Hello everyone. I am new to the forum and just had a question about a green 4 yr old that I'm working with. I have just started working with her and have been riding her for about 1 week. The trainer I am working with has had her for about 1 month.
This is what is happening...
Before I ride her I always lunge. She lunges fine going to the right. When I lunge to the left she goes about 20 ft and then stops and wants to go the other way. When I get after her with the lunge whip, she rears. I usually have to manually lead her to go in the left direction and start again. She will go another 20 ft. or so then stop again. I go through this for about 15-20 min and then I ride her. Same thing, when I get on I usually do a series of bending exercises. If we walk to the right, she's fine. The minute I turn to go left, she will stop and try to back up. I do not wear spurs with her at this time, however, I'm thinking I may try them. I give her some good kicks and she will eventually start moving to the left.
I have thought of a few things...her feet have just been done for about a week now. She has shoes on the front and bare on the back. So, I thought maybe she was adjusting to having her feet done. I have also thought about her teeth, but she does this behavior on the lunge line without a bit in her mouth so that really doesn't seem like the problem. I then thought, maybe her back was bothering her, but the same thing. She does this when she is lungeing and sometimes I have a saddle on her and sometimes I do not. Part of me thinks she is just testing me each time we start to work. She will work through it and by the end of our session, she has stopped it entirely and we can go to the left with little problem.

So, this is my issue...any advice will be helpful.
Thanks,
Gretchen

Alot of horses prefer on side to the other, You just mainly have to practise practise and reward her when she goes the right direction , I know my gelding has the same problem and it took awhile for him to get the hang of going left, patience and practise will get you there eventually.

Thanks for the reply. I have been rewarding her on the lungeline when she goes to the left as well as when we ride. I am just still concerned it may be a leg issue. I am thinking of wrapping her for a few time while we ride to see if that makes a difference. Like you said though, I will continue to reward her more when she goes well to the left.
Thanks for the advice!

I have had a few horses that have done the same. I first always check to make sure there are no pain issues that are causing the problem : back pain, sore muscles, joints, hoof problems, mouth/teeth problems, eyes.

My sister had a young aqha gelding that became so unflexible at the left turn, she gave asking him for simple left turns and would turn him in a full circle to the right just to get where she was going. I thought this rather amusing but helped out of course

Short lunging episodes to the left, praising when the he is willing to move left, small exersizes under saddle all helped quite alot.

One way to get the corners of his mouth "soft" is to put him in a small enclosed area such as a round-pen (maybe a large stall but personally I prefer a bit bigger area), bit him up in a simple snaffle, a saddle, or a sircingle.
With a lightweight rein, clip one end to the bit, and the other to a side ring on either the saddle /sircingle with just enough slack that he only tips his nose just a bit to the side. Unless it's a typical explosive TB, they will generally play with the slack, verses the tighness when they try to straighten their nose and will quickly teach themselves the pressure/release lesson on the mouth. I don't generally leave them like this for longer than 5-10 minutes and then do it again on the other side. It works wonders without you having to sweat. ...

Hope your horse is doing better!

Your correct to be concerned with a physical issue.
There are a multitude of possibilities; feet if not done evenly could create a problem [feet set @ different angles ex. 53* and 55*, bottom of foot not hitting ground flat or not @ correct angle for rest of leg-knee/ankle/fetlock, shoes incorrect size, shoe set on foot wrong... Teeth could be signs of something more serious such as TMJ-Tibular Mandibular Joint syndrome. Also if you can stand on something look @ her from directly behind and slightly above, she should look exactly the same on both sides-from her spine left/right. If not then your dealing with a muscular/skeletal crookedness. Feel her all over for differences in muscle tightness. You can try stretches-gently pull front leg straight away from chest she will lock her knee and lean into you. Can she do it the same distance both sides. Using either food of just holding lightly onto the halter pull her head around to the side,again is it even. Also important to listen for cracks/popping. If it's not constant but periodic,try giving a anti inflammatory during her pre/heat cycle she may just be sore, lots of mares show those symptoms. Lastly does she also have these behaviours with the Trainer, if not have someone watch you to see if it's your body langauge or riding position.
You may also want to suggest an chiropractor/accupuncturist.

Could be a pain issue for sure. I would have a vet examine her!