Why?

[sultie]

Why Can Minto walk and trot better on the right rein than the left but canters better on the left rein than right?

[Maria]

Hi Sultie

When I ride Carrie she is much more difficult to ride on the left rein in all gaits. She finds it more difficult to step under straight with her nearside hind - although she is a lot better since I had an equine osteopath out. She also has more muscle development on her offside shoulder than her nearside one.

Last night I was watching her charge down the fields to join her chums, she struck off on the left lead in canter out of choice. But she cantered with her head and neck over to the right - which obviously allowed her to canter more easily. Obviously if I was riding her I would be asking for a slight flexion to the inside (the left) and she would find that difficult and prefer to canter on the right rein. Does your pony tend to canter with his head and neck to the outside of the school on the left rein rather than flexed towards the left (the inside of the school)?

Maria