Whee!

One of the things I always find interesting with TBs is the canter.  Because in the US, they race counter-clockwise, there is a big assumption made that they are generally stronger on their left lead.  So much so, that if  you ask on any interwebz bulletin board, it’s one of the first things people say about Thoroughbreds: “oh, it’ll be really hard to teach the right lead!”

What most people forget (or don’t know in the first place), is that TBs generally race on both leads.  Right on the straightaways, then switch to left for the turns.  While my experience is somewhat limited, I did ride a fair number of track rejects just starting their reintroduction to work, and out of about a dozen of those, only one actually was better at the left lead.  Most of them wanted to pick up the right, unless you really gunned them into it in a very dramatic way (the kind of thing that would make George Morris faint).

Klondike proves there’s something to my experience.  Deirdre rode him all weekend, and on Saturday decided to try him at the canter.   So, here is videographic evidence that racehorses often actually prefer the right lead:

He did eventually get it right, though:

In addition to giggling and “wheee!”ing around the ring, there was other actual work done as well.  To give him something to think about and focus on, Deirdre made  a little “course” of ground poles, which were crossed at a walk and trot.  Klondike has no problem with this, though occasionally he’d try to jump a ground pole (afterwards looking very pleased with himself).  Apologies for shaky video, my horse was trying to help:

It’s still a fact that Klon needs to get more educated about actually moving off the leg- he just doesn’t seem to understand it.  He gets that a little squeeze means “go,” but he does not necessarily grasp the idea that he can also move sideways from it, or move his shoulders or hips from it.  He’s getting a little better, but needs some work.  I think our next ride will be nothing but “how to move off the leg,” rather than any aerobic type work.

After his ring work, Klon went for a walk with us in the woods, and actually led.  I know, the almost six year old draft cross should have been the one giving the flighty newcomer a lead, but Klon may actually be more reliable/relaxed out in the woods.