I would love to learn from you all about this complex matter.
How do you assess the horse?
is it as basic as trying each (laterally different) exercise both ways and seeing which is harder?
do you observe the pattern of motion? placement of hoofprints? leaning?
or the muscling? posture?
I have slowly began my research into this and it's fascinating... I can't say I believe all the "experts", but as always, first step is awareness and learning to see "the problem".
For me one of the basic most obvious (harder to misinterpret
)opportunities is the Spanish Walk. All horses seem to have a leg that is easier for them to lift - smoother/higher, they offer it more. My theory is that the other leg is used more to carry weight, therefore stronger... just like me - I will happily stand on my left leg all day and have all kinds of agility with my right...
thoughts on this please....
And since most patterns in the horse seem to be tied to the diagonals - is then the opposite hind also the more weightbearing? It seems to be so from my observations - it's usually placed more underneath the horse...
Of course the lateral work greatly magnifies these issues, but also offers the solutions...
I would like to get better at understanding what goes on when horses aren't "straight".