Q: My instructor sometimes tells me my pony is on the wrong leg in canter. What does this mean and how can I notice it myself?
A: When a pony canters, if he is on the left leg (or lead), then his two left legs, front and back, will take a longer stride than his outside ones. Take a look at a pony cantering on a circle to see this. If he is on the right leg, or lead, his two right legs will take longer strides.
When you canter around a school or in a circle, it is important for the inside two legs to be the landing legs. So, if you are on the left rein (turning to the left every time you reach a corner) your pony’s two left legs should be leading.
Next time you canter, glance down at your pony’s shoulders and you should be able to see them moving. If the inside shoulder moves further forward than the outside shoulder, your pony’s inside leg is leading, and he is on the correct leg. If the outside shoulder is moving further forward, you will need to ask your pony to trot again and then ask for canter once more at the next corner.
Over time you might learn to feel if your horse is on the right leg or not without even looking – your pony should feel much more balanced if he is on the right leg!
