My 4 year old mare had some issues even loping to the right when I first got her, but has improved so much. She still cross fires on the hind end sometimes though. I'm hoping she's just lanky and doesn't know how to use herself yet because she has so much potential and has never taken a lame step in the 6 months i've owned her. What are some things you guys do to help with cross firing and helping young horses learn to balance themselves?
(Have had both my farrier and chiropractor check her out and vet comes Friday so will get his opinion too but as for now, we can't find anything physically wrong with her!)
I'm in the same boat as you. One thing that seems to have helped the most was just having some time off. During her off time I have gotten 3 opinions from three vets. Each one says she is not lame, just weak on one side. We have a really good vet doing chiropractic work on her regularly. I have loped her a couple of times in the last month and there is already improvement. Her cross canter is nowhere near as pronounced and now I have a hard time telling when she is doing it. And She is easier to correct.
Unfortunately my horse is 8 and a trainer that rode her at a lesson agreed to the fact she was not lame. She got away with it for too long and now it a bit of habit for her.
Having sort of the same problem with my 3 yo. Took some advice off of here, and have really been focused on hip control. Last night she loped off on the first try, on the correct lead, with no cross firing. Basically I didn't/don't have enough control over her whole body to be able to help her where she is weak, and working on that at a standstill and a walk is helping a ton.
I had the same issue with a 3 year old that had 90 days on the pattern before I bought her. I got her home and she didn't know her leads and would cross fire really bad behind each barrel. I backed her off and went wider around them, then slowly brought her in until I felt her want to cross fire then I'd go back out wide. I think she wasn't taught to use her self properly but also just weak and needing some build up. Just keep working and one day it will click! ;)
Cross firing?!
