Canter lead help

[beauty2004]

I have a 4yr old Welsh C that i have backed over winter. He has amazing movement and is progressing well. We do however have one issue on the left rein and that is the strike off in canter. He seems unable to strike off on the correct lead and can become quite flustered. On the right rein he has the most amazing balanced canter and always goes off on the correct leg. Everything has been checked back/teeth etc and its all fine. I dont want to upset him as he is really trying to please and is a baby just starting out in his education so any hints or tips would be appreciated. I have tried leg yielding then asking when we hit the track. Have tried off a circle and on the straight. With bend to the inside and outside and nothing seems to make a difference. Anyone else had this problem and overcome it?. xx

[katealice89]

My baby has trouble with right canter ... Try doing figure of 8's ... So short burst of canter on good rein trot along long diagonal and canter on the bend abit like a show routine ... Doing this has helped mine get the correct bend and help hold and control inside shoulder!

Xx

Sent from my GT-I9100P using proboards

[LMSmith]

You tried asking for the transition over a pole?

[beauty2004]

Will try the figure of eight and yes have tried a pole he just favours the right leg every time :-( xx

[Linzi]

My mare has had the same problem in the past (but on her right rein) although hers were down to past events in her life prior to me owning her - and memories of pain/discomfort. I used a pole on the floor - slightly raised if she still didn't pick up, I also on occasion really over exaggerated her inside bend, and also sometimes let her canter on the wrong lead and pushed her on in the canter and eventually she changed lead seem to have rectified the issue now though and now IF she strikes off wrong she corrects herself instantly

[GinaGeo]

I'd take the pressure off. As riders we're one sided and the more pressure we place on oursleves to get it right the worse it tends to get. My first pony went through a stage of striking off wrong everytime on the right rein. I was so hung up on it, I was exagerating the aid so horrendously and thus totally unbalancing the poor mare. Popped somebody else on board who didn't know the issue I was having and it was fine, struck off right first time and I didn't have the problem again as it was all in my head.

I'm not saying it is you in this case, but I would stop asking for that lead for now, you say he's becoming flustered and you don't want asking for canter to become a worrying experience or you'll end up with a rushed transition into a panicked canter. I'd leave to cantering to being out on hacks when the weather allows, concentrate on her stronger paces in the school, really work on correct flexion and strengthen her up. Then in a couple of weeks I'd try again and the problem will probably be resoloved.

Quite often the more you try to hammer through this sort of problems with babies the worse it gets. My instructor's a big advocate of walking away if you're not getting something and coming back to it a couple of weeks later by which time you've both forgotten any issues with it and it just happens. My youngster was finding shoulder in left very difficult and the more I tried for it the more upset he got, he likes to please and gets really upset if he doesn't understand something. Moved onto something else in that session that he finds easy peasy leg yielding, serpentines, transitions etc... Had an enforced two weeks off due to Snow and the session after it had clicked and it's now there.

[beauty2004]

Thank you ginageo your advice is truly appreciated and yes i shall take the pressure off as this boy is going to be special and im in no rush :-) xx

[bow1607]

it maybe worth getting a physio just to check him over......it could be a baby thing but he could also be struggling due to a discomfort that a back person wouldn't pick up on.....I had the same with one of my horses but nothing that can't be sorted x

[beauty2004]

He's had the physio and has no problems xx

[sarahp]

Are both yourself and the saddle straight and not twisted? I discovered I have one hip more forward (obviously born like that) and over the years it had made the saddle unlevel too. Hugely helped by osteopath for me and reflocking the saddle although I will never be totally straight.

[beauty2004]

Saddle fine as am I lol. Have 3 horses and ride others he is the only one affected. Think it is genuinely a baby balance thing as he is rising 4 so I'm going to back off and take him hacking more. Can still work on the canter and may be easier for him if we have a nice straight area where he doesn't have to worry about corners. It is only the fact that the other rein is so perfect that I was a little worried as there is such a marked difference but only in canter. Xx

[rubydoo]

how is he on the lunge without a rider on board ? he may just be unbalanced .
also practicing cantering on the straight while out hacking is much easier for them to understand .

[beauty2004]

He still struggles on the lunge bless him x

[sarahp]

I used to canter unbalanced babies in the field, walking a big innner circle myself so that they were on a much bigger circle than would be possible in a school. Doubt if that's possible for you at this time of year and state of weather though! I'd go with GG's advice, don't canter in the school but lots on hacks in straight lines or gentle turns, uphill but not down yet and in the mean time work in the school in walk and trot with lots of changes of rein, transitions and lateral work to get him stronger, working through from behind and more balanced with a rider.

Good luck!

[shetlandgirl]

Ive been having lots of trouble with my youngster with the canter left lead to. Not only does he get flustered i do to. So for now, ive just been working hard in walk and trot, i beleive the better i can get these to paces the easier and better his canter will also be, i am also trying me hardest when out hacking to make him go on the left lead, but i am doing it in a way that for now if he runs into it i dont mind, i want him to grasp it before i tidy the transition if you know what i mean.
I havent tried the pole but i am going to now, might be something to help. Another thing is that if you ask for canter and he strikes off on wrong lead, Go away and do something else then come back to it.
Good luck, Its a slow proccess x

[shortfatanhairy]

Lol I am having exactly the same prob but we favour the left! Perhaps our ponies should have a wee chat! Am agreeing with gg the more we stress the less they can cope with. Am chilling out with my lad as long as he strikes off when asked then he is praised we can finesse it later with leads. :0)

[chunkymad]

Try looking back over your inside shoulder and bring your shoulder back slightly when asking.