Go Forward
Your horse should go forward as you move forward, wherever you want him to go and at whatever speed you choose, whether it is to the barn or into a trailer. You should not have to tug on the halter or bridle to get him to walk or trot with you.
Stand again in your ideal position. Take a step forward without taking the slack out of the lead. If he steps forward with you, that's great. If not, give your go forward cue (a "kiss," for instance). If nothing happens, reach back with your dressage whip or the end of your lead rope, and reinforce the cue with a light tap on the hip. Remember this tap is not a punishment. The rope or whip is just an extension of your arm so you don't have to leave your position to give the cue.
Do not let him circle around you. Any time he gets ahead of you, lean your shoulder back to slow his pace, or turn toward his shoulder and ask him to back up a step or two. If necessary, disengage his hips. You're going to have to finesse this a bit, because you don't want to discourage the forward motion you need for leading, but you don't want the horse rushing ahead either.
Practice changing from walk to trot to walk to stop to walk. Repeat, repeat, and then repeat again, praising him every time he does something well.
Turning Toward the Right
A right-hand turn is the same as an outside turn in the round pen.
When you ask your horse to move to the right, you will put pressure-that is, almost a cushion of air-on his shoulder by moving your body in that direction.
Cue the nose for an outside turn, then cue the shoulder for a sidestep. Now, cue the hip to go forward. You want the horse to move to the right almost as if he were sidepassing. If he so much as leans or takes a single step to the side with a front foot, praise him. Practice this many times. As the horse learns to cross over, the left front foot passing in front of his right foot, begin to ask for two steps, then three, then a full circle. Ask for a go forward when you lead him out of the circle into a straight line.
This is an especially important lesson because it teaches your horse to move out of your space and to avoid crowding into you or running you over. By moving your horse's shoulders away from you, you'll be able to establish a safe, comfortable boundary for better control as you lead him.
Teaching a Left Turn
A left-hand turn is the same as an inside turn in the round pen.
Use your rein or the lead rope to cue the shoulder so the horse takes one step away from you. The instant he takes that sideways step, move your body down his side, with your body facing the horse's hip.
As you move toward the hip, make a kissing sound. He should turn and look at you.
Practice this over and over again. When the horse is consistently turning and facing you, step backward in small circles. Keep his feet moving and be consistent with your body position. Praise him often.
Once you have your horse turning reliably to the left, you'll add the go forward cue to get him to step ahead when you do, remaining alongside.
The Payoff
Remember that all these exercises carry over into every part of your horsekeeping routine, from leading out of the pen to loading onto a trailer, to time in the saddle. The better your horse becomes at "Follow the Leader" on the ground, the more perfect your working relationship, safety, and enjoyment will be. Ima Diva will soon be a beautiful dance partner. Sparky will be a candle rather than a rocket, developing patience with whoever is handling him. And Ol' Molasses? Well, he'll be flowing alongside his young owner like it's July, not January. If you do your ground work, every horse can become a pleasure to lead.
