Horse Halters, Leads, Muzzles & Cribbing
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The proper way to lead a horse is to always maintain relaxed control, a safe position, and awareness. Stand a couple of feet away on the left side of your horse and firmly grasp the lead without looping or coiling it around your hand. Do not pull the lead rope too tightly or you may frighten or upset your horse. You should always walk along the side of your horse and your horse should follow next to you. Your horse should turn when you cue him to do so, stop when you stop and move forward when you pull the lead or tell him to walk. Learning proper techniques and teaching your horse to do this properly takes a bit of training and patience, but it is an essential skill for any equestrian.
Teach a horse to lead by first positioning yourself to his left, aligned with his shoulder and head. Grasp the lead rope firmly without wrapping or coiling it around your hand, as this can lead to injury if the horse bolts. Give your horse a little slack and then slightly pull forward to get your horse to walk. You can also use command cues like "walk" as you teach your horse to walk forward. A tap on the ankle with a dressage whip can help if gentle pulling doesn't work. Once you've mastered the skill of walking straight, you can move on to teaching your horse to go left and right and also train him to stop on command. You may want to work with a trainer or experienced handler to learn the proper techniques for teaching your horse to lead.
The tack you need to lead a horse includes a halter, a lead rope, gloves and a dressage whip. Choose a cotton, polypropylene or nylon lead rope and fit your horse with a well-fitted halter. A good dressage whip should be semi-rigid and easy to hold in your hand. You do not necessarily need gloves to lead a horse, but many people, especially beginners, prefer them for protection while holding the lead.
Put a halter and lead on a horse by first attaching the lead rope to the unbuckled halter. Start on the left side, and slowly guide the halter's nosepiece over your horse's muzzle and pull the headstall over and behind his ears. It may help to use your right hand to gently guide your horse's head toward you so he doesn't pull away. Then, secure the halter using its attached fasteners. Now you are ready to begin leading your horse.