Training Tips: The Lope & Lead Changes, Part 1, eXtension

This video discusses the lope and execution of lead changes on a western horse. It is part of the Fundamental Training of a Horse video.

In this set of videos, basic ground work, longing and handling methods are demonstrated, as well as numerous suppling and basic training maneuvers are shown to develop quiet, broke horses.

Presenters: Gary Stauffer and Monte Stauffer, UNL Extension Educators

This presentation was given at the 2007 Equestrian Academy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. For more horse information, visit www.extension.org/horses!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• horses
• howto
• training
• riding
• western
• lope
• canter

[barrelhorserider7]

im confused... is the right lead the inside leg, or the right leg( that extends farther?)?? please help asap

thanks,

barrelhorserider7

[eXHorses]

When cantering in a circle to the right, the leading leg should be the right front leg. The footfall pattern for the canter, on the right lead, is left hind, right hind and left front simultaneously, then right front. The opposite foot pattern represents the left lead as follows: right hind, left hind and right front simultaneously, left front.

[tallyfolly]

not only is he good.

he teaches well, which is a rarity. more from this man, please, what's his name?

[eXHorses]

Gary Stauffer is the presenter in this video. He along with Monte Stauffer presented on Fundamental Training for Horse & Rider at the 2007 Equestrian Academy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They are both Extension educators there. This is just a segment of their presentation.

[englishwesternrider]

he's a great teacher!! i would like to see the whole presentation!!

[colshoe]

I have really enjoyed these tapes. This cowboy is a very good teacher and explains things so they are quite easy to understand. Thanks

colshoe

[earlrocks96]

Thanks for the awesome video, do you think I could apply the same type thing to me English training system?

[soullover123456]

His left lead is wonderful, but his right not os much. I make sure I am very calm but firm when I ask him to canter, in which I hardly ask him to very easily. But, he becomes out of control and hard to maintain in which his canter is very fast and nerve wracking. It a shame, because he has such great potential, and as well is a very good looking horse with great bloodline. This video surely gives me a better idea on possibly try to the fix the problem. Thank you so much for posting this.

[soullover123456]

Wow. I have a 7 year old quarter horse who never fully developed well into his canter. I try to get him to settle down and make it relaxing and enjoyable for him, but it seems that when we go into canter, it's a hard process by by slowly building up to that momentum. He grows anxious and nervous in the canter, making it uneasy for him to collect well.

[skipa27]

barrelhorserider7, in my experience in loping circles, i explain it to people in a different manner. If the outside leg of the direction you are circling hits first, then you are in the correct lead. So if you are loping to the right, you look down at the shoulders and see if the left leg lands first which is followed by the right leg "leading" that left leg step. So my easy way of knowing if you are in the correct lead is to see if the outside hits first.

[UltimateDQ]

This guy does explain my pet peeve of moving the hip in to lope very well. It makes some sense now! Thank you guy. Although I still disagree, I believe we need to ultimately make the horse straight so he can step more under his body with the inside hind leg as well.

[wildafricansafari]

@barrelhorserider7 The correct lead is the inside fore leg extending farther and hitting last.

[ewagner1987]

whichwayyougoing1234- IF you hear he is correcting this as he is going. by keeping the pressure of his leg against the horse until he relaxes therefore he is address the problem.

[NAYRiders12]

I am so glad I have found these videos. They have helped me train my 10 year old qh that is for sale.