When should you teach a foal to lead?

Answer 1

You can start training it to lead as soon as it can walk.

After you have weaned it off. Get to let it trust you. Then begin to start leading, this will be when its about 5 or 6months old.

Answer 2

I prefer a rope halter, but any will work. You stand either right in front of the shoulder and a little to the side or up at the horses head or somewhere in between. Then pull the rope forward as you take a step forward. Give the horse a little bit to figure out that pulling against the pressure doesn't work and when the horse gives forward, even if its only leaning forward a moment, release the pressure. Repeat until the horse walks out confidently everytime and will walk everywhere until you say stop.

If your horse locks up its legs and refuse to move, then yield his hindquarters and try to walk him off again. Most of the time, yeilding his hindquarters wil "unstick" his feet.

Whatever you do, do not start whipping the horse or using unnessessary force. you should be able to get by without anything but your hands and a halter and lead rope.

Another way is to join-up with the horse, because this teaches the horse to walk beside you because through join-up you tell the horse you are the leader.