What is...

[FirenLady]

Its wierd Fire perfers his left leg by far but onces he's on his right he jumps better, canters nicer etc. But if he's gonna spook, spin, etc he always almost goes right. very stange.

[solomon]

They all have a favourite side i think wonder if its like us being left or right handed?

[Jen]

i just sit there and we go, i usualy only canter bloss in a straight line out on hacks so i let her choose, i usually only have to sit deep and off we go.

[rainbow]

Sam will rarely ever go on the correct leg on the right rein. its so difficult to get him to do it. Doin some flexion stuff yest, and just goin round the school he was better on his left rein but for some reason better flexin right on a circle. Strange...

[fimacg]

Chompy is very left sided and Brave is right sided

[duckles]

JB used to prefer cantering to the left but now he prefers the right!
Cori prefers the right.
I am right handed so don't know if that makes a difference or not (well not in Fimacg's case anyway unless she is ampidexerous!!)

[arumanii]

Same left leg always -even on tight right corners with jumps but we're working on it! But always ducks out right! Will never go left. Even if that ways clearly easier.Strange!

[zoon]

I have an exercise for this -

- Place 4 jump wings/block on a large circle at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock.
- Place a pole on each at desired height so it slopes from the wing to the floor. You can go as low as about 1 ft if you desire, but at about 3 ft the pole is sloping too much so don't go any higher!
- Start on either rein and canter in a circle around the edge of the wings.
- When you reach 12 o'clock jump it and circle around the others.
- When you reach 12 next time round jump it again and also jump 3 o'clock, but circle outside 6 and 9.
- Next time round you jump 12, 3 and 6 and miss out 9.
- Finally you jump all four in a row.
- Repeat on the other rein.

If your horse breaks into trot, ask for canter in between jumps or circle outside the wings, ask for canter and start again at 12.

If he lands on the wrong leg, circle outside the jumps and ask for correct canter (or if you are quick enough and your circle is large enough you can do a flying change in between the jumps or come back to trot and then correct canter in between the jumps. Do not continue on the wrong leg though!

You'll see your horse finds this easier on one rein, but concentrate on the other rein and it will strengthen that weaker rein.

This is more difficult than it sounds by the way - a helper is useful!