How horses canter

Trained horses, when they are on a circle, are normally more comfortable when they are on the 'correct' lead.  If they are going to the left, then it's almost like a "rocking diamond", starting with the right hind foot, then the left hind and right forelimbs are on the ground at the same time, then it's "finished off" with all the weight on the left front foot on it's own.  Then there is a brief moment where all four legs are off the ground, and that's called the moment of suspension.

OK, that's the theory, but I know when I was a kid this was one of my greatest bug-bears: knowing when the horse is on the correct canter lead, and fearing the coach's yelling "you're on the wrong leg, AGAIN!"

Look down!

This is one of the few times you have my whole hearted permission to look down to find out if you're on the correct canter lead or not.  Give yourself permission to "look and learn", it's OK for those geniuses who can "instantly feel" if the horse is on the correct canter lead, but for us "mere mortals", then have a look!

Look down when you are cantering.  Lean a bit forward if you have to (be safe!  have your heels down!), but I bet that when you really look carefully you will see one leg "sticking out", more forward than then other.

Perhaps you might see the horse's knee on one side, but hardly see any leg on the other.

The leg you see most of is the lead you are on, i.e. if you can see more left front leg than the right, then you're on the left canter lead.

My coach says I'm wrong

When we're on the "wrong" canter lead, that's when we're travelling to the left, but we're actually on the right lead (or vice versa). 

So if you're wrong, then travelling to the left  you'll see more of the right leg sticking out.

Don't punish the horse for being 'wrong'

A lot of riders, not knowing what is about to happen in years to come in the horse's training always rouse on the horse when they're on the 'wrong' leg.

In years to come you are REQUIRED to be on the wrong canter leg, and we call that counter canter (OK counter canter is a bit different than "wrong leg", but it's close enough to think of it that way for now).

So don't get upset with your horse.  It's hard enough to get counter canter later on, so don't rouse on him now!

Instead of stopping, coming to a grinding halt, punishing your horse and starting again, I normally stay on the 'wrong' canter lead for a couple of laps to let the horse feel that it isn't so nice!  He's got to canter on the wrong leg in years to come anyway, so it can't hurt!   And, then when you ask again, after bouncing around and feeling uncomfortable, he'll be way more happy to help you onto the correct canter lead which is more comfortable for the pair of you.

Getting the correct lead

All the books say "inside leg on the girth", and then "outside leg behind", and then depending on where you train, kick with the outside leg, or kick with the inside leg.

Well, here's a trick to try....yes have the inside leg forward, but lean forward a little tiny (invisible!) bit, and if you're always getting wrong leads, then turn and pretend to "spit" on the inside hind foot!

OK sounds a bit weird "spitting" (or at least pretending to!) on your horse, but there's something about "spitting" that makes our whole body do as it's told!  Sometimes if you say to riders "inside leg on the girth", then the rest of the body doesn't follow, and they give all sorts of weird aids twisted up like a pretzel on caffeine.

But, when you "spit" you won't make a mistake, not only will your inside leg be forward, but so will your hip, and I have no idea why looking to the hind leg seems to work, but it sure does!

The horse that just WONT do it right...

We get LOTS of horses that just will NOT go on the correct canter lead.  Even with the very best riders aboard, they're STILL on the wrong leg!

If the horse was a race horse, he may have been taught (or even punished) to go on only one lead.

The horse might just be stiff, or sore, or may be just a habit, but some of them sure are stubborn about it!  

That's where lunging and/or the round pen come into it.  Now it doesn't have to be round, we have worked in square yards in the past...it's a bit harder but it still works!

It might take AGES, but once the horse is comfortable on both leads in the round pen, and can hold it easily, then try again.

Patience, kindness, a loving pat are often all that's needed.  But yes, PATIENCE is often the key.

And...don't forget correct flexion

If the horse is looking to the outside, he'll nearly ALWAYS go on the wrong lead, so make sure you have a little bit of inside flexion of the head and neck, and inside leg WELL FORWARD. 

It's often a big shock, especially for the more advanced riders to discover that their inside leg has NEVER been on the girth.  Have a look down, the girth is probably a foot in front of you, that's normally half the problem.

This is SO IMPORTANT:  Often the canter problem isn't a canter problem at all....it's a FLEXION problem!!!!

No!  It STILL won't work!

If the horse is very determined to be on the wrong leg in the round pen or on the lunge, then it's time for the vet or other medical practitioner to have a look at the horse.  It could be something as simple as a pulled muscle.  It could be something as serious as laminitis (especially if you're over feeding - look for rings on the horse's hooves!), so always get it checked out by a professional.

OK...it's ME not the horse!

If the horse consistently goes on both correct canter leads in the round pen, and goes on correct canter leads easily for other riders, then it's time to really have a good look at your posture, balance and position.  Email me and we can talk about a video lesson where you quickly video your work, send it to me, and I send you a "lesson on line"