How to Buy a Horse Lead

Buying the best lead for your horse is an investment. Costs vary widely, and an owner needs to keep in mind certain factors while choosing a lead. Take into consideration the use, frequency, material, and hardware available, and you can make a great investment for your animal.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Determine what kind of halter you want to attach the lead to. Many owners prefer a matching halter and lead. Also, a halter and lead used for showing a horse is very different from the halter and lead used for daily training.
2. Decide what kind of material is needed. Nylon and poly materials are good for daily use and popular among horse owners due to color availability, price and durability. Leather leads, while more expensive, last longer. Of course, special rules apply to leads used for horse shows--check with your breed or show association.
3. Choose hardware wisely. Most leads use a bolt snap of varying thickness, along with a chain. Price varies based on thickness and durability of the snap. Bull snaps are also available and are a solid alternative, providing stability to the handler of a skittish horse. However, bull snaps don't generally come with a chain.
4. Purchase show leads and halters that highlight your animals positive attributes while also conforming to breed and show rules. This is the area to splurge a little. Many beautiful pieces are available in this category, and since they aren't used daily, they tend to last a while.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are training a foal or a smaller breed, be sure to take into account lead length and width and adjust accordingly.
• Don't skimp on a lead for a stallion or other spirited animal. The lead is your line of communication in training.