Conference noted::equitation

    You may not be doing anything wrong.  He may have a physical problem
    on that side...either from lack of use or a muscle problem.
    Have you spoken to your vet?
    We have gone as far as getting a physical therapist to come over
    and go over the mare.  She does seem better.  Her problem was not
    in taking the lead, although she was much tighter on that side,
    but in getting the same level of trot on both sides.  We are now
    awaiting the outcome.
    The person we got was Jeanne Sullivan...she talked to the group
    that Julie Nadjar pulled together about a month ago.
    
    If you need more information, please let me know.  I can be reached
    at MILVAX::NICKERSON.
    
    Good luck
    

    I has thought of that, but in watching him carefully in the field
    I have seen him pull some mighty fancy manuvers out there.  He can
    and does canter on the right lead in the field, even do some very
    pretty flying lead changes for the fun of it.  But asking him and
    having him understand seems to be the problem. He in no way exhibits
    any sign of pain (ie. wringing his tail, flattened ears, bucking ect.) he
    is willing, relaxed and happy to be cantering. 
    
    I would be interested in taking to this person anyway though if
    you could supply the address and or phone #.
    
    Thanks
    stephanie  dtn 297-5449
    

    Once it is determined there is no physical reason for this 
    problem there are a number of other alternatives.  Are you
    cueing the horse at the correct time.  If your timing is off
    there is a possibility the horse is responding to your request
    correctly.  Asking a young horse for a right lead when his feet
    are in position for a left lead take off will most likely result
    in a left lead.  Placement of a horses feet when you ask for
    changes is as critical as giving the correct cues for that change.
    
    One handy trick I've learned for forcing a horse into a certain
    lead when all else fails is picking up a canter over a jump.
    Try trotting up to a small jump, and upon landing ask for a bend
    to the right picking up a canter.  It is critical that the right
    front foot land first.
    
    The suppling excercises and circling excersises you are doing all
    seem to be the right start.  What works for one will not always
    work for another.  Keep trying, good luck.
    
    Karen

    Another way that might work is to canter your horse towards a wall
    or fence. Then at the very last minute change directions to the
    right. He should natural take the right lead, even without a cue,
    although use the cue so next time he'll associate your cue with
    taking the right lead. Let him know at once he did good! Once he is
    in the right lead, continue in that direction for a while. Work on the 
    left lead as well but most of your time should be spent on the right side. 
    Of course the amount of training time depends on the attention span
    of your horse. If he has a short attention, he may get frustrated
    from continues training and may stop paying attention all together.
    Put him away for awhile. Keep your sessions short (10 minutes or
    so) and he will learn more in that time.
    
    Good luck 
    
    faster, also will be more willing next time.

    What .4 assumes is that your horse will do a flying lead change
    (if he is not already on the right lead as he approaches the wall).
    What may happen is that the horse switches only in the front and
    ends up cross cantering.  This could frighten him because of the
    unbalanced feeling and make things worse (depending on your horse's
    temperment).  
    
    You might want to read through the replies to the dressage note,
    I think this topic was discussed in there at one time.  
    
    Does your horse know how to canter on the lunge line?  If he knows
    voice commands and knows how to canter on the lunge.  You may want
    to work him for 10 min before you ride on the lunge line in both
    directions (getting him to canter correctly in both directions for
    a short amount of time).  
    
    If the horse responds to voice commands and is not afraid of a
    schooling whip, you can try to use them in combination.  As you
    are trotting in a circle to the left, gather the contact with your
    reins and make sure the horse is bent properly around the circle.  Make
    sure you don't lean forward as you ask for the canter - this throws
    your weight onto the shoulders and makes it more difficult for the
    horse to free them up.  As you move your left leg back to ask for the
    canter lead, give a quick tap with the whip along with your leg aid.
    This sometimes startles the horse into picking up the correct lead -
    because in this direction, the left hind leg is the first leg in the
    canter sequence for the right lead.
    
    The method of asking over a small jump works for some horses, but
    it depends on horse & rider combination. 

    What ever method you try, make sure you praise the horse when he
    does respond correctly and don't stay in the canter for long.

    Have you tried engaging the canter on a circle? That way the horse
    will feel off-balanced if he/she/it tries to start on the wrong
    lead.
    				Cindy
    

    After discussing this with my trainer, and reading these notes I
    did two things.  First I read Jack Meagher's "Beating Muscle Injuries
    in Horses" and found my gelding to be a little tight on the left
    side of his body.  I also did just troting in large figures of eight
    to instill balance, cadence and suppleness.  After two weeks of
    this (and not cantering) He is loose, limber, cadenced (better)
    and more relaxed in his movements and transitions.  Now I can ask
    him to canter to the right at the circle part of the arena with
    the aids and a touch of the dressage whip behind my leg aid to get
    him to move out in response to the reinforcement.  AND IT WORKS!
    He is much more relaxed and  sure of his feet.  The massage definately
    works and allows me to see where problems are occuring while they
    are still small.
    
    My guess is that I was asking too much of him at one time and so
    he was tensing up and becoming confused.  Looking back I see how
    important it is to establish a relaxed and working frame of mind
    first before increasing training demands.
    
    Thanks for your info.
    
    regards,
    Stephanie