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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
 
Location: Northern Ontario | My colt (3yr old) has about 6 weeks under saddle. He is pretty good minus his bolting and bucking fit the other day...he is full of himself lately....spring weather
Anyway, his lope has really improved on his left lead. When I ask him to lope on his right lead, he picks up the lope but on the counter lead. I let him go a few strides and then slow him and ask him for his right lead and he always takes the left! I don't know what to do. I place his body, balance him on right circles at the trot before, make sure I am not leaning or anything, so I don't know why he never picks up his right lead. He did the other dayonce when I asked him. Even if he is free lunging on a right circle, half of the time he is on his left lead, but I know he can lope of his right. Ive seen him do it
Any tips to help him.with this? He is a willing colt, so I don't want to frustrate him
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Edited by SuperTrooper 2018-03-21 10:49 PM
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
 
Location: North Dakota | If he does it while free lunging, my guess is it’s a strength problem on that side. I wouldn’t overdo the lunging but that can help him build up muscle. But don’t let him carry on in the counter canter because that won’t help him!
Sane under saddle. I would not let him go a few strides because then he thinks he’s correct. Immediately pull him up if he doesn’t pick it up, and try again. You don’t need to make a big deal about it, but just don’t let him be on the wrong lead.
Really make sure his hip is under him and his shoulders are square. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I feel if a young horse or any horse for that matter, is picking up the wrong lead that it stems from discomfort - whether strength and balance in a young horse, pain in a finished horse etc.
I don’t think it would be a bad idea to have a chiro take a look at him and make sure your saddle isn’t fitting him terribly. If everything checks out, for sure don’t let him continue on the incorrect lead, correct him ASAP.
Case in point - I’ve been struggling to get good left bend out of my colt despite good right flexion. I spent some more hands on time with him and discovered the left side of his neck from the poll to about midway back is hard as a rock! No wonder he can’t flex. Massage is making a difference and I hope to connect with my chiro soon. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
Location: Northern Ontario | Thanks for the advice. I tried pulling him up every time he took the wrong lead and it didnt work. I think its just a balance thing. He has only been worked with for 6 weeks....he was a pasture puff 2yr old beforw that. Anyway, he is not sore besides being just a bit work sore ( since he is getting worked more everyday and hes pretty bum high too) I m a massage therapist and I check him quickly before each ride..... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
Location: Northern Ontario | Update: so chiro is coming saturday (just incase) ;) |
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Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | I think what you are experiencing is a common problem. My 5 year old was a lazy loper and was quite comfortable loping in the right lead, even while going left. It did take some conditioning, some time, lots of correction.
Here are a few "tips & tricks"
1) Don't force small circles at first. Larger circles are easier and if your horse is not strong in a lead, small circles are just that much harder.
2)Don't insist on pulling the nose to the inside of your circle. Start by setting his head to the outside of your circle, so that his inside shoulder leads. Then ask for the lope. Once you are loping in the correct lead, then reposition the head slightly inside, and pick up that inside rib cage with your inside leg. This is a temporary cheat, but it works good.
3) Use hills to condition-lope uphill in a big circle.
4) sometimes speeding up will encourage the correct lead (rather than slowing down or pulling up)
I actually taught him a voice cue (by accident LOL), so that when he does occasionally pick up the wrong lead now, he hears me correct him with a harsh "aaa, aa, aaa" , & he immediatly swithches leads on his own now. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
Location: Northern Ontario | So, chiro came yesterday and he was locked on his right side from poll to tail. It was worse at the poll. Im guessing he did it when it took 3+ people to get him on the trailer and he put up a fight ( train your 3yr olds to lead better lol) anyway, I turned him out in tje arena to stretch out a bit (cause the turnouts are small) and he loped off on the right lead :) |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | SuperTrooper - 2018-03-25 5:30 PM So, chiro came yesterday and he was locked on his right side from poll to tail. It was worse at the poll. Im guessing he did it when it took 3+ people to get him on the trailer and he put up a fight ( train your 3yr olds to lead better lol) anyway, I turned him out in tje arena to stretch out a bit (cause the turnouts are small) and he loped off on the right lead :)
Woohoo! These creatures can be such confusing puzzles. Looks like you found a missing piece and got it fixed! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 542
| When your asking for the right lead tip his head to the left and push him with your left leg and "push him" into that lope by applying pressure from the left. It forces them to take the first step with their correct leg. Then give their head and your in your correct lead. Usually you do this a while and they understand lead left circle right lead right circle and you don't have to help them by "pushing over"
Make sure your making large circles to the side they are weak on getting colts in a bind hurts the ones that aren't strong in the back end...they can't get up underneath selves correctly to push especially since they haven't developed those muscles. |
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