Posted by Tim on 10/7/2004, 12:46 pm, in reply to "leads" To get him started in the left lead, trot him in a small circle to the left and gradually pick him up to a lope. Lean left but put the bulk of your weight in the right stirrup, this will help get the weight off of his left side and it will encourage the proper lead. If he doesn't pick it up immediately, pull him back to a trot and ease into a lope again. Repeat this until he picks up the correct lead, tightening up the circle a bit may help, and spend enough time in the left lead for him to get comfortable carrying the extra weight of a rider in that lead. Always pay attention to the leads when you warm him up and before you know it, your lead problems will be behind you. Sometimes, if you continue to have difficulties picking it up, if you give him indication of going left, and then turn him a bit sharper, again leaning toward the left but with most of your weight in your right stirrup, it will help to naturally throw him into the proper lead. Of course the same works the other direction too. That will be helpful if he really gets used to the left lead.
4.231.20.222
A horse with a natural right lead can take some time but he'll pick it up pretty quick if you work him primarily to the left for a while.
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