what are lead horses for?

I've sometimes wondered why many countries have lead horses. What are they for and do they help? At Scottsville on Saturday I noticed a very smart grey horse and its equally smart rider come out on the course before the horses cantered down, but she didn't seem to do anything particularly. At one point the jockey was battling to get his horse to go to the start ... it kept on turning round and trying to go back to the stable, but she just sat there watching.



In another race a horse dumped its jockey and ran off, but the lead rider didn't make any attempt to catch the loose horse or head it off. So what are they there for?

Thanks again for photos Mav, did the jockey look like Bonski?

Considering that the lead horse was probably 10 yo + and the rider weighs a lot more than a jockey chasing a riderless youngster would have been somewhat futile anyway..

And the U.S. has outriders. I think they get in the way..

scotia Wrote:

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> Thanks again for photos Mav, did the jockey look
> like Bonski?


Looks like a lovely lady Dave,great pics Mav...

Mac Wrote:

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> And the U.S. has outriders. I think they get in
> the way..

Until they are needed.

In the US the jockey can`t dismount when going behind the stalls or when loading,so out riders have there use

That grey horse and rider look as though they were there to lead the parade only. Usually a course uses them before a feature or if it is a retired horse that ,perhaps, won the main race befor.

Lead horses help take difficult or nervous horses to the start to give them confidence and to help the runners relax. Some are lead from the lead horse or others, like Bravura, follow their lead companion to the start quietly. We use Bermuda Prince for these tasks.

Sham Racing Wrote:

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> That grey horse and rider look as though they were
> there to lead the parade only. Usually a course
> uses them before a feature or if it is a retired
> horse that ,perhaps, won the main race befor.
>
> Lead horses help take difficult or nervous horses
> to the start to give them confidence and to help
> the runners relax. Some are lead from the lead
> horse or others, like Bravura, follow their lead
> companion to the start quietly. We use Bermuda
> Prince for these tasks.


Thanks for the explanation. I also want to take this oppotunity to thank you for the transparency on your runners on Friday. Excellent run by Alif, who i can see being a winner very soon and a great run from start to finish by Cashmere. Excellent!

Rider looks a ringer to Bronski on the grey