The first thing to think of when leading your horse is to have a decent
length leadrope in your hand, not the average rope which is useless for
leading horses but ideal for your dog. Get a rope at least 6 feet in
length and tie a knot at the end of it, so at least you have a chance
to hold on if your decides to go for a walk without you!
I also prefer to lead a horse with his head close
to my shoulder, this way you are in a position to chat and bond with
your horse. Don’t
hold on under his chin so he is forced to hold his head in a fixed
position, leave at least 18 inches between his chin and your hand.
I know this could be an invitation for a horse to tank off and leave
you stranded! This is why it is ideal to practice your leading technique
in the safety of an enclosed area first!
I start by giving the horse a choice to stay and
walk with me nice and quiet and friendly, if he chooses to try and
go it alone, I brace the rope between my hands and hold it against
my body and pull the rope across my hips. This gives you a stronger
advantage than just pulling! Most of you will know that if you pull
on a horse they tend to just pull back harder. (They're into pressure
animals!) The horse has probably come to an abrupt halt and will
tend to face you, I then release the tension of the rope and therefore
release the pressure and reward him by speaking in a soft voice and maybe
a rub on his head between the eyes. I don’t shout at the horse
for leaving or pulling, as you want to try and show him that to be
with you is a nice option, and if you are screaming like a sergeant
major this won't be giving him much of a reason to hang around!
Once you have your horse walking by your side you can progress to stopping
when you like!, then introduce turns, backing up etc. If you stop and
your horse continues allow him to 'find' the end of the rope as described
earlier, then back him up to where you wanted him to stop. Reward this
and continue. You may have to spend 1/2 an hour on this several times
before your horse has a light bulb moment and realises how much easier
life is if he just walks nice and quiet by your side!
Not a lot to ask but can make your lives so much easier. Remember that
you also have a responsibility to hold the rope loose in your hand so
there is no pressure on your horse when he is close by. You need to be
quick to release this pressure and to reward well with a nice stroke
if this method is to work well. (Remember to wear gloves, suitable footwear
and a riding hat when leading your horse).
I hope this helps with any leading problems you may have, enjoy your
time with your horse and treat him as a friend!
For further help with your horse please contact:
Kathrine Wilson: Holder of Monty Roberts Preliminary
Certificate in Horsemanship & Equine Body Worker.
Telephone 07773 703276. Based in SouthEast.
