An article by the Kentucky Equine Research team addresses the issue of side dominance in horses which is similar to the human preference for being right-handed or left-handed. According to research, a horse is also commonly a little stronger on one side of its body than on the other.
Side dominance in horses
Horses have a dominant side which is similar to the human preference for being right-handed or left-handed, and a horse is also usually a little stronger on one side of its body than on the other.
© 2012 by Jamie Dwyers
Viewed from above, a horse’s spine may curve into a slightly convex shape, with the dominant (stronger) body muscles on the inside of the curve. Especially in young horses, visits from the farrier may go well as long as the blacksmith is picking up a hoof on the weaker side, but the horse may begin to fidget when a dominant-side hoof is raised and the horse has to support himself on his weaker legs.
Imbalance may be seen in the shape of the front hooves because of the way the wall wears due to uneven strides and weight distribution.
Riders and trainers need to keep these things in mind when they plan to work with their horses. It’s important to work horses equally in both directions, whether the work is mounted or unmounted, to help the horse become stronger and more flexible.
Remember that any horse, especially a young one, will bend more easily to one side than the other, so be patient if the horse needs to make a larger circle or takes more time to “give” to the rein on one side. It’s tempting to do the things that are easy and avoid the ones that are hard, so make a conscious effort to work on stretching and strengthening both sides of the horse as you train.
Several short sessions are better than one long work period when you are asking the horse to do something that’s hard or awkward for him. If you meet strong resistance in one direction, the horse is probably not just being purposely stubborn; you may be asking for something he simply can’t give you at the current stage of training or muscular development. Rather than fighting, accept small improvements and then go on to something else for a while.
Still think your horse just isn’t trying very hard? Fold your hands together and note which thumb ends up on top. Usually the thumb on your dominant hand will be on top. Now rearrange your fingers so that the other thumb is on top. If it feels strange and even slightly uncomfortable, you know how your young horse may feel when you ask him to make small canter circles on his stiffer lead.
He will probably be somewhat clumsy, resistant, and even anxious. A sympathetic rider will ask for a much larger circle, working toward better balance and flexibility over a period of several months and ending up with a horse that moves better and works more calmly.
Information for this news article taken from
Side Dominance in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff