How-To Teach a Horse to Lead Safely

Although riding a horse is fun and exciting, most of the rewards of owning a horse happen on the ground. Leading a horse safely is the most basic and essential lesson of horsemanship. This must be mastered long before mounting and riding can be attempted.

Begin lead training with the foal.

Before the halter and lead may be introduced, the newborn foal must become familiar with human contact. Handling him immediately is essential. Grooming helps him grow acquainted with your touch. If this is done correctly and courteously, both mare and foal will usually accept this attention quite comfortably.

Ideally, a young horse learns to lead while he is still a foal at his dam's side. In most breeding barns, this is the case. While one handler leads the mare, another places a lead rope on the foal's halter. Looping the rope behind the baby's rump, he guides him gently to follow, as the mare is led forward.

Frequent halts and starts add to the lesson. Within a few days, the foal is usually read to lead independently. By the time he has been weaned, he will be well-schooled in leading.

Teaching a horse to lead at this early stage is much simpler than attempting to introduce this training later, such as during his yearling stage or older, when he is considerably bigger and stronger.

Here's how to start leading your horse.

In the stall, place a halter on your horse. Use a lead line with a snap-clip on the end. Clip this to the ring on the halter (under your horse's head).

Hold the lead rope about 6" under your horse's nose with the nearest hand, and hold the slack in your free hand.

Turn your back to the horse, so he will follow behind you. (You can certainly peek back at him, but try to avoid turning your body, as this will signal him to stop.)

Give a few gentle tugs on the lead-rope, jingling the clip a bit, and cluck to your horse to follow you. Begin walking slowly.

Every few yards, stop walking, and tell your horse to "Whoa." This is a test.

If your horse wavers, veers, oversteps your speed, or refuses to follow, just pop him under the chin with the lead rope and clip. If you do this correctly, he will get the message.

Practice leading your horse in an enclosed area.