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What are some signs that a rider is ready to do lead changes at the canter2007-11-24 21:21:10

I have been riding for about 2 years, so do you think I am ready to do flying changes yet? Or have I started too late? My instructor and I tried to do them with her 32 year old appy, but the horse hadn't done them in a couple years so he would speed up on the diagonal and do counter-canter around the arena! My instructor was going to hop on and give the horse a lead-changing session, but she was in too much pain to do that. Thanks for any advice!!

Answers:

I think a sign that you are ready to do flying changes would be having the ability to feel which lead your horse is on through your seat. Most horses trained in the arena can consistently pick up the correct lead on the rail, so it is pretty easy there, but if you can tell when your horse is in the correct lead (off the rail) without cheating (looking down at his shoulder) then you are ready to start flying lead changes. Try to start on a horse that is very well trained to do it, so you can get a feel for it. A 32 y/o horse probably has some pain issues of its own that might make lead changes hard for him to do. Also, like I mentioned in the answer to the trotting question, it is easier to feel on some horses than others. "Big" movers usually have a more defined stride that is easier to feel where the movement is coming from. Hopefully your lesson horse is one of these, so it will be easier to pick up the concept.

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Hers how you do a canter. You have to put your outside leg at the girth and the inside leg back.\