Can't get the right lead that was once easy!

[*Candy*Horse*]

My horse will not pick up his right lead on his own. By this I mean that he will pick it up over a jump, groundpole, or something he needs to lift his legs for. But for the flat and asking then, it has no effect! He won't do it and stubbornly throws out his left lead. He is a 13yr old QH and a really forgiving horse. I rode him at a camp in NY and he picked up his leads fine. When I got him to NJ (my home state) he started ok, then in about a week, he stopped. Wouldn't do it, no fussing, just wouldn't do it. He was lame for a while and is now totally sound, fat and happy. I need to get his right lead if I am thinking about participating in any show! I would hate to be stuck in walk trotting classes!I've tried circling, but he just anticipates it and throws his left out right away. I tried for atleast 2 hours, finally picking it up, but it wasn't a pleasant experience. Is there a way to get a correct lead on a stubborn horse? I really need the help! Major problem. Please help!
ps- he has no physical problems or illness
also, this is posted in many forums, im sorry if it is annoying, but it might get me a few more responses.

[ros]

Something not right here. Can you think of anything that changed when you moved him to NJ? Did the lameness coincide roughly with his inability to pick up right lead?

I really wouldn't be too quick to label him stubborn - horses don't change like that for no good reason.

[*Candy*Horse*]

Tucker was brought to a horse camp by a camper. There he was ridden 2x a day, and would get his leads fine! I bought him, but I could not take hiom home with me so he went back with the owners in PA. He lived in a backyard barn bascially, beign ridden on their land and trails. The changes may have been footing, or, I really don't know! But ever since he came, it might be my riding, but he just gave up on the right lead. His fav is his left lead, iot shows in everything. The owners brought him to me a few weeks later, just to let you know. I truly do not understand it. It could be my riding.
Chrissy

[LindaAd]

Have you checked very carefully that nothing's hurting him, CandyHorse?


My cob refused to canter on one lead in a lesson the other day - he generally does prefer the other one, so I asked my instructor to get on him and see how much it was because of my lopsided riding. She said he was definitely one-sided and thought he might have something wrong - and she was right: the front foot on that side had grown over the shoe (farrier said feet grow faster in the spring!), and it was making him uncomfortable.

Or are you stiff on one side, and blocking him somehow?

[*Candy*Horse*]

I might be leaning, or stiffness, but how do you figure it out? My trainer isn't Grand Prix, or known for phanominal training. I doubt she would be able to see if I was "Lopsided." Should I ask for a trainer to come out and teach me for a little while? What would you suggest? I am a lefty personally, so maybe my cues are better for the left, and weak on the right. I have NO idea on how to fix it and figure it out. How would you fix stiffness on your own body, anyway?
What a confusing problem!
Chrissy & DBRocco

[LindaAd]

This is a difficult one, CandyHorse, and I'm still struggling with it. There's been a lot of advice about it in different threads recently - one was called Leaning to the Left, but try searching on Leaning, or One-sided. It's not something you can fix instantly, like a badly-stuffed saddle or a loose shoe; it's just something you keep working on and gradually improve.My trainer is left-handed, and she has the problem too, although she can monitor herself and straighten herself out.


I'd certainly say ask your trainer, or have a lesson with a new trainer. Could you ask the trainer to ride the horse, and see if it's any different?

I noticed it in myself when I started riding again after a break in the winter: because I'm right-handed, I tend to sit to the right and have my left stirrup shorter, and I noticed the horse was drifting to the right when I wanted to go straight - horses will go where your weight is. I also noticed that I was twisted too, because I ride with those webbing reins with little leather strips along them, and there were always more strips visible on the right than on the left.