cutting in...how to stop?

I've been working with a really great 5 year old. He's fully trained...walk/trot/canter/jumping/backing/leg-yielding....but his only problem is that he LOVES to cut into the middle of the arena.

If he does cut in, I'll make him turn around immediately and go back to that very same spot and make him walk on the wall...but even with hundreds of corrections, he still does it. It's like his memory is full haha.

What else can I do...besides keeping my leg on him, keeping the rein to the wall loose, and then turning him around if he does cut.

Maybe you should try working him hard in the middle. He obviously wants to go there (maybe to get away from working) But if he realizes that if he goes into the middle and gets worked hard, yet when he's on the rail, he can relax, that might motivate him to stay on the rail.

Obviously you wouldn't do this for the rest of his career, but just until he realizes that middle= more work, rail = less work

I've tried working him hard in the middle, and though he does co-operate better in the middle, he still won't listen on the wall if we just relax.

I swear he's part mule haha (no offense to mule owners). He's sooo head-strong and it gets annoying.

He does it the most in a canter, but does it also in a trot (he won't do it in a walk)

Well when he cuts into the middle, take that and turn it into a serpentine, and serpentine the rest of the arena and then go back on the rail, and if he does it again, then do serpentines down the arena again.

That stopped my 8 year old from doing it.

You your outside rein tighter than your other.

Agree!! I see this a lot, and if all else fails I do fast and tight circles..... for this I reccomend taking a crop or split reins.... make sure he goes in fast and tight circles and eventually he won't want to cut anymore

If he doesn't focus on the rail, stop and back a lot so he has to pay attention for when you stop so he can avoid getting bit pressure.....

Other things to stop cutting is inside leg pressure, outside rein pressure, when he cuts in take him back to the rail and turn his nose into the rail.... and when he turns just change directions and go the other way..... and you know when he's going to do it so apply pressure on the outside rein a few times and apply inside leg pressure before he does it and make him go faster if he still cuts in

When Boo cuts in, I use leg pressure to push him back out. (I trained him on outside leg) Or as soon as the horse cuts in, turn and switch direction.