Hi,

I am training our little 3 year old mini horse. I am teaching him how to lunge and take a bit and saddle.

Yesterday I was at the farm and I was lunging him. He is pretty good with voice cues for walk, trot, and canter but misses his lead going to the right. So I started him out to the right and when we got to the canter he would not pick it up.

I tried for 10 mins and could feel myself getting frustrated. So I had a feeling to stop him and take him in the other direction. Most horse people will not do this as it is thought that it can support the bad habit.

But I stopped, turned him, and asked for all 3 gaits.

He was perfect!

Then I decided to visualize him going the other way and pick up the lead right away. I stopped him. Turned him to the original direction and cued him for the canter.

BAM!

He picked up the right lead first click!! I didn’t even make him go a full round. I just stopped him and gave him a big pat and took him back to the barn.

I want to also say this worked on my mare being lame.

I keep “seeing” her sound and a week later I was lounging her and because it was spring she was being frisky. She was trotting and cantering without one misstep!