How do you make a horse do a lead change? My horse is 24 and I don't know how to cue her to change leads.

Question

I have never done anything with lead changes, but some 4-H patterns require them. Any advice about this is wanted!

Answer 1

Usually when riding 4-H they make you do a lead change when it is natural for a horse to switch leads. Typically it will be comforatble to do so, and doesn't take much to achieve. I do all of my lead changes via shifting my hip in my seat for the most part but I also give a half halt prior to the lead change to tell my horse to pay attention, with a well trained horse you merely need to change your seat bone, shoulder position and open up the proper reign while closing the other to ask for the lead change which should make them want to change to be balanced.  Its really fun when you get to do this with a retired  grand prix dressage horse to learn he taught me how ;) !

Oh and when you are riding for  any show, never "say" the command aloud or you will lose points in any show its a big no no, the horse must know the physical cues only no verbal commands. Verbal commands are great when your teaching the horse but you need to learn to do away with them eventually if you ever wish to show.

Answer 2

use your outside leg and give her a firm kick. this may make her go faster, but keep your heels down and a firm seat. you should be able to take a glance at her front feet, and if the leg to the inside is going first, then her outside foot, you are successful. if this does not work, ask your trainer, or family member/friend (who knows what their talking about) what to do or watch her feet. i hope i helped, and good luck!

Answer 3

ok. so ur cantering right? ok to do lead changes you need to use ur out side rein turn her head a little bit and kick with out side leg and say canter, that will give u you ur right lead. and do the same for your other lead just opposites..  for ur right lead you use your left rein and left leg and for left lead you use ur right rein and right leg!

i hope i helped!

Answer 4

Start by working with some lateral movements. that will prepare her mucles. Then set up a pole vertically in your arena and work a figure 8 starting with cater-trot lead changes. then focus on bending her very strongly over the pole. Support with your outside rein and indside leg, and squeeze over the pole. She might increase her speed, thats normal. DO NOT FLOP ON HER BACK! Keep the pressure with a strong, balanced bend around your inside leg, and keep your eyes up. That should get the flying lead change done.

Answer 5

Well I'm assuming that your horse is trained so that when you kick with your outside leg - she starts cantering.

Start to canter left in a circle (cutting the arena in half) then when you reach the top of your circle in the middle of the arena, kick with your left leg and bend her neck to to the right. Do this vice-versa if your cantering to the right. This is very hard to get - just keep practicing!!!

p.s. are you a reiner or just want to know how? e-mail me([e-mail]) if your have more questions - i might be able to help!!

Answer 6

ok if you are goin the way that she should be on her right lead and she took the wrong lead break her down into a trot

and when you do that pull her into  circle goin at a trot and when your about half way through the circle goin the same direction kick her into the gallope and she should pick it up but if she doest break her down again and and pull her in the circle and try it again and just keep doin it untill she picks up that lead because you know goin on the wrong lead has to be comfortable for her and you so if you get her to learn that goin on the right lead is more comfortable she will pick it up all the time i had the same problem with my horse he was off the track so the only lead he picked up was that left lead so it took me almost a whole year of 4H to get him to take his leadson comand

but all i can say is dont get frustrated with her dont worry she will learn soon enough jus keep workin with her =]