How did you train your horse to stay on the rail?

So, I have decided that Citrus needs work on steering before we go back to WTC work. I have been trail riding him and/or walking him in the arena. He will follow the rail going to the left, but wants to veer almost the second I take my leg off of him when going to the right. I do not want to dull his sides and have been riding just in a rope halter and cotton reins. I seriously have to pick up the inside rein and give him an outside leg of varying degrees almost the whole way around to the right.....

How did you get your horse to walk the rail?

We did stop on a good note- after he had followed with less cues for one whole side of the arena. Baby steps for sure- sometimes for him being 5, he does not feel trained at all.

You shouldn't train your horse to stay on the rail. You should train your horse to move off of your leg. Let him make a mistake like moving off the rail and put him back on the rail then release the pressure and let him make a mistake again. By constantly pushing him over you are training him that your leg means nothing and nothing he can do will get relief from it. I would also throw away the rope halter and ride him in a bridle. Riding a horse poorly in a halter will only get you a poorly trained horse.

I agree, but his previous owners had him in a harsh bit and spurs, neither of which I want my 8 year old daughter to have to deal with. I am retraining him without spurs. How do I avoid getting him a harsh mouth when I will constantly have to be putting him back on the rail?

Give him a boot if he ignores your leg after you ask him to move off it. Push him into your outside rein, don't pull him out with it. And like kevin said, don't hold your leg on, if he doesn't listen when you ask him, give him a boot and if he ignores that then give him a bigger boot until you get A response.
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I agree with kevin. Constant pressure won't do anything for you except dull him to your aids. He needs to relearn how to move off your leg when you ask. If he was ridden in a harsh bit before, try him in a snaffle or something similar. And you don't need spurs. As roro said, if he doesn't listen the first time when you ask, then demand it from him with a good kick. Horses are smart, and I'm sure he's no exception. He'll learn pretty quick what you want.

You release the pressure when he yields to you. Use what tools you need to get the horse to perform but use them properly and in conjunction with good training.

Well at my old school I was taught to keep the reain closest the rail shorter than the other but have them both at the same level

Hm, If I gave the impression that my leg pressure was constant, that is not what I meant at all.... I am familiar and use the pressure/release technique...... I am concerned because I keep having to cue him to go back on the rail- that is what I am concerned about making him dull- the repetition.

Well no offence to your riding or anything but maybe trying getting a professional in to help train him. He needs to move away from pressure so it's really just going to be a lesson of repitition.

I've never broken or trained a horse but I heard somewhere that when breaking a horse you need to push the area until the horse moves away from it.

Then keep repeating