The Complete Handbook of Horse Leads

This is the handbook I wish I had when I started my lesson program. I appreciated that it didn't read like product copy, it talked about real details like what happens to a snap after a year in a washrack. I docked one star because I wanted more photos, the chapter on splicing relies heavily on text descriptions that were a little tough to follow without a visual. But the chapter on choosing leads for green horses alone is worth the price.

The information is solid and the author obviously knows their stuff, but I found parts a bit dry. Could have used more diagrams and less paragraph-style explanation in the maintenance chapter. Great detail on types of rope materials and how they behave in rain and freeze-thaw cycles. It's a reference, not a page-turner, so just know that going in. I'll keep it on the bookshelf for the chapter on commercially sourcing leads.

As someone who manages a rescue barn and goes through more leads than I care to count, I got my money's worth in the first chapter alone. The explanation of why a bolt snap behaves differently than a bull snap changed a few of my safety habits at the crossties. My main complaint is some chapters feel a bit geared toward people with disposable income for premium gear, the budget category coverage was there but lighter. Overall, very practical.

Finally, a book that treats horse leads like the technical equipment they actually are. I've been competing and training for over twenty years and thought I knew everything there was to know about a lead rope, but the chapter on hidden failure points in swivels and the stress-load table for different diameters caught me off guard. It's thorough without being pompous, and the writing is as straightforward as a good barn hand. I ordered two more copies for my students.

Solid, usable info about a piece of gear most of us just grab off a hook. I liked that it helped me understand why the cheap leads from the feed store were corroding and stiffening faster than the ones I bought from the western supply catalog. The troubleshooting section for dealing with knots that won't loosen in the rain is worth it alone. Not the most thrilling read but it does exactly what it says on the cover.

It's a well-organized reference and I did learn a few useful things about hardware metallurgy that explains why my leads keep breaking near the snap. However, I was hoping for a little more on the business side, the chapter about private labeling and reselling was shorter than I expected and kind of general. If you just want to be a smarter consumer and caretaker of your leads, this is a fine book. Full-time resellers might be disappointed.

Found the chapter about how leads are constructed with specific tons of breaking strength and the effects of UV on nylon to be very informative. I appreciated the concrete examples, like what happens to a rope when its core is damaged at the snap eye. I wish the brand section was more like a buying guide with more specific names, but it keeps things neutral, which makes sense. Overall, a genuinely useful desk reference for a ranch manager.

You can tell this was written by someone who has actually pulled a frightened horse out of a tight spot and had to bite their tongue about the gear that nearly failed them. This is the real deal. I have a background in heavy rigging and the way the book ties rope construction concepts to lead lines made immediate sense to me. The glossary alone is worth it for the new hires we bring in. It's the kind of resource you hand to a young professional instead of letting them learn by losing a horse on a driveway.