Do you bother with these? I spend so much time in the arena working on making sure I have the right lead, and learning how to get it, either simple or flying, and yet I admit to not paying the slightest attention to this on hunts.
While I don’t aim for it unless at the moment it “feels” like it would be better to do a lead change for some reason like balance, several of my horses have auto changes from showing, and every time we change direction (especially in the woods when weaving around trees) they do a lead change. 
I think I may have asked for a specific lead a handful of times, like when I knew we’d make a hard turn right after a coop (when I was jumping). I’d set him up so he’d pick up the correct lead and he did.
Other than that I don’t really recall. He knows his job (finally!:winkgrin:) and I let him do it - no micromanaging. BUT - that’s not to mean that you should not bother to learn how to pick up the correct lead, how to learn how to ask for the flying change, etc. You need to know those things out hunting - because what you learn in the arena and schooling is put to the test out hunting.
i’ll ask for a certain lead if he’s been sustaining the same one for a time or i know whats coming up…in general…i cannot get an “asked for” lead change in the arena if my life depended on it…over fences I can get it, but not on the flat…but on the hunt…my gelding does them automatically. he figured out that when we have a bunch of 180 degree switchbacks through the woods that it is no fun counter canter (actually, counter gallop!)…so he started changing on his own…go figure
My guy also does auto-changes on his own – I trust him to know how to adjust his body better than me having to tell him - especially when we’re on a mad gallop after the hounds. I just aim for a quiet seat and speed control – he is responsible for balance, keeping all four feet underneath him, and lead changes. He’s super athletic - so he does everything automatically with incredible ease - including going from 60 to 0 in one second without slamming into the horse in front of him, or needing 1/2 a field to stop! :lol:
Likewise, I leave that entirely up to the horse. A seasoned hunting horse knows what to do to save energy.
My older horse has auto changes and uses them. I’ve not found the problem of being on one lead to long as we are routinely changing direction and lead.
My 5yr old I let him pick his gears and leads so that he is comfortable.
I agree with the above posters. I will add though that I have used slow days out hunting to teach a green one how to do flyings. If we’re just cantering through the woods, I’ll use the twists and turns to help set him up and make him think. It’s been a useful tool. Now most of them just do it on their own for balance.
I use the days when I am forced to ride indoors by ice or other weather issues to school on all sorts of things, leg yielding, shoulder in, basic suppling exercises as well as lead changes. In the hunt field, I never have to ask for a change, my horse knows how to balance us better than I do, she changes as needed. On the other hand she doesn’t always compensate for the width of my legs on her barrel when doing a high speed run through the woods, all our lateral work has saved my kneecaps multiple times because she moves off my leg sideways so easily I can do a last second dodge of a tree trunk !
You will find that your horse is less likely to get injured if you are able to stay balanced and on the correct lead.
I don’t worry about leads in the hunt field but my horse does change on his own on runs to stay on the correct lead. Also if we have a long run on one lead he will change when he starts feeling like he’s tired on that lead and run on the other for a while. I never give it much thought, he knows his job.
Nope!
Nope…don’t care, don’t notice, don’t see if horsie does lead changes…I’m too busy hanging on and screaming to notice!!! :winkgrin:
Watch my face…:uhoh::eek:
As long as we both stay upright…I’m good with it! He’s the one who’s running; I’m there for the ride! I trust him to get me there.
[QUOTE=wateryglen;3696569]
Nope…don’t care, don’t notice, don’t see if horsie does lead changes…I’m too busy hanging on and screaming to notice!!! :winkgrin:
Watch my face…:uhoh::eek:
As long as we both stay upright…I’m good with it! He’s the one who’s running; I’m there for the ride! I trust him to get me there.[/QUOTE]
that is hilarious!!! :lol:
All but one of my horses have been OTTBs who seem unaware that they have any but the left lead! Okay, they know, but are reluctant to use the right lead unless balance really dictates it or they have grown a bit tired on a long run. They are always better at picking up a requested lead after a season or two in the odd event I should have a preference.
