped my bog standard stirrups for Acavello Opera stirrups, they're a little pricey but completely stopped my left stirrup slipping and in turn has made my lower legs a lot more secure.

 

[milliepops]

Brilliant update. I'm so pleased for you that you have something positive to help you through at the moment x

 

[Red-1]

I had to look up Acavello Opera stirrups! Are they also safety stirrups? Are they springy?

 

[FestiveFuzz]

Brilliant update. I'm so pleased for you that you have something positive to help you through at the moment x

Thanks MP. It was weird at the weekend as with Pops having been turned away since December weekends have always been "our" time where I'd bring her in for cuddles and a groom, plus I'm usually the last on the yard during the week so knew there was no avoiding fellow liveries. Everyone was lovely though, and I think having so much to focus on with M has really helped not to mention keeping to a routine. I still really bloody miss her, and I can't see that changing any time soon but at the same time I'm beginning to feel excited for the future again x

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I had to look up Acavello Opera stirrups! Are they also safety stirrups? Are they springy?

So I've heard some people mention the top bit will break apart in the event of a fall but I can't really see how that would work given the leather would presumably hold both parts together? I haven't found them to be that springy (I had sprenger bow balance before but they weakened my ankle), but they claim to be shock absorbing and I've found them to be super lightweight and grippy and the wider footbed really helps me keep them in place.

 

[Sukistokes2]

glad things are going well.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

glad things are going well.

Thanks Sukistokes2. I'm having masses of fun with him now I've sussed how to make him wait for the canter aid. We have a lesson with our trainer later so hoping we can continue the good work then.