Q: Why Won't My Horse Pick Up the Left Lead?

Posted by Laura Thompson Apr 17, 2009

A Suite101 reader asks this question:

"My horse (a five-year-old QH gelding) will NOT pick up his left lead. I've seen him do it in the pasture and he'll usually do it on the longe line, but he won't pick up the left lead under saddle. Any advice?"

Horses are like people when it comes to directions. Just like you might favor your right hand, it is likely your gelding favors his right lead. When you ask him to pick up his left lead, it's like trying to write cursive with your left hand.

Obviously, the majority of horses are quite ambidextrous, but all horses are stronger in one direction than another. Sometimes this predilection is informed by comfort, such as a race horse who feels secure traveling only to the left because that is where his experience lies.

For others, it is simply a matter of strength, muscular development and practice.

You mentioned that your horse will pick up his left lead on the lunge line. This indicates that his problem is not pathological, so you can probably rule out injury. However, if you want to be on the safe side, you can contact your veterinarian for a lameness exam.

Barring some sort of pain, the issue is most likely one of repetition. Your horse doesn't realize that he can be comfortable on the left lead, so he chooses to counter-canter regardless of which direction you are traveling. On the lunge line, he is automatically working in a circle, and it is therefore more comfortable to pick up the left lead. Exploit that.

Rather than working him in a pasture or arena, start riding in the round pen. Warm him up first on the lunge line in both directions to ensure elasticity, then mount up and work him for fifteen minutes under saddle.

If your round pen is smaller than 60 meters or if the dirt/sand is too deep for safe riding, you'll have to improvise. Create your own round pen in the arena with caveletti or PVC, and start riding him on a circle. He should pick up the left lead for you when working on the bend.

You can also try loping/cantering over cavaletti in the arena. As you approach the pole, shift your weight into the outside stirrup, almost cocking your hip to the right. Use right leg to indicate he should pick up his left lead and make sure you are looking to the left as you cross the pole.

The one major mistake riders make when using a trot pole or cavaletti for picking up leads is jerking the horse in the direction desired. Don't use your reins as a crutch for poor leg presence. You can tighten your left rein slightly to capture his nose, but don't make an exaggerated movement with your rein at the risk of irritating or hurting the horse.

And finally, work your horse to the left at the walk, trot and canter. Failure to pick up the left lead is symptomatic of overall discomfort; he is likely stiffer to the left on all gaits. Watch for inversion of the neck and back when you change direction to the left; this indicates resistance to the direction itself.

Good luck!

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