Understanding Leads with Ken McNabb: How to Pick Up the Correct Lead & Fix Lead Problems

Today we’re talking about picking up the correct lead and how to fix lead problems. What is a lead? A lead refers to the hind leg that propels the horse forward in a specific direction. When your horse is traveling in a straight line, there’s technically no “correct” or “incorrect” lead—they can lope, canter, or run on either lead and it’s fine. But the moment you start turning—whether left or right—you need the inside hind leg to reach further forward, hit the ground first, and drive the horse forward. That leg becomes the powerhouse. Understanding the movement: I want you to think about the word canter—I like that word because it describes what’s actually happening in your horse’s body. If you watch your horse canter away and then back toward you, you’ll notice the horse’s hip shifts outward. That’s because the hind end has to pass the front end in order to push off. Now, when a horse takes the wrong lead, it’s often because they anticipate and throw their shoulder into the new direction instead of reaching with the inside hind. Feeling the lead in the saddle: Let’s talk about how to feel the lead while you’re riding. One common issue is that the horse trots too much when you cue for the lope. If that happens—stop, back your horse up, and ask again. You want them to lope off straight from the walk or standstill, not after a bunch of trot steps. As you begin loping or cantering, ask yourself: What lead am I on? Feel it in your pelvis. For example, in a right lead circle, your horse’s right hip will come up and bump into your right hip. That motion naturally pushes your right leg slightly forward. That’s how you can feel the correct lead—not by looking down. Looking down disrupts your body position. When you glance to the left, for instance, your weight often shifts right, which can cause your horse to pick up the wrong lead. So stay tall, keep your shoulders upright and to the inside of your circle. Fixing the wrong lead: If your horse picks up the wrong lead, stop immediately. Move their shoulders to the outside of the circle, and ask again. Keep repeating this until they pick up the correct lead. Always feel for it and fix it—don’t let the wrong lead continue. Now, if your horse starts anticipating, I’ll use a spin to reset her mind and body. I’ll spin her in the opposite direction of the circle I’m planning to lope in. Then I’ll push her hip into the circle and soften her face. This sets her up to take the correct lead. Once she does, don’t keep her loping forever. One or two circles, then reward her with a break. Then change directions and go the other way. Always turn to the outside of your circle when changing directions—it helps set up the correct lead on the new side. Dealing with imbalance: If your horse struggles more with one lead than the other, that’s okay. When you go to their dominant side, let them lope a little longer. I don’t mind that side getting tired—it encourages the horse to take the correct lead on the weaker side later. Pressure and release: Remember, pressure itself doesn’t teach a horse anything. It simply motivates them to seek the release. It’s the release of pressure that teaches. Working through problems: If, like my horse today, your horse is struggling to pick up the left lead, here’s what to do: soften the face, push the hip in, and ask again. If she keeps picking up the wrong lead, I’ll go back to the basics—ask her to walk softly with her nose slightly to the inside and her hips tipped into the circle. This helps soften her body and prepare her to pick up correctly. Leg position matters: As you're working through this, be intentional with your leg position: -Position One (just behind the front cinch): moves the shoulders. -Position Two (midway between front and back cinch): moves the whole body sideways or sidepasses. -Position Three (just in front of the back cinch): moves the hindquarters. If your horse doesn’t understand these cues, they’ll struggle with leads. Being able to move off your leg is key. Hindquarters focus: In this drill, focus on the hindquarters. Loosen them up by pushing them to the inside of your circle—think “haunches in.” You want to visibly see the hips inside the circle. This helps a lot when your horse is anticipating or bracing. In the end, teaching your horse to pick up the correct lead is just as much about you as the rider—feeling, correcting, and guiding, as it is about the horse picking up the correct lead. It takes practice. Keep at it and stay patient.