Working with horses on the ground can be just as dangerous as riding, with the possibility of a horse stepping on or knocking over their handler. Here are some tips on how to safely lead your horse on the ground.
Begin with your horse haltered with a sturdy lead rope snapped to the ring on the underside of the halter. Never lead your horse by holding the halter. Your hand could get stuck if the horse tosses his head, gets spooked or takes off running.
Hold the lead rope in your right hand approximately 12 to 18 inches below the clasp. Hold the remainder of the lead rope folded up in your left hand. Do not wrap the excess lead rope around your hand thinking you’ll have a better grip. You must be able to let the lead rope go quickly if necessary. Do not allow it to drag on the ground as either you or the horse could trip or become entangled.
Your position is important for your safety. Keep a couple of feet between you and the horse at all times. Keep your shoulder between the horse’s shoulder and its head, never ahead or behind.
Stand in the direction you want to go, cue your horse forward by clucking, kissing or tell your horse to “Walk”. Gently tug on the lead rope and move forward assertively. Release pressure as soon as the animal moves forward. Look forward as you walk, don’t look at your horse as this is a sign of aggression that may scare the horse or make him move away. Tug on the lead rope if the horse walks faster or tries to walk away.
If you are having difficulty to get your horse to move forward, try pulling him slightly to the right so he has to take a step with his left fore foot to re-balance. Pull him gently back towards you so he then has to move his right foot forward to again re-balance. This will sometimes encourage a reluctant horse to move.
To stop your horse, say “whoa” and stop walking. A little backward tug on the lead rope can also cue the animal to stop.
Your horse is much stronger than you are! If he becomes startled and attempts to run, let go of him. If you attempt to hang on to the lead rope you may put yourself in danger. The horse can always be caught again.
Behavior on the ground often carries over to riding. If your horse shows respect towards you on the ground he will more often than not be good under the saddle. Both you and your horse need your space. Crowding might alarm your horse and cause him to feel anxious. Patting and praising your horse reinforces good behavior.
Remember the importance of your horse respecting and trusting you. The lead rope is not leading your horse, you are.
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I think it is important to not stand directly behind the horse either because if spooked they could give you a swift kick.
I am glad that you posted this. A lot of people who are not experienced with horses believe they can just walk up to them and have a go. Another tip is if you are inexperienced with that particular horse is to lead them around in an arena. It is free of some of the distractions and will help you learn. If that is not possible, an enclosed area like a paddock, where the horse can’t escape if you drop the lead, but where you could duck under a fence, if you had to is another good option.
HoundsGood – great point! I have to admit I’ve ducked under my fair share of farm fences.