Numpty question about leading on the road.

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I have started to take my rising 3 year old for hacks out in hand to look at stuff and learn about cars :)

Should I lead him on the left side of the road as if I was riding him? If I do this, would you lead from the left as usual meaning that he was between you and traffic or lead from the right putting yourself between him and traffic (more keen on this but it feels a bit odd, he is fine with it)

Or, do you lead on the right side of the road, facing oncoming traffic as you should as a pedestrian, meaning that you are naturally between neddy and traffic?

Or, am I over thinking it??!! :p :D
 
You walk on the left side of the road but stand on the right side of the horse, so you're between your horse and the traffic.
 
stay on the correct (left) side of the road but lead from the right so that you are between them and the traffic ... or so the good old BHS says :)
 
Lead from the right. Your horse has a blind spot immediately behind him, as a vehicle approaches he'll find it harder to keep it in view, so he'll swing his head. If you're leading from the left, you'll probably bring his head/he'll move his head towards you, therefore seeing the vehicle with his left eye. To keep it in view, he'll turn his head more, and then his quarters will swing out. Make sure the right eye locks on, then the quarters stay correct and safe - this is the same when riding too!
 
Ditto the above, same as if you were riding except you always put yourself between the horse and the traffic so in theory you have better control of the horse to prevent it swinging in to the road if spooked :)
 
Thanks all, this is what I have been doing. Only country lanes though, realised this could sound like I have been leading down A roads! :p

pearlsasinger - he does lead happily from either side. I teach all my horses to do this. It's me that feels odd, not him! :rolleyes:
 
I did this for quite a long time with two extremely quite horses but one day on a very quiet lane a sheep was in a hedge and didnt make a noise until we were right beside it. The horse i was leading bolted forward and mine shied backwards. I had to make a very quick decision whether to hold on and get dragged down the road or let go. Thankfully i let go and she galloped into a field about 1/2 mile away. I prayed like crazy hoping no cars would come and thankfully none did come! A forest park would be ideal probably.
 
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