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Balancing in Canter

2K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  WildAtHeart 
#1 ·
Hello, I've been riding for just under a year now.
I started riding a little bay stallion a couple of weeks back, I like him the most out of all the horses I've ridden til date.

I just have one problem, when cantering on the right lead, he's perfect and i can collect/slow him down.
However, when I try him on the left lead, I feel out of balance a lot of the time, since he bends so far in, and I'm not vertically sitting.

How should I solve this
 
#2 ·
Also, I forgot to add, he speeds up on the left lead, and I can't slow him down & feel unsafe.
He is a quiet stallion he's never tried to be dominant and respects me, so the problem is most probably me!

On the bright side, we started jumping last week and it was great!
 
#3 ·
All horses have one way that they go better, with lots of work they can become even and travel the same in both directions. It sounds like this guy doesn't really know how to balance on the left lead and if that is the case it isn't really anything you are doing wrong, just a lack of training and conditioning on his part.
I would talk to your instructor and see if they feel that it is a problem with you or a problem with him and then figure out ways to deal with it. It is very hard to give advice over the internet without seeing what the actual problem is!
 
#4 ·
Might be a balance issue for him - meaning he's not balanced (he's probably leaning too much) and then rushes to catch himself.

You might need to be more firm in riding inside leg to outside rein in the one direction, and nake extra certain your outside rein is steady. How is he on the lunge line in that direction?
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#5 ·
it sounds like he is over bending toward the left, which causes him to move toward the right (drift outward) through his right shoulder. it will make the canter very bumpy and hard to ride. it's likely that you are turning your body too much toward the inside, too.
when you canter left, use more outside rein (right) rein. in fact, use almost all outside rein, but keep it against the side of his neck. you make sure you are not bending to the inside. Look at his outside ear, and don't put your outside leg too far back. think of "supporting" the outside and almost "pushing " it left, instead of "pulling" him left.
 
#6 ·
Thank you guys for the advice. Yeah he does lean in, and it gets me off balance too /:
I've got a lesson tonight so I'll try using more outside rein and see how that goes.

I don't know what he's like on lunge unfortunately I've never lunged him! This summer when exams are over I'll be seeing more of him outside the ring though :)

I'll get some videos today and hopefully it'll be more help.
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#7 ·
Hey guys an update, on the right he was perfect as usual.
Turns out it was his balance that was the problem, so I used my inside leg to tell him to keep going left, but used almost completely outside rein and it worked!
Thanks all who helped :)
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#10 ·
Sounds like he is just not very comfortable/balanced on the left lead. That means you should do most of you cantering on that lead. The more work you do the more balanced he will become.

It will take time but try to slow his canter if you can. Apply a little inside leg around corners to get him to stop leaning on you.

As for your balance...try no stirrup work or even bareback...both these improve your balance.
 
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