Won't take a right lead

[Lometa]

I have a 8yo TB mare that WILL NOT take a right lead. She is a X-eventer and last month after so much trouble just getting her to canter, a vet was called out to look at her. He said that she was very sore in her hocks and gave her injections in both of them. I keep her on light work for a week, then started her back on long reins and lunge line. She now takes the left, but will switch back to it each time on the right. Does anyone have a suggestion?

[Heather]

Did your vet tell you the exact condition causing the mare's soreness? She could still be having pain, and favouring one lead as a result. Has she ever been actually lame?

If the vet gives her the all clear and she is just favouring one lead now out of habit, try rising to the trot on the wrong diagonal and letting her run a little into canter (this can soon be corrected once she gets the hang of cantering on the required leg. Most horses will strike off on the correct leg if you do this. If this fails, place a pole across the corner of your schooling area, and ask for canter just as you approach the pole. As she hops over it, she will more than likely land on the correct lead. Repeat this exercise for a few days until she gets the message.

Usually one or both of these exercises succeeds, but if the problem is still mechanical rather than mental, she is telling you, 'ouch, this hurts', so make sure that it is not the latter.

Hope this helps, Heather