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How do you get good flying leads on a "rusty" horse2007-11-24 21:15:57

the horse that I ride is fairly old, so he can't do his flying lead changes too well, and I'm showing him in short stirrup this saturday. any tips?

Answers:

I have a 20 year old retired reiner (Paint) and two Arabians. With the flying leads I canter a figure eight but trot through the middle than ask for the opposite lead/correct lead to get them back in the swing. After a few times they get the picture. I show Western, Saddle Seat and Hunter, this works with all three of my horses. But all of them already know how to do the flying changes...This is what I use for spring training after they have been sitting all winter.

Being an older horse he probably is a little stiff or maybe arthritic. If he is really arthritic he may not be able to perform the changes with ease, so don't force him. I always flex my horses in a good warm up in both directions before asking for anything athletic. Swing his head to each of your toes and push him in the opposite direction with your leg, like a side pass, but try to keep him moving forward. Don't pull so hard that its a fight, allow him to bend to your toes. Some horses do this better than others so it may take some time. The horse has to be in correct frame for a lead change and helping flex his muscles is a big help to get him in their. I also do several serpentines with nice rounding bends at a walk and then a good trot as part of my warm up. It works for me, hopefully it will work for you.

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