AboutSarah Lothmann Expertise Professional trainer for 10+ years. I happily offer you my expertise, techniques, and advice covering: Hunters, Jumpers, Equitation, Showing, Training, Sales, Behavior, Stabling, Grooming, Tack, Barn Management, Rider Psychology, & Effective Communication.
Experience
Experience: I have been riding for over 23 years. As a kid I participated in 4H and Pony Club. I then worked as a groom and catch rode to pay my entry fees in the A Circuit. As a teenager I competed nationally in the Junior Hunters, USETs, and Medal classes. I've learned from and worked with some of the nations' best trainers. During college I began training professionally. I have prepared my students for both local and national shows. Recently I have organized two local equestrian groups for expanding general knowledge of horsemanship and for ensure the welfare of horses. I continue my dedication in this industry by offering visual design services for equine businesses including, graphic design, web development, and photography.
Education/Credentials AAS Degree, Veterinary Assistant, Professional Trainer
Question hey its jenny agian i was wondering my horse preacher changes his leads great but only in the front. How do i fix his lead changes from just the front to all four?
thanks,
jenny dillard
Answer This process requires repetitive, consistent, methodical practice. If practiced consistently, you can achieve success anywhere from a few sessions to a few weeks. The reason a horse fails to swap leads correctly is lack of proper balance and propulsion. I suggest starting from step one and building your way up.
Begin by working in a collected frame. Be sure before you work on your leads each session that you have properly warmed up with collection, extension, and flexion. You want your horse to ride comfortably and confidently in your hand before you begin lead work.
Once warmed up, then use the entire ring fopr figure eights. Start by walking and then halting smoothing in the center. At the center, change your horse to bend to the inside as you begin tracking the other direction. Then repeat this same exercise only trotting and halting instead of walking and halting. Then again step up to the canter to the halt and back to the canter. Keep in mind not just your downward transitions, but your upward transitions as well. You want your horse soft in your hand and balanced every step of the way. Don"t progress too quickly if you are not feeling these proper transitions.
Once you have done these baby steps, now begin cantering and asking for a simple lead change through the center of the ring. By simple change, I mean trot a step or two. It is critical that you maintain the feel and balance you were working on earlier. Remember as you do this simple change you need to feel the horses hips with your seat bones gelled in the saddle while your shoulder remain open and tall. Watch that your hands don't collapse, they may follow, but not collapse.
After this you are ready to step it up into a flying lead change. As you do this be very aware of your posture and hands as you have previously worked on. Sometimes an indirect inside rein can be effective in giving the horse a bit more support as he will want to lean off balance to the inside. Your job is to support him and help him from leaning. Keep your weight down through your outside leg as you open and slightly lift your inside shoulder. Feel free to add a ground pole in the center to help you with teaching your horse to back off his front end and support himself more evenly using his hind quarters.
