Lead changes...help

[Levigal]

My horse is very close to doing flying lead changes. He takes each lead well, and if I pull him down to a trot and ask for the opposite lead, he never misses. However, I just can't quite seem to get him to change at the canter. He does it inconsistently at best.

I always practice lead changes on a straight line. I've been told that teaching the change on a figure eight is not the best thing to do.

Any advice on how to get him to that next step?

[julia gulia]

I always teach lead changes on a figure eight. Give your horse enough warning about the lead change by putting your inside seat bone forward ,Sit up and exaggerate your aids so that your horse can be in no doubt about what you're asking him to do. Make sure that you're 'giving' forward with the inside rein so that you don't block the take off. I think It's always easier for the horse to pick up the correct lead as you go into the corner so I like to do it on the figure eight. Perhaps you could get someone to watch you so they can see whether you're leaning in or perhaps doing too much? I always like to get a friend to help out as I'm usually doing something I'm unaware of:rolleyes: :D Hope this helps but I'm sure that other more knowledgeable people will be able to give you a lot more help!

[KateWooten]

Think 'shape'. Set your horse up with a right bend, and ask for a right canter exiting a corner. Get the right canter going on really well and balanced for a few circles. Now, on the next circle, before the center line, push his whole body over to the RIGHT, with your LEFT leg, setting him up for a left bend, and launch him into a left canter. If he changes shape, but not lead (so he's in counter-canter), no biggie. Just keep him on the left shape, and decrease the radius of the left circle until he finds it more comfortable to swap leads. At that point, hug him til he's embarrased and give him a rest. Then do it again (right canter, push his body over right, expect to strike off left, counter canter til he strikes off left, big reward) ... until he's striking off left from the body push and canter cue.

[emlybob]

Use a pole that often helps. Also start with simple changes and then reduce the amount of walk steps.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

Poles often encourage the horse to swap up front but not behind i was told.

[emlybob]

Can do it depends. My horse learnt with a pole at first and he does perfect changes