How do I learn to feel what canter lead I'm on?

Question

Hey there, so I do H/J, I'm probably about the highest stage I can be in my lessons, my only problem I seem to have is my leads, I always have to look down to see which lead I'm on, but how do I learn to feel what lead I'm on? Also diagonals? I want to start doing some of this stuff on my own when I'm working with the horse I'm leasing, any advice or help would be great.

Answer 1

you can usually feel it by which one of your legs (yours, not your horses) is going out a little farther. it works!

Answer 2

with diagonals i look to see when the horses outside shoulder is flexed and make sure i'm sitting when it does. you have to pay attention to what the shoulder looks like when you are posting.

with leads if you pay close attention one shoulder will always look like it is ahead of the other..it takes some practice and you have to pay close attention..but the inside shoulder should be slightly ahead of the outside one.

Answer 3

You'll find that if you are on a left lead, your left foot will move forward and back, while the right foot will remain still.  Same on the right.  You won't have to look down because you'll be able to feel if he's on a correct lead. I still have to look at my horses shoulder to determine my diagonal.

Answer 4

You can usually feel it.  A horse usually drops his head slightly when he lands on the leading leg.

Answer 5

Honestly I can feel by the way the horse is reaching. But sometimes I have to take a quick peek down too.

Answer 6

for the lead you should know that leaning to left u get him in a left lead and leaning to the right gets him in the right lead so you should try working on the left lead and try to remember what that feels like and the some with the right

Answer 7

When you go down that means the horses front inside leg is going down also.  When you go up, that means all 3 legs of the horse are coming up too.

Answer 8

you should be able to tell. ask a coach or something. its obvious to feel it.

Answer 9

A horse has a natural lead when going straight. you can change it by turning a circle , of a flying change of lead, you clue with your hands, legs and a slit weight shift in the saddle. if your horse feels choppy you are probably in the wrong lead. ride a figure 8 to work changes, and shift you weight at the cross over and tap the horse in front of the girth on the side you shift you weight too.Any body watching should not be able to see the weight shift after you get it down pat.

Answer 10

practice and experience

Answer 11

When the horse moves try and move like the horse like if it is on the right lead (you think) then roll on your butt and kinda move your right leg.you will get it.

Answer 12

Once you have experience with this it will become obvious to you.

Right now you'll have to learn which lead feels like what. There is nothing wrong with looking down at the moment to see which lead you are on. You can test yourself, feel the canter then guess which lead your horse is on. Eventually you will be able to feel it without even thinking about it.

Same with your diagonals, it's only practice that'll allow you to do this naturally. Be sure to copy the OUTSIDE leg. So when he lift with the outside leg, you'll rise out of the saddle, and as your horse places the outside leg down on the ground you'll go down into the saddle.

Eventually you'll be able to do both of these things without even realizing it, but for now, you should practice by looking down!!!

Good luck!