Horse cantering question?

Question

I'm riding a Peruvian Paso mare for my friend. very sweet, nice gaits ( she's gaited by the way as most p.p.'s are).

Problem :

When in a canter going counter clockwise she trips up A LOT. BUT only going counter clockwise. clockwise she's fine, not one trip. and it doesn't happen in any other gaits going either way.

(info: we also use shin splints on her forelegs to give her more support. she' not limping, nothing is warm to the touch or swollen and no tenderness)

ANY ideas as to what's up??

Answer 1

Sounds like shes a right hoofed girl:)  Most seem to favor the left of right, and when I found my girl being a righty we do a bit more work to the left and much much better.  It'll get better.

Answer 2

It does sound like a balance issue on the left lead.  How do you canter her?  are you on a straight most of the time, in a circle, in a large arena?

To help diagnose the actual issue, pay attention to when she trips - asking for a circle, turning a corner, on the straight, etc.  Once you know this, you can start working on what the issue is.  It would be good to have someone on the ground tell you as much as possible what how she is tripping also.  A video might help.

She might have a tight or loose tendon that is causing the problem also - so video will definitely help figure out what is going on.

Answer 3

she is probably unbalanced.

i have also ridden many horses that have a good side, and a bad side. i rode one that just had a bad side, so that he would either get the wrong lead on that side, or trip all the time. she could just have a bad and a good side.

also, is she shoed? because sometimes getting shoes help with tripping. i don't know why, but it sometimes works.

Answer 4

as it is counter canter it sounds that she may be unbalanced.that is why that ordinary canter is fine, but counter canter requires a lot more balance

Answer 5

The likelyhood is that she is unbalanced. You need to pick her up off her forehand and rebalance her. I'm afraid I don't know much about the breed you describe but this problem in any horse can point to lack of balance. You need to work with an instructor as there could be 101 reasons for the lack of balance and the difficulty on this rein only, and without seeing the horse being ridden a few times no one on here can give you a clear answer. Good luck though!

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