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Discussion on Difficulty Canter to the left
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New Member:
goliva
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 3, 2010 - 5:21 pm:
Hi all,
So I bought my horse - a 6 y.o. TB - off the track in 10/09. Since putting him into training, I've been having a very difficult time getting him to learn to canter to the left. I ride dressage, and have for close to 20 years, and this is not my first OTTB, so I'm no stranger to obstacles in training! My horse's trot is great in both directions, and his canter to the left is lovely. However, when I ask him to canter to the left, he turns his head and neck way too far to the left and blows through my right-side aids. When I put my right-side aids on stronger, he will actually push harder through those aids. I think the problem is originating from his inability to counter-flex while going to the left, which I'm hoping is just related to him being unbalance and not strong enough yet. He's not lame, so I've ruled that out - he's not back-sore, his saddle is well-fitted, his feet are fairly good... I'm just at a loss! Has anyone encountered something similar to this???
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 3, 2010 - 6:52 pm:
Have you tried circling to the left than asking for the canter? I mean as in doing a type of reining/ cowboy spin, so a very small circle. I don't know the details beyond that, so hopefully someone can add something to make it more clear. I don't ride dressage but I would do this on loose reins as he DOES know how to canter and perhaps he's confused with your aids?
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 3, 2010 - 7:10 pm:
Not much education in dressage myself, but have you tried the spiral out? I think that's what Angie is trying to describe and you probably know what it is.
It works pretty well for something like that
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New Member:
goliva
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Posted on Monday, Oct 4, 2010 - 2:16 pm:
I do a lot of spiral in/spiral out with him - but he still gets so tight in the connection between his shoulder and his neck. This causes him to not really be able to spiral in, since he leads more with his forehand than thinking more like moving around his hind end (I hope that makes sense!). I thought he might be confused with my aids, but he will canter fine on a straight-away to the left, but the minute a turn comes he bulges to the right and blows through my aids. I don't know - I've been reading a lot of things and I'm thinking that he's just unbalanced and not strong enough yet???
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Monday, Oct 4, 2010 - 3:59 pm:
Gina, as I am sure you know, all horses have a stronger/more flexible side. They are left or right handed, so to speak. If you have determined that there is no lameness/soreness issue, then I think you are correct in thinking that his difficult side is just less balanced and strong than the other. Have you done any square turns with him? I think these might teach him to respect your outside aids on the weaker side. Start with the walk and use the outside aids to turn him as close to 90 degrees as you can. When he does well at walk, increase to doing at a slow trot and eventually at the canter. Eventually, as he really learns to listen to those outside aids, he shouldn't blow thru the inside aids and you can then hopefully smooth out the canter to the right.
Another thing to consider is how you are going to the right. I had trouble cantering to the right with my mare. She would flex to the outside and DrOp her inside shoulder. I was, without realizing it, turning myself to the outside. When I remember to turn my shoulder in the direction we are going, she improves 100%.
Best of luck!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Oct 4, 2010 - 6:14 pm:
Hello Gina,
Assuming no lameness issues and miscues, the best way I know to go from a good canter straight away to a good canter to the left is to start from the good and slowly increase the left ward deflection. As long as it is good you reward the horse and then decrease the radius a little bit. When he falls out of balance you stop and back up to the previous radius the horse was balanced on. And you work at the bigger radius a little while. Be sure to reward the good and ignore the bad other than stopping and not asking for so much.
If you are rewarding in a manner the horse connects with the desired behavior, a second person that can reward quickly will help, it should not be long before he "gets it" and you will find the horse trying to find how to "do it right" and he should find small changes in the radius easy to connect with good vs undesired behavior.
You might find this works best in a more relaxed atmosphere and perhaps after the horse has had a good trail ride. You will find more helpful hints at HorseAdvice.com » Training & Conditioning Horses » Behavior and Training » Modifying a Horses Behavior: Conditioned Responses.
DrO
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