Does Your Horse Crossfire at the Canter?
Here's how to tell and how to fix a disunited canter.
Something was definitely wrong.
When I asked this thoroughbred for the canter, he immediately responded to the cue, but I felt like I was sitting on a rotating disk. His back was doing something truly strange. I could feel that he started the canter correctly with the outside hind, but it didn't feel like a normal canter. Out of curiosity, I leaned forward just enough to peek at his front legs. To my surprise, I saw that he was on the opposite lead in front!
The horse was crossfiring at the canter, otherwise known as disunited canter. He was on one lead in front and the opposite lead in back. Here is what it looks like, from 5 Minute Horse Lessons:
When I asked this thoroughbred for the canter, he immediately responded to the cue, but I felt like I was sitting on a rotating disk. His back was doing something truly strange. I could feel that he started the canter correctly with the outside hind, but it didn't feel like a normal canter. Out of curiosity, I leaned forward just enough to peek at his front legs. To my surprise, I saw that he was on the opposite lead in front!
The horse was crossfiring at the canter, otherwise known as disunited canter. He was on one lead in front and the opposite lead in back. Here is what it looks like, from 5 Minute Horse Lessons:
Why does a horse crossfire like this? As is briefly mentioned in the comment section, it is because the horse has trouble balancing while bending. The key to fixing this is to improve the horse's strength, balance, and flexibility. There are three steps to accomplish this.
First, you need to understand why the horse is so unbalanced. All horses are stiff on one side and weak on the other prior to training, some much more so than others. The job of the rider/trainer is to strengthen the weak side and make the stiff side more flexible. You can read about how to do that here:
How to Train Your Horse to Bend on Circles
Second, longe the horse properly. If you typically longe a horse by slapping a halter on and chasing the horse around with the longe whip, you won't make much progress. The horse will just do odd things to try to keep his balance while cantering, which will just make bad habits more deeply ingrained. You can read about how to longe a horse so that she learns to bend and balance in this article:
The Best Way to Longe A Horse for Strength and Balance
The third way is to use your aids to support the horse when cantering. Use your inside leg to support and bend the horse, and the outside leg and rein to make a supportive "wall" so that the horse can't escape the bend by swinging her haunches or neck out to the side. You'll know you're doing this right when you can release the inside rein forward and your horse maintains her bend around your inside leg. You can read more about how to do that here:
What Happens When You Release the Inside Rein?
What Happens When You Release the Inside Rein?
Happy riding!
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Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD Dec 30 2019; Update June 27, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
As long as you’re here, check these out!
Equestrian Products That Make Your Riding and Horse Care Easier and Better!
Training and Riding tips for Everyone
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD Dec 30 2019; Update June 27, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
