Leads

Question
Much Obliged for a most informative answer.

However, I think that I'm still a little confused ... if a horse's natural lead is toward the rail, would it ever need to switch leads on an oval track ... like most "dirt" tracks in the United States?  If so, please explain why.

The explanation point on my keyboard is old like me, and not functioning properly ... but consider a couple aded to my thanks.

Regards,

Bob

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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I've been told that horses race the straights on their "right lead" and switch to their "left lead" going into the turn.  What exactly is meant by the terms "right lead" and "left lead" ... or perhaps more to the point, the expression "to race on a left or right lead"?  Also, does the process of switching leads slow the horse while entering the turn?  Does the horse switch leads halfway through the turn when the direction changes?
-----Answer-----
Hi Bob,
      What an interesting question and one that will have you viewing races quite differently from now on!

When a horse gallops it 'leads' with either its near side (left) front leg or its off side (right) leg.

Imagine a horse racing on a clockwise track.
It will be a lot more balanced if it 'leads' with the foreleg closest to the inside rail. Horses are like humans and tend to have a 'favored' side so not all horses naturally choose to lead with the inside leg. Part of training a race horse involves teaching it to change leads as it will run easier and more balanced on its natural lead but may need to change to run through a bends in the track. In New Zealand we have both right (Clockwise) and left (anti-clockwise) hand race tracks so it is an important 'learnt' behavior in NZ race horses.
A well educated horse will change stride (lead) in one stride in response to a pressure command from the jockey however some horses just wont do it at all!

This change lead maneuver is an important discipline used a lot in dressage and is far more noticeable.

You will be watching this now wont you and will learn what each of your favorite horses like best.
Hope this brings a new dimension to your race watching,
Regards,
Don Boddie
New Zealand.

Answer
Hi Bob,
      Thanks for your thanks!!
Yes a horse could be required to change 'leads' during a race. This could occur because the jockey needed to steer off the rail to go round other horses.
If a sharp change in direction is required to avoid a slow rump or avoid getting squeezed in a closing gap.
You see it all the time in all 醰oidance' sports where an athlete will find it easier to 'prop' off one leg rather than the other. Football, basketball, rugby, soccer etc.
Horses need to be able to 'sidestep' and if they can do it off the correct foot then it is accomplished so much better and at greater speed.
Its good to examine this skill in detail as it is not well understood in horse racing and you can see the importance of it when you watch horses that cant do it.
Once again I will mention dressage as the place to see this skill in action.
Also a slalom skier uses the technique to increase turn speed.
Where races are decided by a 10th of a second then you can see that this is important.
Hope this helps,
Regards,
Don