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By Larry Trocha
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Dear Friend and
Horseman,
Welcome to another
issue of my "Training Tips" newsletter. Before we get started with the
training tips, I thought I'd better let you know I have just released my
latest training videos plus I've added some videos by top trainers that
I highly recommend.
Topics include cutting,
reining, working cow horse and foundation training. After you finish
reading the new training tips, you might want to take a look at the new
videos. I think you'll really like them.
How To Teach A Green-Broke
Colt Correct Leads
When you're riding a
colt that you've just started, you'll notice that he almost always takes
the same lead, no matter which direction he is loping. This is normal.
Just like people who are left or right handed, most colts will be left
or right leaded. It's not a big deal or something you should be overly
concerned about.
All you really need to
do, is get your horse to lope on his bad lead until he gets comfortable
with it. Once he gets used to loping in either lead, then you can start
adding refinement to his lead departures.
Of course, the problem
is getting him to take the bad lead to begin with. In this issue I
describe how I get a colt to do that.
OK, Let's Get Started
Let's say the colt
won't pick up the right lead. I trot the horse alongside the fence,
placing the fence on my right. My horse will be parallel and about 6’
from the fence. From the walk or trot, I'll turn the colt into the
fence.
Halfway through that
turn, I'll kick him with my outside leg (which would be my left leg) and
I'll cluck to him to pick up the lope. If he won't pick up the lope, I
might swat him on the butt with the end of the rein. If I can get him to
turn to the right and pick up the lope at the same time, he is almost
forced to pick up that right lead.
Note: I should
point out, if you have to swat the colt on the butt to get him to pick
up the lope, make sure you swat him on the side “opposite” from the
lead. In other words, if you want him to pick up the “right” lead, swat
him on the “left” hip.
Also, its important to
handle your reins correctly when doing this. Let's say you're going to
turn the colt into the fence to the right. Cross your reins and put
them in your right hand. Have your right rein shorter than your left
rein so you can turn him into the fence “nose first” with a direct rein.
Have the end of your
rein in your left hand so that when you turn into the fence, halfway
through you can pop him on the butt.
The timing of this is
pretty critical. Halfway through the turn — while he's facing the fence
- use your outside (left) leg. Right after you bump him with your
outside leg, you swat him on the butt with the end of the rein using
your left hand. If you want, you could use a bat to pop him on the hip,
instead of the rein.
Sometimes you’ll have a
horse that will pick up the correct lead - but then take a couple
strides and switch to the wrong lead again. The way you fix that is to
ride him into a circle “immediately” after he picks up the lead.
If he won't hold the
“right” lead, you’d turn him into the fence, jump him into the right
lead, and then lope him into a circle to the “right”.
Here is the sequence
of steps to pick up the right lead:
-
Ride parallel to a
fence on your right
-
Turn to the right,
into the fence
-
Halfway thought the
turn, kick with your outside (left) leg
-
If necessary, swat on
the outside (left) hip with the rein or bat
-
Go into the lope
-
Circle to the right
to encourage him stay on the right lead
If you’ll be consistent
with this procedure, it will have your colt picking up the correct lead
almost every time. However, when you first start this, you have to make
sure you don’t over do it. Repeating it two or three times each
direction, is probably enough on a particular ride.
Don't do it so many
times in one ride that you scare him half to death. Do it just enough to
give him the idea and that’s all. If he gets it, great. If he doesn't
get it, wait until the following day to try it again.
That way you'll keep
him calm and your progress will be smoother.
In my new video,
Foundation Training For Turns, Circles and
Leads, I show you exactly how to do this.
Until next time, take
care.
Larry Trocha
www.HorseTrainingVideos.com
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