How do I get my horse to push his lead leg out while loping?

by Liv
(Michigan)

I am a pretty advanced rider and have been with a tough Quarter horse trainer for 5 years, and I have recently left my trainer's and am on my own. My horse is really soft and easy to ride extremely lite in his face and great in his back end. I did not have any problems until I went to go ride him this spring and I noticed that when we go to the right (in the front end) you can barely tell what lead he is on because he takes a longer step with the left leg then his right (lead) leg. It is very uncomfortable to sit and I have him adjusted by a chiropractor every 8 weeks and it has not fixed the problem. I have tried many training methods, counter cantering to get him to stretch that leg out, speeding up him lope into a fast canter, turning his head to both side, swapping leads really fast and more. I am almost ready to give up! He is soooo flawless to the left and he used to be amazing both direction (and actually, the right was his better way because I am left handed), but now we have developed this habit that I have been contending with for almost 4 months. I have tried given him about 2 weeks off and more.....I don't know what to do anymore. What would you suggest?

Answer: Hello, Not knowing all of the history I would first suggest you let a Vet, that has a reputation of working with horses that are lame look at your horse. It sounds like you have gone the extra mile to help your horse but sometimes there can be something inside that we cannot see. Having to get him adjusted this often makes me think something else is going on. It also sounds like you are an advance rider. I would also suggest that you have someone watch you ride. Even professional rider will have a friend watch them ride to help them. We all can and do pick up bad habits. Without seeing you and your horse these are the things I would start with. If either one or both of these do not fix the problem. Please write back and let me know. I am still learning and will continue to learn the rest of my life. If this does fix this problem it will help to know what worked so that I can help someone else in the future. If it does not fix this please let me know that.
Thanks for writing.

Ray Ainsworth
The Man Horses Talk To®
rayainsworth.com