| Many riders have difficulty training their horses to do | | | | should be on the same side as the leading leg for the |
| flying changes. The three of the most common | | | | aid to canter. Yet many horse's problems taking the |
| problems that slow training and cause poor | | | | correct lead is due to the riders weight being on the |
| performance are: A lack of understanding of Where, | | | | wrong side or neutral. To assure your weight is on the |
| When and How to ask for the lead change. | | | | correct side push downward in that stirrup and push |
| Although this may seem like an over simplification | | | | down with that side of your seat. |
| there are a great number of wrong turns riders make | | | | It also is easier for most horses to comprehend which |
| within those three basic areas. | | | | lead is desired simply because the horse naturally |
| As in anything in life, you must know what your | | | | leads with the inside leg on a curve or turn. The result |
| objectives are to achieve them. The better your | | | | of both these natural actions make it easy for the |
| understanding of your objectives in the flying change, | | | | horse to comply and limit frustration for both horse and |
| the easier it is to accomplish them. Knowing exactly | | | | rider. |
| what your objectives are and where and when to ask | | | | At first you may do six strides through trot before |
| for the transition will make training go easier for both | | | | asking for the change, then four, then two, then none. |
| horse and rider. | | | | Once he masters the flying change going into turns, |
| First you must understand the mechanics of the | | | | then start asking him a few strides before the turn |
| canter. The Canter is a three beat gait, meaning that | | | | each time asking for the change earlier on the straight |
| there is a sequence of three beats or footfalls | | | | line. This will keep both of you from becoming bored |
| followed by a period of suspension. If a horse is | | | | and will keep him more relaxed. |
| cantering on the right lead the foot falls are: Left hind, | | | | Finally there is the issue of focus. Many riders early on |
| right hind and front fore together, followed by the | | | | in their dressage riding careers become focused on |
| leading fore leg. Yes, the leading leg is actually the last | | | | trying to accomplish transitions at an physical spot, |
| in the sequence. So hold onto that thought. | | | | letter or cone. The problem with this thinking is that it |
| Second you must know how your weight, legs and | | | | doesn't take into account your horses length of stride |
| hands influence the movement of the horse. Here, it is | | | | or which stride of a gait the horse is in as he |
| important to know and appreciate that the primary | | | | approaches this arbitrary point. You will be marked |
| control and influence a rider has over the horse's | | | | down more for a poor transition than you will for not |
| movement is through his seat or weight. The legs are | | | | hitting an "exact" spot. |
| next in the sphere of influence followed by the hands | | | | Think of it this way the rule book calls for a transition |
| or reins. A surprising number of riders from show | | | | at a letter, but it does not say when the horses head |
| hunter backgrounds have learned incorrectly to give | | | | hits that spot or his neck, shoulder, torso, or rump. Most |
| most of their aids on the forehand and not adequately | | | | any part of the horse will do as long as the transition is |
| use their seat and weight to control and influence the | | | | done well. Also don't get in the habit of giving an aid at |
| horse. | | | | the same physical spot you might usually wind up |
| Third you must develop a feel for your horses natural | | | | giving the aid for one horse that's 15 hands and think |
| rhythm at all the gaits. Feeling the rhythm will help you | | | | that the "spot" would be the same for a horse that is |
| to learn and feel which foot is striking the ground | | | | 16 1/2 hands. |
| without having to look. This is very important to | | | | When asking for a flying change you want to use a |
| developing your timing in giving aids. As you develop a | | | | preparatory cue namely the half halt as the horse is |
| feel for what your horse is doing you may discover | | | | starting to through his leading leg forward. Give the aid |
| that your horse is responding to the wrong cues. This | | | | to change lead as the leading leg hits the ground. |
| usually occurs when the rider or trainer's original | | | | When the aid is given at this point, you are asking him |
| approach to transitions from one gait to another | | | | to change just as he hits that point when all four feet |
| focused on a gait being faster or slower rather than | | | | are "flying" and off the ground. This is the easiest point |
| the actual movement of the gait. | | | | for him to change the sequence of he feet. |
| Forth, once you have a good understanding of the first | | | | Don't think he hasn't taken the new lead because his |
| three elements you must develop your training | | | | next leg to hit the ground will not be the new leads |
| program to progress the horse through changes first | | | | foreleg, but the new leads diagonal hind followed by |
| by asking for them when it is easiest for him to | | | | the pair, followed by the new leading leg. But you must |
| understand what you want and easiest for him to | | | | be able to feel if that is what is happening. He has |
| comply. Once your horse readily takes specific leads | | | | taken the new lead and he has started it on the hind |
| on cue and can canter without stiffness in both | | | | leg, which is the natural place for the canter to begin. |
| directions and counter canter comfortably, it's time to | | | | As you progresses into higher skill levels and as you |
| start working on flying changes. | | | | start working on approximate changes of leads like |
| Fifth, mix up your training as you work him with | | | | two times and one times, the emphasis shifts more to |
| transitions through trot by using large figure eights, | | | | the foreleg strike off. But as you train your horse on |
| serpentine with large loops and half circles. Ask for | | | | lead changes don't spend thirty straight minutes |
| your change to the new lead initially just before | | | | working on them. Just work on them for a few |
| entering the turn. Asking for the transition from trot as | | | | minutes. Then take a break, let him stretch back out at |
| you enter the turn forces two positive actions. Most | | | | a walk. Then do some work at different trots using |
| riders will without even thinking about it turn their | | | | different patterns. Go back to some canter work for a |
| shoulders slightly heading into the turn. | | | | while. This will avoid frustration and stiffness and |
| This automatically forces the riders weight to the inside | | | | resistance. And will have him looking forward to his |
| of the turn or the side of the new lead. The weight | | | | next training session. |