Lead Changes
How can I teach my mare to change canter leads when I ride her?
Fairly detailed answers please?
thanks xx
Answers:I ride jumpers and there are two ways to change leads as far as i know... the first is a Simple change. If you are cantering left lead and want to switch, transition down to trot (posting or not) and ask for the other lead. When asking for right lead bend the horse's head to the right slightly, keep your inside (right leg in this example) leg at the girth and move your outside (left leg in this ex.) leg back behind the girth. Do not lean forward when asking for canter... and do not kick with both legs. You should be in a sitting trot preferably before you ask for canter (walk and halt are ok though but are a little harder to accomplish)Ask for the canter using your seat (your back) and slight pressure with your outside leg. It is OK to use a whip BEHIND your outside leg. One tap of it should be sufficient. Before asking for canter you should be in an under control trot. DO NOT "run" into the canter. If your mare starts trotting faster to go into canter bring her back under control and start again. To switch from right to left lead with a simple change do the same as above but with opposite aids. The other way to switch leads is through a flying change. A flying change can only be done when the horse has three legs off the ground. It will take time to figure out exactly when the horse is only on one (rear) leg and it may take someone on the ground pointing out every time this happens until you get the feel for it. At the precise moment you feel three legs off the ground signal for the other canter direction as if you were doing a simple change: from left to right lead slightly bend the horse to the right and put your left (the new outside leg) back. When I do flying changes I lift my inside hand a little bit to show the horse what im asking for. I also turn my shoulders toward the inside. (FYI your inside hand is always the hand on the inside of the bend. Picture your horse traveling in a circle and her body as part of the circle. Your inside hand and leg are on the inside of the circle) Your shoulders should always be in line with your horse's shoulders so if you're mare is bending to the left, you and your shoulders should be bending to the left at the same angle. Some horses buck to change leads. If your mare has this problem as soon as you ask for a lead change make sure to keep your hands up and dont lean forward which will keep her head up. A horse can only buck if they can bring their head down. Make sure you and your horse have perfected simple changes before attempting flying changes. Hope this helped!
Well it will take time but start off at any lead going in a circle using about 1/3 or the pen or so. get a nice circle going and then from the far end of your circle head straight for the fence in a 45 degree angle. Then kick with the outside foot and catch your oppisite lead thus resulting in a FLYING lead change. it makes a almost figure 8 motion. except changing leads at the fence.