Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: Lead Changes- When is enough, enough?

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About This Week’s Lesson

Lead Changes- When is enough, enough?

By:

EvyG

Date:

2010-Jan-29 at 10:00PM

I am currently riding a 5 year old pony at the moment, and as stubborn as ponies can be, he does not really get the lead changes. I have gotten a lead change from him on the first try and rewarded him and took a walk break. Then i tried again going the other way and he wouldn't give me one. I wanted to end on a positive note, so when he cross led i stopped him and ended there. What should the maximum of tries be? I think i went for about 10 more tries until he gave me a cross lead. Because after awhile he starts to tune me out, so i stop trying and ended it with leg yeilding. And he does the leg yeilding very well.
How many tries to get a lead change is too much?

Syd 2010-Feb-01 at 03:34PM

Well what I have learned is not to do it too much in the beginning, because like you said, the horse will get bored and then end up ignoring you and forgets the lesson (sometimes). Keep doing what you're doing (once you get what you want stop, get off or go for a relaxing trail ride and lots of rewards). When you ride again, ask for the lead change, when your pony gives it to you, stop, reward, and then walk around a bit. Then ask for a lead change again. After you get the second change, get off or go for another trail ride. Gradually increase the number of lead changes you ask for. Your pony should be getting the picture after a few lessons. Hope this helps, please give some feed back on how things go!

EvyG 2010-Feb-02 at 12:10AM

He is starting to get the picture I think! We were recently in a schooling show, doing low hunters and instead of doing the back to trot, simple change, I kept him going and asked for the change and if he did it, great, and if not, well atleast we kept a pace threw the corner. He cross led most of the time but thats good, because he was starting to get it! And then by our third class he did one full change! It will take time but hopefully in a few months he will have them down pat!