Brought to you by With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard
If you spend enough time watching horses on the lunge line, sooner or later, you’ll see a horse moving with one lead in the front and the opposite lead behind. It looks awkward, unbalanced, and sometimes alarming. This is called cross-cantering, and while it can raise questions for riders and trainers, it’s not necessarily a red flag. At Balmoral, Carleton and Traci Brooks teach that cross-cantering offers valuable feedback about where a horse is in its training and development.
What Is Cross-Cantering?
Cross-cantering, sometimes called disunited canter, occurs when the horse’s front legs lead on one canter lead while the hind legs lead on the opposite. Instead of the fluid, three-beat motion of a correct canter, the horse’s body is slightly twisted, creating an uneven rhythm.
It can appear dramatic the first time you see it. The horse’s body swings, balance seems compromised, and the gait feels uncomfortable to sit. But cross-cantering is more common than many riders realize, especially in young or developing horses.
Why Horses Cross-Canter
Horses don’t cross-canter just to be difficult. At Balmoral, trainers view it as information. Here are the most common reasons it happens:
- Weakness in the Hind End: The horse may lack the strength to push off into a correct, united stride. This is especially common in young or unfit horses.
- Balance Issues: Horses learning to turn or carry themselves correctly often lose alignment, causing the hind end and front end to move on different leads.
- Green Horse Learning Curve: Just as a toddler learning to walk stumbles and wobbles, young horses sometimes cross-canter while figuring out their bodies.
- Crookedness in the Rider or Lunge Line: A horse that isn’t being guided evenly may slip into a disunited canter simply because of unclear signals.
- Physical Discomfort: In some cases, consistent cross-cantering may point to soreness, particularly in the back, hocks, or stifles.
Understanding why it’s happening is the key to deciding how to respond.
When It’s Normal (and When It’s Not)
Carleton Brooks often reminds riders not to panic when they see a young horse cross-canter. In the early stages of training, it’s simply part of the process. The horse is learning balance, strength, and coordination. Over time, and with correct work, most horses grow out of the habit naturally.
But if a horse cross-canters consistently under saddle, or suddenly develops the tendency after previously going clean, it’s worth investigating further. This could signal physical discomfort or a training hole that needs to be addressed.
The Balmoral Approach: Training Through It
At Balmoral, the response to cross-cantering is patient, systematic, and always focused on building strength. Rather than snapping the horse out of it with harsh corrections, the goal is to quietly guide them back into balance.
On the Lunge Line
- Encourage Forward Rhythm: A forward horse finds it easier to step into a true lead. Sluggish movement often produces more mistakes.
- Support with Bend: Inside bend through the body helps align the shoulders and hips, making it harder for the horse to go disunited.
- Use Transitions: Walk-trot-canter transitions build coordination and help the horse understand how to step correctly into each gait.
Under Saddle
- Ride Straight Lines: Circles can exacerbate imbalance. Straight lines encourage the horse to align both ends of the body.
Strengthen the Hindquarters: Hill work, transitions, and ground poles all help the horse develop the strength to carry itself. - Stay Quiet: Overreacting when a horse cross-canters only creates tension. Instead, calmly bring them back to trot, reestablish rhythm, and ask again.
Building Balance Over Time
Cross-cantering is often just a sign that a horse needs more strength. Horses, like people, develop muscles gradually. At Balmoral, trainers build balance and fitness steadily rather than demanding perfection right away. The result is a horse that learns without fear and grows into a more confident athlete.
When to Call the Vet
While many cases of cross-cantering are training-related, persistent or new disunited canters should be checked by a professional. Issues in the back, stifles, or hocks can all cause discomfort that shows up as an inability to canter cleanly. If you’ve done the training work and the issue remains, it’s time for a physical exam.
Why Patience Pays Off
Perhaps the most important lesson from Balmoral’s approach is not to treat cross-cantering as a failure. It’s feedback that tells you where the horse is physically and mentally. With consistency and thoughtful work, most horses will outgrow the habit, and the process of addressing it will make them stronger and more rideable in the long run.
Cross-cantering may look messy, but it isn’t something to fear. It’s part of the developmental journey, a signpost on the road to balance. By approaching it with patience, clarity, and purpose, riders can help their horses build strength and confidence, and transform awkward strides into smooth, powerful canters.
Want to take your riding and horsemanship to the next level? With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard distills decades of wisdom from Carleton and Traci Brooks into practical, thoughtful lessons you can apply every day at home, in the schooling ring, and in the show ring. From training philosophies to mental game strategies, the book offers riders of every level a blueprint for success built on empathy, structure, and purpose.
