Correct Lead-Change Anticipation

 All-around trainer Leslie Lange provides exercises for a reader who’s having trouble with her gelding anticipating lead changes in horsemanship and western riding.

- Nichole Chirico

Q I’ve recently purchased a new all-around gelding that I show in the Western riding and horsemanship at Quarter Horse shows. I’ve taken him to a few horse shows now, and I’ve noticed whenever there’s a flying lead change in a horsemanship pattern, or when we go down the line in Western riding, he knows where to change and tries to anticipate it. What can I do to make him listen to my cues and keep him from changing leads without my asking?

SARA MAYES, Ohio

A Lead-change anticipation is something you might have to work on when you’re showing a seasoned all-around horse that’s been competing for some time. It’s easy for a horse to start anticipating a change, especially in Western riding, because there are only a few patterns and essentially you’re changing leads in a similar spot each time. Eventually he learns those patterns, knows where he’s supposed to change, and tries to do it on his own.

Here I’ll discuss a few different ways you can approach working on lead change anticipation at home or warming up at your next show.

Before You Practice Before you begin any lead-change exercises with your horse, try doing something as simple as leaving your cones out in the arena every time you ride. This works for both Western riding and horsemanship anticipation. Having cones out in the arena allows your horse to get comfortable being around them, no matter what you’re working on. Even on days when you’re not practicing Western riding or horsemanship, ride through and around them. This will help him stop associating lead changes with cones and allow him relax when he’s near them.