Cantering on the wrong leg

Q AWhy does my horse keep cantering on the wrong leg? Karen Watson, Aylesbury

There are several reasons why your horse might be striking off on the wrong leg. It can be habit, stiffness, a lack of balance or he might be confused about the aids you’re giving. It could even be pain, discomfort or the memory of pain. First, make sure there’s no physical reason and that his tack fits correctly. Once you’ve done this, you can concentrate on your riding. Check your position and your canter aid and reflect on how you ask for the canter. It’s natural for tension to be mounting now that you’ve

identified an issue. It can be helpful to ride a few ‘not canter’ transitions. For example, prepare the trot as though you’re planning to canter and think about where you might ask, but don’t actually ask for the canter. If your horse chooses to canter, let him and then bring him back to trot to rebalance. If this is a firmly established habit, work on the correct strike off by positioning the shoulders to the inside before asking for the canter. Another tip is to leg-yield into the canter as this improves the connection and suppleness.