Why am I having a problem leading my horses from the right?

tobiano1984

tobiano1984

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I wonder if anyone can help - I know many horses can be slightly more awkward to lead from the right after a life of being led on the left, mounted on the left etc - and my older horse used to be terrible being lunged on the right rein so I've made sure to do everything on both sides with him.
However I've got a couple of new 3yo who have never been led/handled/haltered before now, and after only two weeks of handling they're already anti leading on the right! All I've done is groom, get headcollars on them and only actually lead them on three occasions around the yard and in the school. On all occasions they lead nicely when i'm on the left and then the moment I swap to the right they stop and look very confused and try and get me on the other side and won't walk forward! I can't see how this is learnt behaviour when they've hardly done it, and if it was 1 horse I might think it would be down to something else but it's both of them. Can anyone shed any light on this and advise on how to overcome it? I'd like to get over it ASAP rather than tackling it further down the line when theyr'e being broken in.
 
Definitely alternate sides for everything so it balances out. I believe it has been noted that most horses are said to be 'left handed'.
 
It is said that a horse's right eye is it's "flight" eye and that they prefer to look at you out of their left one if they are not looking at you straight-on, so to speak. It can take some horses quite a while to learn to accept you on their left - which can lead to problems when lungeing on that rein too as they get older. You are good to nip this in the bud now :)
 
There has been some current research to show that horses do see the world differently from each eye. They are calmer, more responsive and more able to process information from their left eye. Their right eye processes information as to flight and survival. So the old tradition of working form the left actually had a reason other than how to mount with a sword at your side!

Not a reason not to work them from both sides - but a good reason to understand why there is a difference.
 
Just keep on going until they are used to it. Do some more "work" on the right side e.g. grooming etc on that side. It just takes time thats all.

I taught my foal to lead from both sides and can actually just point to her now where I want her and she goes whichever side. *smug* :D:D:D
 
I too go with the theory of them seeing things differently from the right eye. However you may also be more 'awkward' from the right side if your right handed. I know I find I am not as comfortable from the right I bought a head collar that the head piece can be undone from either side which I hope will help. Thanks your post has reminded me to do it more often
 
How interesting that there is a biological explanation! I did not know that... But very helpful thank you, will persevere with the right side!
 
This is VERY interesting!

My new horse and I spent a long time at the mounting block (I mostly find it easier to mount on the right as i have a hip replacement on the right and sometimes find i struggle getting my leg over (the cantle!) lol.

So after him stepping his back end away a million times while I was trying awkwardly and unsuccessfully to mount from the left, I turned him about and he stood like a rock immediately and has stood like a rock ever since while I mounted from the right. Turns out we both prefer it!
 
Apparantly they like to keep their right side clear to flee away if needed. Weird, I'm left handed but feel totally weak leading on the right side, if I feel fully is on her toes I get to the left just incase I need the leverage as feel so unbalanced and awkward on the right, maybe it's caz I've been conditioned to do everything on the left.
 
That's really interesting and explains a lot! When I turn out/bring in both my horses together, my younger one defiantly prefers being on the right...the old retired one couldn't give two hoots!
 
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