So why do we always handle the
horse from the left? In order to find the answer
for this we must look back in history. Most people are right handed,
so back in the days when warriors were on horseback rather than
in tanks ,the sword was carried on the left hip to enable them
to draw it quickly. This meant that the horse was mounted from
the left so that the right leg could swing up over their back
without the sword getting in the way. We have carried on this
tradition into the present day. We mount from the left simply
because we've been taught to. Mounting from the left has also
resulted in tack and horse clothing that is designed to be fastened
from the left. This reinforces the habit we have of handling the
horse from the left.
Yet as soon as we are mounted, we
suddenly decide that the horse must now be ambidextrous and so
must we! All the work we do when schooling our horses is towards
making the horse ambidextrous. How much time is spent teaching
riders about the correct diagonal, the correct lead, changing
leads, counter canter etc?
Why is this?
Everyone who works with horses knows that the more ‘balanced’
a horse is, the better it’s performance. Showjumpers need
to be able to jump equally well form either lead, to switch leads
as they change direction in order to make the best use of a confined
arena. The happier that a horse is to use both leads equally,
the more likely that it will perform well. Dressage horses, the
dancers of the horse world, must strive to make every movement
look effortless and floating, no matter which direction they are
moving in. Eventing, perhaps the most demanding sport of all,
requires dexterity in the aforementioned disciplines and also
requires frequent lead changes to stave off fatigue in the cross
country and roads and tracks phases, for the same reason, so does
the racehorse, that traditionally ill schooled horse!
The theory behind the desire for leading limb dexterity, or the
ability to work on both diagonals is that if a rider rides on
the same diagonal the horse gets used to carrying weight on one
side of the back and so develops more muscles on one side of the
back, hindquarters and shoulder than on the opposite side. The
power for lead changes and diagonals is inititated by the hind
limb which also determines the stride length of the opposite forelimb.
Extreme onesidedness might even result in decrease in muscle bulk
in these areas although  this
is more likely to happen due to injury. The constant exercise
of one diagonal rather than the other leads the other diagonal
to become stiff and we wind up with the onesided horse who always
prefers to lead with a particular leg. This is detrimental to
health and athleticism.
The closer a horse comes to displaying symmetrical movement;
the smoother and more balanced it’s gait, and the more easily
it will be able to cope with athletic demands, whether it is competing
at a high level, or simply having to bear the weight of a rider
out on a hack. The rider must be able to apply aids equally from
the left and right, sit in the centre of the saddle and have equal
tension in both sides of the body. If that isn’t ambidextrous
behaviour, I don’t know what is!
Just as most people are right handed, so are horses. Research
has shown that 75% of 500 horses in a limb dominance study displayed
a preference for the left lead, which would indicate a dominant
diagonal consisting of the right hind/left fore (right sided).
In the same study, the number of animals that displayed extreme
ambidextrous tendencies was 3, which is less than 1% (1).
So in order to help both the horse
and rider become ambidextrous what can you do?
1. Start to handle your horses from both left and right equally.
Don’t forget that the horse that has always been handled
from the left may find this strange at first, so go slowly and
carefully.
2. Try putting the saddle on from the right.
3. Start mounting and dismounting from the right. This will be
difficult at first but it will help you develop muscles equally
on both sides of the body. Use a mounting block whenever possible
to avoid twisting the tree on your saddle.
4. When riding, regularly change diagonals so the horse will develop
muscle on both sides of the back and hindquarters equally. You
will probably find that you and the horse prefer one diagonal
to another, but stick at it and you will notice the improvement
in performance.
5. Lunge and work the horse from the ground in both directions
equally.
6. If you are working with a young horse, do everything from both
sides, the horse will then find it easier to work on both sides
equally and consequently be more balanced.
7. Remember that if your horse is very one sided, it will be weak
and you need to build up work gradually.
In may be the case that some asymmetrical behaviour in the horse
is the result of inborn attributes and autonomic responses and
some is a result of incorrect schooling or a medical condition.
In such a case, there may always be a difference between stride
length for the left and right ‘diagonals’. Although
it is traditionally seen as desirable to have the horse move in
a completely symmetrical manner, perhaps this is unreasonable
and some compromise will have to be made between maximising the
horse’s athletic ability and acknowledging its natural movement.
Good luck!
(1). Ernie Gray Equine Asymmetrical Dexterity or, the Preferred
Lead Syndrome (first published in the American Farrier’s
Journal January/February 1989) The farrier and hoofcare resource
centre www.horseshoes.com/advice/egray1/eqnasmdx.htm |
