Lead help! easy points

Question

I ride a horse that once in the canter goes on the wrong lead. How do i get him on the right lead without stopping him?

Answer 1

id say go back and work on getting the horse straight on the flat because if he cant pick up both leads easily then he isnt straight so warm up on figure 8's and serpentines and when you ask for the canter then make sure you have a bend and even try it on a circle. a flying lead change WONT help as he will just do it incorrectly since straightness hasnt been established already. work on getting the canter supple and consistant before attempting a flying change.

good luck! =]]

AA

Answer 2

You may need a helper at first.  You have to cue for the lead change right before the opposite hind hoof hits the ground.  So, if you are on the right lead, and want him to change to the left lead, just before his right hind hits the ground, cue him for the left lead...he will then be able to switch while the left hind and front legs are still in the air, and they will hit the ground on the left lead.

Answer 3

i rode a horse that would switch leads only one half of his body at a time (according to my watching instructors i would be correct in the front but not in the back and then incorrect in both!) you can always break to the trot and try again.  you could try to make the correction in a corner at the canter, and it would essentially  be the same thing,   just a sudden shift in your seat alignment.    say you want to canter him to the left and your using and english bit.  I like to put my right hand out to the side, my left hand up in the mane, my left foot a teeny weeny bit further usual and my right foot further back than usual.  if your hourse were to disappear it would look like you were ready to canter on the left lead cuz your left hip is ahead of your right.  CHA says you can cue them with either your outside hand or your inside hand, but I like outside hand.  your right hand shouldn't  be out so far that it bends him to the right, tho.  staying shifted that way (subtly, it need not be exagerated) throughout the whole canter can keep him on the correct lead once he gets it.  we had a horse than could never get the off lead and when we checked him out we discovered that he has about 1/4 ROM in his little pony knee from an old injury, so he physically couldn't canter on one lead.

doing a flying lead change really is exactly like asking for a canter from the trot all over again, just changing the swivel of your seat.  your cues just have to be synchronized and noticeable.  not all horses will know what you want them to do but many will do it without much practice.  trying it for the first time is like patting your head and rubbing your stomach, it takes some practice to make your cues clear

Answer 4

Do a flying lead change?

When you say without stopping him do you mean without breaking the canter or without fully stopping? You could just drop him back down to the trot and re-cue him for the correct lead. If he still doesn't get it then, you might need to stop fully, back him up (a form of punishment so he knows he's not doing the right thing) and then move forward and re-ask him.Or while at the canter, give him some steady half halts and then re-ask him for the correct lead. I find it often helps if you tip their head to the outside just a bit when you first start asking, this sort of 'throws' their body into the right lead. Eventaully they will learn and you won't need to tip their head as much or even at all.

Good luck!