Cantering on the longe line

[theprancingpony]

So I was out lunging my mare today tacked up with side reins and what not and when I cantered her (in both directions) she would start off on the right lead and then switch her hind end... I haven't noticed this before but for all I know it could've been going on for a while.

Any advice??

[Manda]

So she's crossfiring? She might be in pain, you might want to have a vet check her out.

[theprancingpony]

Really? What kind of pain would cause that?

[theprancingpony]

Well I looked it up and it seems mostly like she's having a hard time keeping balanced, probably because she's still pretty out of shape, especially at the canter. But again, if it is pain, what could cause it?

[bethfornow]

We had a two year old at the barn that did this. turned out it was because he was still too weak in the rear to hold the correct lead. Try TROTING up and down hills untill she is stronger. Cantering her right now may not be a good idea. You don't want cross-cantering to become a learned behavior.

Hope this helps

[Manda]

Pain in the stifle could cause her to crossfire.

[theprancingpony]

ah I see. well we do trot a lot, and when I canter her we don't do it for long, and I like to slow her back to a trot before she starts cross-firing.

[DixieGirl]

she probally is cross-firing.

[fowlerk]

My horse does the same thing. It is because he has trouble with his leads. He will some times not get the lead because he has to have his head turned in a little, but side reins make them keep their head strait.

[theprancingpony]

yeah, i've been using side reins on the lunge line. i hope little by little her muscles will develop more.

also one other thing... when we trot to the left under saddle, she turns her head to the outside sometimes... any suggestions? we've been doing circles and stuff. it's probably just getting her in shape again.

[bethfornow]

more than likely it's just a habit. If it annoys you, don't let her bend it like that but be prepared for her to be pissy about it untill she gets out of the habit.

hope this helps

[Maxers]

She could be cross-cantering because of pain in the stifle like Manda said. Or it could be a habit. Or she could just be out of shape. Or she just doesn't know her leads yet. You would want to get her checked by a vet just incase. And you may want to see if your saddle is causing her any pain.

[DressageDoll]

Buy a book on lunging excersise and that will give alot of good suggestions. Also if your mare is 7 and up you should probably have your vet check and see if her hocks are fusing. Often times a horse who has fusing hocks is in enough pair that they cannot hold the canter to each direction for very long. I have heard of two approaches for fusing hocks: Bute 'm and use 'm... or.... retire them for short term a year or so until the fusing process is complete and then she will be sound for work again. But it may not be the hocks at all. Test to see if it's a soreness issue by giving her a gram or two of bute a couple of hours before you lunge and see if she seems to make the mistake less or not, if their is no difference I wouldnt worry much more about soreness. If saddle soreness is suspected lunge her in a sercingal and see if the problem persists. You could also try having a horse chiropractor look at her, a good treatment can work miracles for pain relief!
If you think she is still trying to find her leads then place her on a bend in your lunging by shortening the inside side rein a hole or two... and lengthening the outside side rein a hole or two, you can also run the lunge line through the ring of a snaffle bit and clip it to the d ring on your saddle close to the pommel this will give you more control of her bend while your lunging; use caution not to pull to much with the lunge line like this, a slight tug and then a realease is all the correction that is really needed.
In reply to your other question regarding her counter bending at the trot, she may be doing it to escape or avoid pain, or just to be contrary. Use the pressure of you inside leg and inside rein and insist she bends correctly. Do now give up till she gives in!
Hope something in this NOVEL sized comment helps. Happy riding!

[saddleseatsweetie]

if you have a trail near where you ride see if you can find a fairly step hill but not too steep of course and canter her up the hill it will really help her butt muscles also while you are riding move your outside leg back at the cnater and press it on her to keep her bent to the inside this will make it nearly impossible for her to cross fire
hope this helps!
if you have anymore questions just ask

[alliekk]

My arabian started doing that when I first started teaching him to do flying lead changes. He couldn't even do a whole circle without anticipating a lead change. After a while I just started loping circles and trotting circles so that he will see that we are NOT doing lead changes without my consent. He then started pinning his ears and I thought it was just him being a brat, but my experience knew better. I paid a friend who is a horse masseuse to come work on him and she said he was off on his diagonal.
She said that I wasn't working him enough in between my lead changing training. She said he over-compensated his lack of exercise for a change in his balance, which threw him off in the back and hip, also creating tension in his poll. It isn't all that expensive to have a masseuse come out and work on your horse. I paid $75 for half an hour. IT WAS WELL WORTH IT! now both of us are happy