Dressage Peeps... - Aids for Changes Pls

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bandit

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Morning folks...

Just wondered if you can help -

Trying to now teach the Bon Monster how to do changes... We tried at the w/end but as I'm not so sure, poor mare was slightly confused. Think we had a change behind but not in front a few times, but I didn't stress over it and left it.

BTW - I have a lesson booked for next week but just wondered what the standard aids are so I can have a wee practice in advance....

Bx
 
Right firstly your canter need to be very good, the horse must be able to do counter canter in balance and be able to do canter halfpass. You need to learn the changes on a straight line ie diagonal or long side. if you try and do them on a figure of eight you are asking the horse to change by unbalancing them. It is a good idea to start the changes from counter canter to true canter this is easier for the horse as it will want to get on the right lead. Your horse must be able to do simple changes easily and relaxed and direct canter-walk-canter transitions without getting fired up. If all the above is sorted it is just practise and reward. you can start by cantering a small circle then doing a halfpass, when you get to the edge of the school, take up you new outside rein and ask for the new lead canter as if you were asking to do walk to canter, with your new outside leg back and inside leg on the girth and you ask very quickly in the moment of suspension that you can feel.
There are many other ways to learn the changes, it can take a while to establish to changes fully but once they are established it is quicker to move on tempi changes.
I am not sure what level you ride at but if you just want to learn to do changes for jumping not dressage, practise over a small jump or pole asking for the right lead when you land. This is OK for jumping but the changes are not really established. This link is a good watch and the whole series is quite good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yua6_xBzLE
 
ok , briefly.
First you need an active balanced canter with the horse straight and supple into both reins. Changes are simple if the horse is truly 'through' and able to counter canter and understand the aids for the canter lead regardless of the rein.
I teach them on a serpentine but you really have to know if you have your horse in the outside rein and that he responds to the 'hold' of the outside leg. this is the holding leg and prepares the 'new' inside leg to take the balance.
so on the serpentine for left to right change. good active canter flexed around the inside leg with the horse truley between two reins, ie no weight on the inside shoulder. as you ride the turn keep outside rein controlling outside shoulder with outside leg behind the girth. as you face the the short side on the serpentine slightly have the feeling that you push the right hind to the left but have the neck straight between the two reins. Keep the shoulders in this corridor especially as you then move the right leg to on the girth and tap as the right hind comes through, ie in the 'jump' phase of the canter sequence and at the same time move your body weight into the right seat bones [dont over exagerate this weight movement] and push him up to the new outside rein as you then ask for the new flextion.
So you get, turn, hold the outside hind, release, activate change.
Changes are therefore not about throwing the shoulders or by pulling them out of balance by changing the neck bend.
hope that gives you the idea.
 
thats a really good description - thank you!

Once my monster has had his teeth done (tomoro) we're going to be starting changes with my trainer. It was very interesting to read what you wrote, as always!
 
Thanks !

As I said, I may leave it for now, but both of you explained it very well.

I event so am interested in doing changes for both dressage and jumping, we are find changing legs over fences etc, so it is more on the ground I'm looking to learn.

Will wait though until the mare is stronger.

Bx
 
Yeay great post as I am desperate to teach my old boy changes. The trouble is he has sacroiliac poblems so his canter is always a bit croup high and quarters in. He struggles with true collection - his simple changes are obedient but the downward transition either goes on the forehand or is too abrupt and croup high. His counter canter is really good though, and half passes ok though he will lead with quarters given half a chance. Any suggestions? He's a bit of a worrier too, so everything has to be very clear.
 
nelliefinellie, if your horse is good at counter canter but likes to put his quarters in do lots of shoulder-in in trot and in counter canter. I know it sounds wierd doing shoulder-in in counter canter, and it looks wierd too but my god it makes them work and straightens them out no end. If he leads with his quarters in Halfpass, you need to go sideways a few steps until he brings his quarters in and then as soon as he does send him foward and straight, then resume sidewys when he is corrected. This problem is common and is tricky to solve, make sure you're horse is balanced and strong enough, leaving it for a little while and working on his strong points can refresh it a bit sometimes. There are lots of other ways to solve quarters-in in the canter which I'm sure a few people will write down. Just make sure he is not in any discomfort if he does have problems as this could be the reason why he does not want to bring his hindquarters under him and tries to carry them to the side which is easier or leaves them out behind in downward transitions?
 
Thanks for your reply - yes we have tried shoulder in in counter canter - he finds it v difficult, but I will have another go. Shoulder in in trot is our worst movement. He gets regular physio (vets have written him off) and I'm very careful how I work him, he does 2 days a week on the pessoa and loads of deep work. I don't think he's in discomfort any more, but is very guarded, and I have to be a bit careful not to ask too much because I dont want to break him. I know his changes arent going to be brilliant so I'm trying to find a way to teach them that wont be stressful for him mentally or physically, even if they are not technically perfect, if that makes sense. He has just started to compete medium level (and was 3rd in our second attempt with 65%
smile.gif
) , so no rush, but it's my aim to do some Adv. Med on him beore he retires.
 
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