Out West Blog

Practicing Taking Proper Leads with your Horse

It’s nice to be back in Minnesota again after being in hot Oklahoma! My friend, Brooks, and I attended the Oklahoma School of Horseshoeing to learn the basic principles and practices of shoeing. We learned a lot in the time we were there, and now we have plenty of horses to work on here at the ranch!

Our next OutWest Ranch Horse Show is coming up already this Saturday, June 27. I have plenty of goals in mind to work on! One of them is taking the proper leads when I ask for them. As simple a maneuver as this might seem, it is not always easy. Here are a few ways that I will be practicing taking leads with my horse this week.

The first thing I will work on is trotting in the arena in about a 50 ft circle. I will then kiss and ask with my outside leg to take the proper lead. If my horse doesn’t take the lead I am asking for, I will steadily stop him and start over. If he takes the correct lead, I will make sure I reward him by petting his shoulder while loping, and continue until I ask him to break down to a trot or walk. Once I attain what I want in the 50 ft circles, I will ask for the proper lead on the long side of the arena going straight along the arena wall using the same outside leg.

Once I feel confident with my horse’s lead departures in the arena, the last thing I will work on is taking that lead at any time outside of the arena, in the pasture, down the road, etc., making sure I am consistent in the way I ask for the lead.

Remember to keep things simple, short and sweet when practicing, and quit when your horse is doing his best. Make sure to set attainable goals to set you and your horse up for success. Take care of yourself and your horses, and remember who made it all possible for us to be out doing the things we love.

Grant

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