Flying Lead Changes...

[Jarani]

So... my 16 year old TB has his simple changes down to an art, but no matter what I do, he won't go to the next level and just switch leads while we're cantering. :confused: He'll go down to this really quick trot for a second, and then switch leads. I've tried exaggerating my seat in the canter, and I make it really uncomfortable for him when he goes into his trot, but does anyone have any advice on how to make this transition...easier? :o I've been working on it for only a week, and he's getting really frustrated.

[Jarani]

Maybe this is in the wrong topic? Well...sort of. I am trying to train my horse, but I'm also looking for the right aids for a lead change... so maybe I could pass this off as training for myself? My bad. :p

[Skyhuntress]

Have you tried maybe changing over a pole?
Or cantering a figure eight and really exagerating your weight to the side?

[Lgd]

Are you aiming for dressage type changes or just for jumping?

Changing over a pole will help but it makes them change late behind which is incorrect for dressage. Fine as a training aid for jumping changes though.

For dressage changes you need to establish good canter -walk and walk-canter transitions first. Thenw ork on direct simple changes (canter-walk-canter) and gradually reduce the number of walk steps. Once the horse can easily do canter-1 step walk- canter, the next step is to miss out the one step. The new canter aid needs to be applied just before the moment of suspension as the change is made in the 'off the floor' phase of the stride.

[Jarani]

Thanks for the help!! I'll try the figure eights and the changes over the pole. We're doing lower level dressage, no flying changes or anything, as of yet. Walk, trot, and canter--basics. The changes would be for jumping, definitely.

But, actually, he has a fantastic simple change... maybe I should just work on reducing the number of steps? I'll try that, too. THANKS AGAIN!! :D

[crazyhorse97]

Apparently they find it easier changing from left to right too, so maybe you coul try that one??

xXx

[Painting Horses]

My 5 cents sorry to kind of butt in and take over, I have the same problem. I do jumping and I've found that he will get his head about 70% of the time while jumping but I've gotten on the flat maybe 2 times?? I've tried will a pole, jump, larger jump, figure 8's. He'll pick up the correct lead each way 100% but when I ask for a head change he just speeds up. He tries really hard :D and We've gotten a few counter canters but... anyone else? oh and Jarani, does your babe lead change now?

[JamesJackson]

I'm not a fan of the reducing number of steps in a simple change technique, simply because it can teach them to pre-empt the changes. It's really hard to comment without seeing you and the horse, but a few points:

1. Is your horse straight
2. Can you collect and extend the canter?
3. Is your horse laterally even (i.e. lateral work even on both reins)
4. Are the lateral exercises well established (leg yield, shoulder in, travers and half pass)
5. Is your horse comfortable and balanced in counter canter?

If these boxes are ticked then all the ingredients are there. If they're not then you're making problems for yourself by your horse not being ready.

A nice way to school changes are to obtain a collected canter down the long side, then ride a half circle to the centre line, returning to the track at E or B (i.e. a teardrop shape). You then ride a 20m circle at the other end (note you're in counter canter here), further collect and straighten the canter, then apply the new canter aids (prepare horse, rider lateral weight transfer, inner leg, outer leg etc etc). Note that timing is important here. You want to apply the new canter aid on the '3' of the canter (i.e. when the leading foreleg is hitting the ground) to give the horse time to process the message and figure it out. If it doesn't work, wait a stride or two and apply again etc etc.

Usually, just the act of riding a very collected counter canter straighter than one would normally ride results in a change without asking when schooling the exercise like this. One can then associate the aids with the movement.

[Painting Horses]

Yes my horse can do everything, I will try what you've suggested :D. thank you so much! I've been working on picking up his leads automatically which he has no problem with :D.

[JamesJackson]

It's much easier for a horse to change lead over a fence as the moment of suspension is huge compared to that when changing on the flat...

[Painting Horses]

Yes thats what I've been told, He does seem to have an easyer time. He can pick up the correct lead each direction but.... for some reason.... maybe he was never taught how to do a lead change?

[PurpleUnicorn]

A nice way to school changes are to obtain a collected canter down the long side, then ride a half circle to the centre line, returning to the track at E or B (i.e. a teardrop shape).
.

I did this last night in my lesson, working towards flying changes, and it's a really useful exercise. Before this I'd ridden a few shallow loops which starts to give the horse (and me!) the idea, and I actually ended up doing almost a whole circuit in counter-canter after the tear-drop, which was a first for me if not the horse! You really notice which is the stiff side too- my horse definitely found this easier one way.
Good luck!:)