Correct way of asking for flying change

[lyndsayberesford]

My 5 year old has pretty much mastered flying changes now, my instructor taught them him first and now i have started to do them also on him.

But just wondered what is the correct/standard way of asking? as i feel like i have to exaggerate the change in my seat and dont know that it is correct?

 

[forestfantasy]

I would ask your instructor how she has taught him, you don't want to confuse him with different aids.
At first i would expect to use exaggerated aids with your seat for a youngster then gradually refine them as he progresses, a lot of top horses hardly need any aids for a flying change eventually, just a slight shift in seat bone is enough.

 

[lyndsayberesford]

My instructor shifts the weight in his seat quite obviously and also backs it up with a really strong leg aid and opening of the new inside hand. My legs arent as strong as his though.

At the moment i only do it across the diagonal of the school but at shows he manages to do it down the longside if he lands on the wrong lead after a jump, without any changes to my seat position or strong leg aids!

 

[Nollaig Shona]

Ask your instructor to say "change" when he's asking the horse to change legs, then when you're riding, use your aids and say "change" - hopefully the horse will recognise the word and do a flying change!

It's a method that's worked for me, as someone else rides my horse during the week and we both ride differently!