Lead Changes

[Ramona]

Any ideas on why a horse doesn't change leads?

[TJ]

Any ideas on why a horse doesn't change leads?

Hi Ramona,
If it's a young horse just learning the trade.....keep trying, get the horse to focus and pay attention....maybe change the exercise rider and see if that helps. If it doesn't help, follow the next sentence. If it's one that's been racing and switching all along.....then check that horse out thoroughly as there is something amiss and the horse is usually attempting to protect itself by not switching. TJ

[zinn21]

The reasons vary. Some just won't. Some have physical problems but most have not been taught how to switch leads do to poor horsemanship.

[Dave C]

If a horse isn't switching leads, it has an injury. There is no other reason for a horse not changing leads. Foals 2 hours old know how to change leads if you take the time to watch them. An untrained horse will not change leads on cue, but it will change leads when it is tired. If your horse isn't changing leads when it is tired, then there is no other possibility than that it has an injury that it is protecting.

[TJ]

The reasons vary. Some just won't. Some have physical problems but most have not been taught how to switch leads do to poor horsemanship.

Hi Zinn,
If we're talking dressage I would agree with that.....race horses that don't switch and continue to race are likely heading for a break down. TJ

[Crystal]

a lot of horses dont switch leads because of soreness and un-equal muscle tone. Proper conditioning is critical when starting horses as well as proper balance and teaching them how to use their bodies properly.

[ratherrapid]

are we talking about a race horse failing to change in the stretch, or an OTB pony refusing in the arena?

[Ramona]

1st and 2nd out in (MSW) he has come in 3rd. The track has been nasty and in the 2nd out he ran under the lights and the track looked like a mirror. He's running hell bent for election and doesn't change leads in the stretch and then horses pass him. Otherwise he gallops fine and changes leads.

[madelyn]

The way I school, I work the horse in serpentines, ovals and circles, at a trot until the horse is bending equally well into his bad side as he does his good side. We progress into the canter, eventually changing leads in the center of a figure eight, and later at each bend of a serpentine. They are taught to do this with just shifting weight, since that, a rein and a tap on the neck are all the jockey has to offer in the stretch to signal time to switch.

[griff]

I suspect more horses are not changing leads in the stretch than owners, trainers and jockey's realize. especially on muddie tracks

griff

[Brogan]

I suspect more horses are not changing leads in the stretch than owners, trainers and jockey's realize. especially on muddie tracks

griff

That would be an excellent reason to change trainer and/or jockey...not much you can do about changing the owner.

[ratherrapid]

1st and 2nd out in (MSW) he has come in 3rd. The track has been nasty and in the 2nd out he ran under the lights and the track looked like a mirror. He's running hell bent for election and doesn't change leads in the stretch and then horses pass him. Otherwise he gallops fine and changes leads.

to answer original Q of why? multiple. could be as simple as the horse's position at the lead change point vis vis the field made a lead change impossible. could be the horse, could be rider/trainer obliviousness, injury, the conditions, competitive distraction, inexperienced racer, failure of one attempt at a lead change that will never happen again, etc. et.

any horse failing to change leads in the stretch is likely "not for long" on at race track, though, if the horse made it through healthy, i'd avoid overreacting to the one incident. Were I owner or with an interest in the horse, it was time to get into "leads" way before the first race, but, better late than never. getting the leads is the #1 injury preventing variable for any race horse.

horses "will change" IF they are healthy and correctly trained.

Some basics to consider: is the trainer aware of or cares about leads? the horse is at the trainer's mercy, and then at the rider's mercy. If the trainer is aware and working at it, the correct procedure for every animal in any race or breeze is to instruct the jock--fail to change leads, avoid persevering with the horse. failure to follow this instruction has a 50% likelihood of causing a career ending injury from a single incident. biggest danger is a bow. Obviously fractures, pulled sesamoid, etc. etc. in a horse going 1/2 mile on one lead are also frequent.

Next basic--are they getting leads in the morning? is the exercise rider getting leads at the slow gallops. is the exercise rider tuned into lead chings, or even instructed or aware of the importance of leads? That's were it begins. Any horse can be taught to change, though some are more difficult than others. The actual process and detail of teaching a horse is another story. First step in leads for a racing animal--are the connections tuned in and aware? Usually the answer to this last also answers the OP.

[Ramona]

Thank all of you for the great information!