Teaching the Flying Lead

If you have been through the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Bending Course, then you are probably ready to start teaching your horse the flying lead. I will caution you, however, that if you are not getting the concept of "softness" in your cues and your horse's body, that your flying leads will go through the "Ugly" phase. This includes cross firing, possibly a kick out of hind leg, dropping of the shoulders with trying to turn after change, or a pulling on the reins in a jumping out or leap through the lead change. I often tell riders this, and they either don't believe me or just don't understand what I am saying so the first couple videos are of horses who are not truly soft in their body and so will demonstrate this "ugly" lead. If this is what happens to you on you first attempts, then you have two choices: 1- ride through the ugly phase and probably learn a lot but have numerous backtrack episodes with your horse or 2- return to the Bending Course and get more body control and then retry Flying Leads at a later date and have an easier time mastering the skill. I have taught people both ways and your horse will probably thank you for returning to Bending Course; however, the impatient riders will power ahead through the "ugly" phase so I will try to "cushion their fall" a bit with some advice to help them not loose their cool with their horse and help the horse understand their rider's intentions.