Changing leads is important for a horse to know for a variety of sports, exercises, and situations. It's essential for barrel racing, but also for improving the horse's athletic ability, speed, and agility.
How to Check A Horse's Lead
If you're not sure how to tell which lead the horse is in, check the following:
- If loping in a circle to the right, look down at your right foot; if the horse is in the correct lead, your right foot should be further forward than your left foot.
- Look down at his inside foot. You should be able to see it reaching out first, and further ahead, of his opposite foot.
- If the horse is in his wrong lead, you should be able to feel it with your hips. If a horse is in his right lead, your hips should be tilted somewhat so that your right hip is lower than your left. This usually takes a little practice and experience.
How To Correct a Horse's Lead
If your horse is in the wrong lead, shift your weight to the side he's leading with. If loping a circle to the right, for example, lift his head slightly to the left, to turn him away from the right turn just a little, and then abruptly—without jerking the horse's head—pull him back to the right and back into the right directional circle. Cue the horse with your right leg and foot—he should "move away from pressure."
This process sometimes takes a little practice, so have patience and keep trying. After loping in the correct lead for a while and feeling that he understands, stop and reward him before attempting the opposite direction.
How to Perform a Flying Lead Change
Use a figure 8 pattern in a trot. Start loping and be sure to have the horse in the correct lead before asking for the flying lead change required in the center of the figure 8. As you approach the mid-point in the figure 8, be aware of your hands, hips, and legs.
Lift his head with your hands, shift your weight in your seat and hips, and cue him with your legs, and he should complete the lead change. If not, don't get frustrated or stop. Keep moving in the new circle until your horse is in the correct lead, and repeat the process.
It's important to remember to reward a horse after he's done as you asked. Even when there's room for improvement, you should always be sure to praise his effort. It keeps his attitude postive and strengthens the relationship between rider and horse.
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