Ranch Horse Competition

Has anyone seen this awkward canter on a horse before?

I have a five year old Quarter Horse gelding and have been an owner/trainer/enthusiast for about 30 years but have never seen this type of canter before. My gelding canters a lot like Pepe le Pew – the cartoon skunk – really! Both front and hind legs move in unison to create a really weird two beat canter. He really struggles with his right lead but takes the left well. Going to the right, he will take the right lead on both ends but after three or four stides, will pop out behind and counter canter then trot then canter off on the wrong lead. He’s a nice colt, well bred with good confirmation. He is bred for ranch work and I plan to use him for versatility stock horse competitions here in Texas. Any insight to this is greatly appreciated.

I rode a horse once that cantered like that. She had been stuck in a fence and really messed up her hind legs. It made it really hard for her to pick up and maintain a nice canter on the correct lead. I would have him vet checked to make sure he hasn’t been injured. Sometimes big, gangly colts have trouble with balance, so if his check turns up nothing, I would work him over some trot poles and such to get him thinking about his hoof placement, perhaps keep him at the trot for a bit until he gets well collected and gains his balance then work back up to short bits of a slow, collected canter.

Missin Margaret Ranch Horse Competition at Central States Fair