Posted 2005-04-13 12:01 AM (#23770) Subject: right lead
I have a 5 yr old paint mare she is a joy to ride however there is one problem. She leads to the left very well, but her right lead is rough. Once I get her on the correct lead she is fine, but it takes a while to get her there. Any suggestions?
Posted 2005-04-13 5:01 AM (#23776 - in reply to #23770) Subject: RE: right lead
Veteran
Posts: 171 Location: Liberty Hill Texas
We do circles starting small in both directions. As the leads get smoother and lower we will begin to two track out. Then we begin working on figure 8s at first it is challaging till you get it right. Then it gets boring as you prefect it.
Posted 2005-04-13 9:07 AM (#23790 - in reply to #23770) Subject: RE: right lead
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Right leads are harder for almost every horse. Horse are left handed. You really should focus on the flexibility of her right side and work on her moving away from your cues. Two tracking would be nice but at two most horsesa ren't strong enough in their core to hold everything together. Two tracking is a more advanced move. You might try cueing her in corners, sitting down, driving her deep into the rail/corner and asking as you near the fence. You want to be at a 30 degree angle when you head into the rail. Just as she lifts her inside shoulder to "track away" from the rail, cue! This lifting of her hsoulder should allow her to drive more easily with her inside hip. SOMetimes our babies have problems engaging their shoulders/hips because they lack the muscle strength to control their bodies plus the extra weight of a rider. Keep working her and she'll get stronger!
Posted 2005-04-14 4:28 PM (#23851 - in reply to #23770) Subject: RE: right lead
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 565 Location: Michigan
Also try doing some transition changes with her from the trot to canter and vice versa. Once she is cantering don't keep cantering her and cantering her, she'll grow bored. Come down to a trot, get her collected then cue for the canter again. Don't rule out a physical problem either. If she is really that bad to cue on the right lead, look into having her checked by your veterinarian.
right lead
