Why will a horse not pick up its leads?

Answer 1

The horse may be sore, confused, unbalanced or unconditioned.

First check that the saddle fits correctly, and check the horses teeth, back, and legs.

When a physical problem is ruled out, make sure that your horse is conditioned enough. You may have to wait to focus on leads until after your horse is older or better conditioned.

Your horse should willingly canter calmly whenever you ask him to without a sign of resistance or pain.

If your horse willingly canters calmly, is not sore, has well fitting tack and is conditioned well, then he is probably confused or unbalanced.

Make sure you can collect your horse and spin him on his forehand easily. The key to a good lead is all in the hindquarters, so you need to be able to tip his hind quarters in to the middle of the arena to make the lead you are asking for the most natural thing to do. You should also collect your horse to get a good, balanced canter. One thing you do not want to do is pull your horses head around. Slightly tip the nose to the inside, put you do not want to see much of his face.

To get your horse to pick up the left lead, get your horse into a trot. Use your surroundings, like ask for the lead when you reach a corner, or when you round a bend and head towards the barn. When you are ready to pick up the canter, put your right leg back (if you are aiming for a left lead) to engage the hindquarters and tip them a little bit to the inside. Put your left foot a little bit forward, keep the horse collected, slightly tighten the inside rein to tip his nose in and squeeze / kiss/ cluck or whatever signal you want to use. If the horse canters on the correct lead, great! If not, circle the horse back down to a trot, and do it again. You may want to try getting him to jump into the canter by asking for it over a pole. Do not urge your horse faster and faster until he canters, you want him to jump into the canter, not fall into it.