How do you teach a horse to switch leads while pole bending?

Question

How do you teach a horse to switch leads while pole bending?

Answer 1

first get him to switch leads in a figure 8 across an arena (weight shift off that shoulder, turn head slightly away, and ask with leg). once he is good at this, get him to do one on a straight line (diagonal across the arena works). next ask for two consectutive lead changes on the line. in a little bit you will have him doing as many leads as you want on a line, now just throw in poles.

Answer 2

If your horse can't change leads get him OUT of that pattern. you need to 1st teach him to change before you take him through a pattern. If you want a right lead put him in a trot and start picking up on your right rein and nudge him with your right heel. if that doesn't work try doing the same with your hand but use the other heel. Same thing for the left lead. Work him circles until he learns to pick it up. He will discover that it will feel much better in that circle if he is on the correct lead.