Flying Changes!!!

[NoviceNic]

About 2 weeks ago I was schooling Captain and trying to get his engine kick started. He is very lazy in the school and usually needs a wee tap on the bum with my whip. He usually bucks to tell me off straight away and then gets on with the job with more enthusiasm. Whilst in canter I looked down, he was on the wrong leg as usual. Then I leg/tapped him and he lifted his bum in the air to which I smiled and knew we had fired up his engine but as I looked down I realised he was on the correct leg. :eek: Shock horror did we just do a flying change????

Furiously I read all my books and tried to understand the concept of how to ask for a Flying Change. Last Wednesday we went into canter and on the next corner I asked for a flying change. I yelped with glee. My instructor had confirmed we had done a flying change. Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke we did it again on the next corner.

Dressage queen here I come. :D :D

[sillymillie]

I think this ha happened to me as well. Idon't know what I was doing - what did you do?

[NoviceNic]

I can have a go at explaining but I think you mind find it better to buy "Your Horse". There is a description in there. As you go into canter on a corner you are supposed to move your outside leg back and squeeze/kick at the same time your inside hand squeezing the horse head inwards slightly. Well apparently if you totally reverse this action on a corner you will do a flying change. IE inside leg kick behind the girth and outside rein squeeze out. Also a good idea would be to try it on a figure of 8 at the x spot. Good Luck.

[momofsix]

Is that how you do it? I noticed that one of my new horses does it automatically when I change directions in the arena in the canter. Everyone in the barn that was watching was impressed but I honestly hadn't done anything. Hope she will keep doing it, makes me look good.

[Wobblydeb]

momofsix :D I've just spluttered my coffee everywhere! Oooooooo I wish people were that honest in the flesh..... LOL :D

[NoviceNic]

MOMOFSIX - Honey far too honest for us novices liking. Don't let all our secrets away just keep smiling and saying he does the most perfect flying changes doesn't he!!!! :cool: