How to Do a Lead Change

When a horse is moving at the canter or gallop, its center of gravity will naturally follow the front leg, which extends farthest within a stride. This leg, left or right, is called its lead. If a horse picks up the wrong lead in a small, enclosed area, it shift its weight to the outside of the arena and can result in a fall. It is the rider's job to recognize this and change leads to ensure safety and proper continuation of training.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Saddled and bridled horse
• Large enclosed arena
• Proper protective headgear and footwear

1. Warm up your horse by doing transitions from walk to trot and back down to a walk. Ride deep into the corners of the arena to ensure a proper bend in your horse's frame. When riding through a corner or around a circle, you should be able to see your horse's inside eye, ensuring the degree of bend is correct.
2. While at the trot, ride deep into the corner and ask your horse to canter. You do this by first bending your horse around the corner, then sliding your outside leg back slightly behind the girth. While your inside leg remains steady and just in front of the girth, squeeze with both legs equally. Allow your hands to follow your horse's motion without restriction. You should be able to quickly glance down and see your horse's inside leg and shoulder moving more forward than the outside leg and shoulder. If it is not, then it is on the wrong lead and you need to change it.
3. Try a simple change. A simple change of lead means slowing you horse to a trot by gently pulling back on the reins and sitting firmly down in the saddle. Then, you try all over again with the steps listed above to pick up the canter.
4. Try a flying change. A flying change is done while keeping the horse at the canter gait and doing the above steps. If this does not work, then you must slow your horse to a trot and try again. Being on the wrong lead will cause penalties if you riding in a hunter or equitation show and will keep your horse off balance regardless. A correct jumping round at a show cannot be done on the wrong lead either.
5. The steps to change leads are the same if at the trot or staying at the canter. Bend your horse to the inside using the inside leg and hand and slide your the outside leg back behind the girth. Squeeze equally while allowing your hand to follow the natural motion of the horse's head while making this transition. Aside from the balancing aspect of this, a lead change will be required at middle to upper levels of showing in the disciplines of equitation and dressage.

Tips & Warnings

• Another person in the arena can verify the correct lead for you if you are unsure.
• Always reward your horse when it responds and does what you ask of it.
• Always wear approved headgear.
• Always wear boots with heels when riding.
• Always ride with proper supervision.