Lead (leg)
Lead refers to which set of legs, left or right, leads or advances forward to a greater extent when a quadruped animal is cantering, galloping, or leaping. The feet on the leading side touch the ground forward of its partner. On the "left lead", the animal's left legs lead. The choice of lead is of special interest in horse riding. A
lead change refers to an animal, usually a horse, moving in a canter or gallop, changing from one lead to the other. There are two basic forms of lead change: simple and flying. It is very easy to define the correct lead from the incorrect lead. When a horse is executing the correct lead, the inside front and hind legs reach farther forwards than the outside legs. In a
transverse or
lateral or
united canter and gallop, the hind leg on the same side as the leading foreleg advances more. In horses this is the norm. In a
rotatory or
diagonal or
disunited canter and gallop, the hind leg on the opposite side advances more.