Horse Won't Canter In Opposite Direction?

[KeystoneNell]

I'm just getting my horse to canter, he's pretty fresh and thought it unnecessary, so for a while I just went back to mastering the walk and trot. But during the summer holidays I have been working with him a lot and I've gotten him to canter nicely, but whenever the opposite direction is even implied, he throws a fit, and sometimes even me. He can be pretty lazy, not in the regard that he is fat and slow, well, the fat part might be true, but he is quite forward, he just doesn't like to work very hard and will finds ways of evasion. Is he just being stubborn and saying no, what should I do about it?

[peppysan]

Is it a lead thing or a direction thing? I.e. does he take one lead just fine but as soon as you go the other way and ask for the other lead he doesn't like it? I would try and assess the situation on the longe line from the ground. Will he canter freely both directions on the longe line and on both leads with ease? Has he just recently been started under saddle and is learning to canter under the rider? Maybe he is just a bit un-confident? I would spend A LOT of time just getting him really confident cantering both ways on the longe line or 22 ft line before you get on. Do lots of canter trot transitions both directions. Let him get really fluid, comfortable and loose with it there first. When you get on him if he is fresh keep it to a 20 m circle. If he is lazy, just make your goal to canter down one long side of the arena and then rest in the corner. Repeat. Soon he will realize that the corner at the other end of the arena is a place of comfort and he will be more then happy to move forwardly along down the long side to get there regardless of direction .

[horse99]

Check the saddle fit, it could be his back is sore. It could also be a stifle or hock issue as well.