World champion Karen Qualls shows you how to perfect your flying lead changes.

Flying Into the Lead
In today's highly competitive show arenas, smooth and effortless lead changes can mean the difference between first place and somewhere just out of the money. If your horse's lead changes are anything less than seamless, it may be time to go back to the practice arena to shore up your horse's weak areas. Follow along as world champion trainer Karen Qualls demonstrates how she teaches students to master this tricky maneuver.

For starters, your horse should be completely broke and trained enough that you can confidently control his body with only subtle cues. If every command you give elicit's a fight, he probably doesn't yet have the basic skills instilled into his training background. He should know how to carry himself well at a lope (he shouldn't fall on the forehand, nor need a lot of leg to keep him going or a lot of hand to keep him in a frame) and he should respond equally to both bridle and leg signals.

Before your horse can be taught to make lead changes accurately, he must be taught to move off your leg in a two-track situation at a walk, trot and canter. Once he will freely move off your leg by moving over, away from your leg pressure, not forward, increasing his speed, you should next move to a counter-canter exercise. Only when the horse is able to perform both of the exercises correctly is he ready to be taught how to properly make lead changes.

When you first begin performing flying lead changes, outfit your horse in a martingale or draw reins with a snaffle to keep your horse from throwing his head and evading your cues. You should have your reins crossed in front of you so that you can maneuver your horse using both reins either independently or together.

Changing Ways
In a canter, ask your horse to move in a circle to the right on the right lead. The pattern we will follow will be a large figure eight. The center of the figure eight where the two imaginary circles cross is the area you'll be concentrating on.

Just before the point where the two circles cross, you'll need to signal your horse that a lead change will soon be required. Begin that signal by applying gentle leg pressure on your horse's left side. He will begin to move away from the pressure applied to his side.

As you sit in the saddle, your right leg will be relaxed at your horse's side parallel with the girth, and your left leg will be slightly behind the girth, pressing into his body. Typically you should apply pressure just behind the girth area because this is where the horse is most responsive and gives you the most control of his body in preparation for the change.

TIP: Depending on your horse's sensitivity, you may be able to move him away from your leg with only slight pressure from your calf muscle. If your horse is a little dead-sided, you may need to tap him harder with your heel and/or spur to generate a response. As you work with your horse on the two-track and counter-canter exercises above, you will become keenly aware of just how much pressure is needed to produce results.

As your horse moves away from the pressure created by your left leg, make sure he is moving with his shoulder and hip together. If one is moving without the other your horse will not be able to make the lead change smoothly.

It's also important to be aware of your body position. Your upper body should remain straight and your shoulders should be slightly back. Don't lean to the side or the front or back. Many riders think they can use their body and/or hips to throw th ehorse into the proper lead, but that method looks unattractive and can disrupt the horse's balance.

Once the horse begins to move easily away from your leg, signal the actual lead change by pressing lightly tapping his right side with your leg. While you signal the lead change with your right leg, use your reins to push his shoulder to the left. This will tip the nose slightly to the left and encourage him to switch leads smoothly.

Remember, stay light on the bit so you don't teach the horse to toss his head when he makes the lead change. This is one of the most difficult habits to break.

Troubleshooting
While your horse does flying lead changes naturally without a rider in turnout, he may not perform them perfectly for you on the first try. Here are a few things that can go wrong and what you can do to avoid them.

Problem: Your horse switches leads in front but not behind.
Solution: If your horse doesn't pick up the proper lead in the back end, most likely his body is out of position. As he switches to the left lead, if his hip is too far to the left it will be physically difficult for him to switch leads in the rear. You need to alter his body positioning before you signal a lead change and don't push his hip so far to the left before signaling a left lead change.

If his body is in correct alignment and he still doesn't pick up the rear lead, you might not have signaled the lead change strongly enough. Next time, firmly cue your horse to switch leads by squeezing or tapping harder with your leg and/or foot. For example, if you are asking your horse to switch to the left lead, squeeze or tap harder with your right leg. If, after a few attempts, he still doesn't switch leads in the rear end, make him pivot in several quick circles to the left by placing your right leg firmly into his side.

Problem: When you signal for a lead change, your horse simply stiffens and continues in the new direction without switching leads.
Solution: When your horse speeds up at the lead change, moving in the new direction but without changing leads, you either didn't signal the lead change firmly enough or sent too many signals to the horse confusing him.

When this happens, you need to go back to the two-track maneuver to teach him exactly what your various leg cues mean. Then, it's up to you to remember to only send your horse one signal at a time to keep those gestures crystal clear.

Problem: When you signal the horse to switch leads he jumps away from your right leg, which is signaling the lead change.
Solution: This could be caused by many things. Assuming you were asking for the left lead, you could have used too much pressure with the right leg or your foot may have been too far back, encroaching into the horse's flank. If you are using spurs, take them off. Your horse may be more sensitive in his belly area and may require only a bare heel. Also, ask for the lead smoothly; a hard bump with your heel will also cause a sensitive horse to jump away from that leg.

Problem: When you ask your horse to switch leads, he kicks out or bucks.
Solution: Some horses will kick out at this point when you first begin teaching lead changes because what you are asking is too challenging. It's their way of protesting. The horse may also be confused about what you are asking.

If he continues to kick out, this may be a symptom of a physical problem that creates pain when he tries to use his body this way. You may wish to have your veterinarian examine him.

Polishing Off
While show situations present unique challenges to all competitors, doing your homework pays off. The smooth, fluid lead changes your horse executes under pressure could be the element that makes the judge take notice of your ability and send you to the winner's circle.

Meet Karen Qualls
From her training facility, Premier Performance Horses in Chino Hills, California, Karen Qualls trains both riders and horses for world-class competition. Karen has experienced much success during her career, including capturing the Senior Western Riding World Championship at the 1998 Paint Horse Association.

TIP: Two-Track Maneuver
To learn the two-track maneuver, use a martingale or snaffle bit with draw reins to encourage the horse to flex through the poll and keep his head still. Moving in a straight line, begin by asking your horse to move away from your left leg by applying pressure to his left side. As he steps away from the pressure, use your reins to move his shoulders in conjunction with his hindquarters. When he moves freely and easily in that direction, reverse the movement and place your right leg into his side, moving him leftwards and away from the pressure of your right leg. When he moves from side to side, he should appear to float across the work area. The goal is to teach the horse to move his body away from subtle leg cues. This exercise should be performed at a walk, jog and canter to ensure that the horse recognizes even the most subtle cues.

TIP: Counter-Canter
On the right lead, canter your horse in a circle to the left. Tip his nose to the inside of the circle so that from head to tail he is in a slight arc. Moving in a left circle on the right lead will teach him to remain flexible and that picking up on an inside rein doesn't always mean for him to step in that direction.