correct canter leads

[jitters56]

I need help being able to tell when I am on the correct lead..i know how to ask for the leads..outside leg, and outside rein. I just need help on knowing when the horse is correct, and when he is not..HELP! :)

[horseygal90]

Ok... When the horse is on the correct lead, his inside leg comes further forward in canter. When he's on the wrong lead, his outside leg comes further forward, and he is unbalanced. Its pretty hard to sit to as well, so if in doubt, trust your seat! (If its normal, he's ok, if not, its probably not!)
Also, its easier to tell from the ground, so if you really can't see it, ask your instructor, they should tell you!

[Eistee]

If the horse is on the corect canter lead you should be able to feel his inside fore leg coming through further than his outside fore - if you're in doubt then have a glance, as you will be able to see his inside leg coming through.

Unless he's pretty well schooled and can counter canter, if he's on the wrong leg it will feel unbalanced and less smooth (if he can counter canter it will feel pretty similiar as he'll balanced on both canter leads, which makes it slightly harder for the rider to tell!) so if in doubt have a peek!

To encourage a strike off on the correct leg, you can ask for canter in the corner of a school or on a circle where he should already be flexing to the inside and thus encouraging the correct lead leg. If you're still having problems with striking off on the correct leg, sometimes asking for the upwards transition over a sinlge placing pole can help as well, providing all the aids are correct!

tee xxx

[kedwards]

For some reason, I never could see which leg was "farther forward" from the saddle.

Instead, when learning, I just focused on which leg hit the ground in the last beat of the canter. If the horse is on the correct lead, he'll have his weight on the inside foreleg at the point of the stride when he is farthest on his forehand (i.e., the "bump" in the "ba, ba, bump" of canter beats).