Canter Problems again

[NoviceNic]

I had a lesson last night and really felt as if I was getting somewhere at last. The thing is I was soo excited about jumping with no reins I forgot what my instructor showed me how to get the right leg in canter. If I am on the left rein Captain gets the correct leading leg all the time but if I am on the right rein he gets it wrong everytime. I have to then bring him back to trot and try again. I will try to explain to you what I was taught. Make sure Captain is in a nice trot, not too rushed. Sit back then move inside leg to back a little and kick. Pulling right rein in a little. This should then encourage Captain to have the inside leg leading.

Is this right?

Please leave advise as I need to practise on Captain every day so I can progress well in my next lesson.

[kedwards]

The outside leg should be back.

There are different ways to ask for a canter depart, depending on the level of the horse and rider. All have in common asking for a bend beforehand and bringing the outside leg back (while advancing the inside seatbone).

The simplest way, at first, is to ask for a little bend with the inside rein, then cue with the outside leg behind the girth to tell the horse to strike off with that hind leg*. This movement naturally brings the inside seatbone forward a little, which eventually can become your primary cue. However, be sure to release the inside rein when the horse begins to step off for the depart.

To help get the more difficult lead, begin by asking for it when your horse is already bending in that direction on a circle. If you know how to do any lateral work, you can also ask out of a leg yield away from the direction you will be cantering (e.g., leg-yield toward the wall on your left, then ask for the right lead canter in the corner)

*eventually, you can get to the point where you can ask for the bend with your inside leg and maintain contact on the outside rein throughout the depart (still with outside leg holding quietly behind the girth and the inside seatbone slightly advanced). This leads to a straighter and more-balanced transition, but don't worry about this until you are getting the correct lead consistently.

[NoviceNic]

Kedwards - Thanks for that. I used to ride at a riding school. I seem to remeber they were telling me outside leg back a little. But the other night the instructor was telling me inside leg back. So I will ask him why that way?? Maybe he is trying to teach me something I am not aware of.

[kedwards]

The only thing I can think is that perhaps your inside leg was too far forward and he was asking you to bring it back to the girth. The inside leg should be at the girth, but the outside leg should be a little behind the girth when you ask for the depart.

[michelle c]

i find sitting back a bit (instead of looking at the leg i want to lead) put outside leg back a bit and also shifting my weight to the out side helps when asking for canter!!!

[dancing-horse]

My horse has trouble with one lead as well. The way I make sure we start off on the wrong lead and not have to go through the trouble of slowing to a trot (which is always really unbalanced for me when trotting after just coming off the wrong lead) I bend his head to the inside. You should bend it just enough so that you can see the corner of his inside leg, then sit in the saddle and use your outside leg to ask him to canter. It's so simple this way. Then to check yourself, peer over and see if his leading leg is coming further forward.

[Lucy J]

my instructor asked me to put my inside leg back to encourage ciara to keep her inside leg engaged, perhaps that is why?