My 3 year old prefers his left lead. He does pick up both leads at play. However about 50-75% of time on the lunge line or round pen he will catch the wrong lead to the right. Looks so uncomfortable. He has not yet been broken to ride. Any tips for me to encourage the right lead from the ground?
Oh and he has been vet checked to rule out any lameness or pain
What do you do to help him get the proper lead?
Does he has good, steady, not rushing transitions at all gaits?
When he misses, do you slow him down and ask again, or do you hurry him on to see if he changes?
Do you longe with side reins and if so, one side a hole shorter than the other?
You may get more feedback if you post this on the dressage forum, I think.
He has pretty transitions most of the time. Not rushed. He is very laid back and on the lazy side. I don’t use side reins…yet anyway. I’ve tried both methods of slowing down and hurrying him on. It’s 50-50 chance either will work. He will get on the right lead but usually not the first few tries. And if he breaks back to a trot it all starts over. I try not to tip his nose in when he is on the lunge line but he has the same issue loose or on the line.
Have you driven him and is he more stiff to one side while driving?
Could you work him some more on the stiff side asking for more bend and then release, to see how he goes?
If you are going to start him under saddle, that may be better addressed when you are on board, if you can’t do it from the ground by getting him more loose on that stiffer side.
We really didn’t longe much before we were riding, so took care of such uneven handeness more from the saddle, as they became more fit some times it went away anyway.
This has helped me with the same problem.
When on the longe line and asking for the lope depart, be sure that he has not dropped his shoulder in and pushed his hips out. (What my guy would do)
I had to be careful to keep my right hand, and therefore his head, up to help keep his shoulder up, and ask for the depart at the correct time with the outside leg.
Mine would prefer to be a peanut roller and is very lazy, so this an issue.
Good luck with it.
