* Leading the horse: Sometimes, especially with young or inexperienced horses, riders might lead them from the front to guide them in the right direction or to encourage them to move forward. This is particularly helpful for getting them used to the saddle and rider.
* Encouraging forward movement: If a horse is hesitant to move forward, the rider might walk in front and gently pull the lead rope to motivate them to walk alongside.
* Calming a nervous horse: Sometimes a horse can become nervous about a new environment or experience. The rider might walk in front to reassure the horse and make them feel more secure.
* Preventing a horse from backing up: When mounting a horse, the rider sometimes needs to walk a few steps forward to prevent the horse from backing up and potentially causing injury.
It's important to remember that horses are intelligent animals and need to be handled with respect. While it might look like the rider is "pulling" the horse, they are likely using gentle encouragement and positive reinforcement to guide their animal.