Catching and Leading

Keep yourself safe by correctly catching and leading your Appaloosa.

Safety on the ground with your Appaloosa is just as important as safety in the saddle. Despite this fact, many owners sometimes feel a little too comfortable catching and leading their horses and let precautions fall to the wayside. Often the most seasoned horsemen and -women are caught leading one horse or more with one hand at the end of the lead rope (You know who you are!). Other handlers and youngsters have simply never learned these basic aspects of horsemanship and how to catch and lead a horse safely.
Here, Appaloosa Journal visits the basics of :

Making the catch
1. Prepare your halter. Before you head out to the pasture, make sure you have a halter and lead rope in hand. Unbuckle the halter so you’re ready to catch your Appaloosa.
2. Approach the front end of your horse, walking toward and looking at his shoulder, preferably the left shoulder. Never approach a horse straight on or stand in front of him.
3. Drape the lead rope over the horse’s neck and make sure you have a secure hold of the horse before haltering him.
4. Holding the halter in your left hand, place your right arm over your horse’s neck and grab the halter’s crown piece with your right hand. Pull the halter up over the horse’s nose and buckle the halter.

Follow me
1. To ensure your and your horses’ safety, only lead one horse at a time.
2. To lead your horse off, stand on his left — or off — side, behind his ear. Never walk in front of the horse or drag him behind you. Also, don’t allow the horse to surge in front of you.
3. Hold the lead rope with two hands, not one. Place your right hand 12 to 18 inches below the snap and hold the excess rope in your left hand. Fold or figure-eight the excess rope in your left hand as you lead the horse. If you fold the rope, place the tail end of the rope against your palm, so if the horse does pull, the rope will unravel from your hand, giving you the chance to catch its loose end. Never loop the rope around your hand in a way that could catch your wrist, hand, fingers or thumb if the horse pulls or spooks. Not holding the lead rope correctly can lead to injury or even accidental loss of digits.

STORY AND PHOTO BY MICHELLE ANDERSON

Printed in the November 2005 issue of Appaloosa Journal.

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