feeling canter leads

[ladora Flood]

Hi all,

How do you feel the lead your horse is on in the canter? How do you see it? I can tell in a straight line but not in a circle. People say and i read that the horse will feel so unbalanced but he feels fine.

Even his disunited canter, which he has only done a few times, doesn't feel that horrible like I've felt on some horses.

I'm working on the Harmony Program and following Clinton Anderson but I'm stuck and can't continue until i can feel the lead. LaDora

[Colorado Sunset]

So, baisically, if your in the school, the horses outside hindleg starts the canter by coming under it. The horses inside forleg stretches forward more than the outside forleg. (I dont know if this makes sense to you, but ill try!! ) So, the easiest way, if you dont know is to look down at the horses sholders and see which sholder is moving further forwards. If its the inside one, then your on the right leg, if its the outside leg, your on the wrong leg.
Once you can see it, you can start to feel it and check down to see if your right!!

Jo

[Colorado Sunset]

oh yeah, and if hes disunited you can either stop and try the transition again, or sometimes if you ride them forwards through it, it helps, they sort out their own legs after a few strides and find its much easier to canter normally!!

Jo