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can't get my horse to take his right lead

3K views 19 replies 9 participants last post by  Muppetgirl 
#1 ·
When i canter to the right the only way for my horse to get the correct lead is when he is turning. For some reason he will only take his left lead. My instructor told me to only squeaze with my outside leg and out my inside foot forward a bit and keep my outside shoulder back a little and lean a little to the outside. I do this or atleast try to but he still wont take the correct lead! Any suggestions on what to do?
 
#2 ·
If he will only take the lead you want in the bend, it is a good possibility that it is a balance and strength issue. You will need to do exercises to build up his ability to carry his body the way you are asking for. One thing I used to do was to start with getting the lead on the bend and then keep them cruising for a little while without asking for anything other than maintaining the canter. This will work the muscles that need to get stronger to give you the lead. You should also do some lateral work to get him on your aides and get him flexing for you.

Getting the correct lead outside of a circle is about creating the bend of the circle in their body while still going in a straight line. If either or both of you are not strong enough to create that bend, it is going to be very hard to get the lead you are asking for.

I do not know what kind of training you do. If it were my horse, I would spend some time in the side reins with a little more focus on the weak side. Not too much because you don't want to create the opposite weakness.

Also, a lot of long trot serpentines with focus on keeping him standing up through the curves. Starting with larger swings since it is easier to balance and keep him up and slowly going down in size. This will strengthen his ability to get his inside hind leg under his belly which is where it needs to be to create the bend for the lead. The serpentines will also help to strengthen your position since standing him up while keeping him bent will put you in almost the same position you will ask for the canter in.
 
#5 ·
If he will only take the lead you want in the bend, it is a good possibility that it is a balance and strength issue. You will need to do exercises to build up his ability to carry his body the way you are asking for. One thing I used to do was to start with getting the lead on the bend and then keep them cruising for a little while without asking for anything other than maintaining the canter. This will work the muscles that need to get stronger to give you the lead. You should also do some lateral work to get him on your aides and get him flexing for you.

Getting the correct lead outside of a circle is about creating the bend of the circle in their body while still going in a straight line. If either or both of you are not strong enough to create that bend, it is going to be very hard to get the lead you are asking for.

I do not know what kind of training you do. If it were my horse, I would spend some time in the side reins with a little more focus on the weak side. Not too much because you don't want to create the opposite weakness.

Also, a lot of long trot serpentines with focus on keeping him standing up through the curves. Starting with larger swings since it is easier to balance and keep him up and slowly going down in size. This will strengthen his ability to get his inside hind leg under his belly which is where it needs to be to create the bend for the lead. The serpentines will also help to strengthen your position since standing him up while keeping him bent will put you in almost the same position you will ask for the canter in.
Ditto.

The other things I want to point out is: Are you able to control every single part of your horse's body? (head, neck, shoulders, rib cage, hips)

If not, you need to work on getting control of your horse's body before you can expect him to pick up a lead.

I actually just posted this video for someone else. I just like how this guy explains things.


You horse needs to move his hip over at the correct timing to start off on the correct hind leg.
 
#4 ·
I used to ride a horse Who wouldn't pick up the right lead, and the owner just loped around on whatever lead they wanted because they didn't know the difference......I really struggled with this horse and his leads.....really really struggled.....
I ended up getting some help and fixed it (until the owner came back and rode him again).....
1. Trotting out of a small tight circle and asking him, this set him right up for that lead...
2. Was performing a roll back straight into a lope, it forced him to use the correct lead....

He was just a case of poor trainng, once he got on the correct lead he was fine, he just couldn't/wouldn't pick it up because he'd been ridden on the wrong lead for so long.....
 
#6 ·
For my horse (who also has a hard time with right lead), we have had to really build up his muscles. The right is just his difficult side. In order for me to get the right lead, I have to do a couple of things (this is assuming he can physically do it).
1. sit back and evenly. I don't think leaning will do anything but put strange balance in strange places.
2. Lift with your inside hand, making sure your horse is bent to the inside CORRECTLY!
3. Bring your outside leg back.
4. This is a trick I realized worked for my guy, doesn't mean it works for everyone but maybe it will work. I squeeze twice with my inside leg, kind of like asking for him to move over, it sort of pushes him into the outside while bending him to the inside if that makes sense.
5. Then squeeze with both legs, outside leg back, inside leg in the correct place.

Always check to make sure it isn't something physical first. Then check to make sure it's not something that you are doing or how you are asking.
 
#7 ·
This works well for my horse too, need to use both legs to cue and I have ease him into the canter or he gets to "excited." If I rush him, he picks the wrong one every time. What he's been doing though when I ask for a canter on the right lead and he decides he wants the left instead, is he will also brace on the bit and try to take off with me...frustrating. He just needs to build more strength and balance on that side (and I think his rider does too!)
 
#11 ·
Lots of great advice already posted, but one important thing to look at is does your horse actually know what your outside leg means? When you use your outside leg to ask for the canter, you are asking the horse to step over slightly with his hips as he pushes into the canter and reach with his inside hind leg to pick up the correct leg. So, can you put on your outside leg at the walk or trot and get a haunches in? If not, perhaps you should teach him what this cue really means. Start at the halt by putting your leg on and asking for him to move only his hips away from the pressure. Release when he does, and work up from there!
 
#12 ·
Ok changed out my saddle today.....had awesome pickups on leads! My previous saddle was not wide enough in the bar and severely restricted my horses shoulder movement......How's your tack fitting? Sorry if you have already commented on that, I didn't want to re-read the thread again:)
 
#14 ·
actually i think i need to get a half pad because my saddle is really tight on his shoulders which like you said is restricting the movement. Is there anything i can use in the mean time until i get a half pad because i have to save up my money for one :-p
 
#16 ·
Correct Canter Lead

I agree with all that is written above. To add, tip the nose of your horse into the lead direction. Place your outside leg and buttock with weight back. Exaggerate this if need be. This forces the horse to start from behind where the back leg leads first.

Keep your aids the same all the time until your horse gets it. Won't take long at all, unless that is your stiff side too in which case you both have some stretching exercises to do!

Have fun!
 
#20 ·
Yup, I just had to get a new saddle, and it took a while to find one with full QH bars....sigh......at one poit I was driving around with 5 saddles in the back of my vehicle, hoping it wouldn't get stolen!!! Just got rid of the last one today!!!

A properly fit saddle can make all the difference.
 
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