Horse’s lead is a term that refers to which set of legs, left or right, advances forward to a greater extent when a quadruped animal is cantering. For example, when the animal is on a “right lead,” its right front leg sweeps forward last in each canter stride sequence. Conversely, when the animal is on a “left lead,” its left front leg sweeps forward first in each canter stride sequence. This is because the left front leg is both a driving and a balancing leg  for the animal, while the right front leg is only a driving leg. Go here ravenox.com

It is important to know which lead the horse is on in order to give it the correct verbal cues. A horse on the wrong lead can become unbalanced and difficult to control, making it susceptible to dangerous behaviors such as bucking, rearing, spinning, sliding, or pitching.

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The lead is typically a short length of rope that connects the handler to the horse. Most handlers will hold the lead close to the horse’s halter or bridle, but some may prefer to keep it slightly back of them. It is recommended that a horse be led with a lead line (position number two) that is at least a few feet long, as this ensures the leader can maintain a connection to the animal visually, but not so close that they feel constrained.

The lead can also be used to tie up the animal, using a variety of methods such as the halter hitch and other loop knots commonly known among equestrians as safety or quick release knots. These knots are designed to be easy to undo and are frequently used in conjunction with other means of restraint, such as a bridle, in order to prevent the animal from running away or bolting when it becomes frightened.