01/14/2026
Welcome to Trainer Tuesday! Each week we ask trainers a question and gather their answers for you. These trainers have a range of experience, backgrounds, and focus points of their programs, so the answers have as much variation as you would expect and also probably much more similarity.
This week’s question posed is: If a horse struggles to land the lead or typically only lands on one lead, what does that indicate, and can it be improved?
“If your horse struggles to land the lead or typically only lands on one lead, it is important to first rule out any medical issues. If your vet has addressed any physical concerns, then it comes to training.
On the flat it is important to establish a very straight horse at the walk, trot, and canter (off the rail of the ring, which acts as a crutch for straightness). Once a horse can travel straight, I add in counter-canter both ways. This will help their strength and balance.
Next I would start to work a horse over a small jump on a circle to help maintain the lead on landing. On a smaller circle, the rider should use an opening or leading rein and outside leg on take off/landing to encourage landing on the same lead. You can put a straightening pole on the landing to help show them the path of the circle if needed. Again, do this both ways, even though one way will probably be considerably easier than the other. As that gets comfortable, make the circle larger and the jump higher. When the horse reliably stays on the lead, you can approach the jump straight and land on the circle.
You can then move to a figure-eight over a jump to land both leads. The horse is now essentially doing a flying change while in the air over the jump. It’s important that the rider is using the new inside rein and outside leg to ask for the landing lead, and NOT a big twist of the body. Landing a lead is not more important than the quality of the jump, and you do not want to forsake the jump to get the lead.
Patience is key. If your horse gives you a couple of landings on their difficult lead, reward them by moving on to something else. Understand that’s it’s hard for them and don’t over drill it.” –Ann Dotoli
Read all their answers: https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/01/13/trainer-tuesday-if-a-horse-struggles-to-land-the-lead-or-typically-only-lands-on-one-lead-what-does-that-indicate-and-can-it-be-improved/
