Flying change help!!

[NicoleS_007]

I need some help with re-teaching my horse a flying change When he was 4 i could canter across the diagonal turn head *bam* flying change, across diagonal *bam* flying change ... Then we stopped doing them for a while then when he was 5 had difficulty getting them but eventually did. Got injured as a 6yr and now as a 7yr will not even continplate doin one! After having him back in work for a couple months we managed a right to left change when asked. Then he went a bit downhill again so just started trying again about a month ago with no joy! When i canter across the diagonal then ask he just tries to do a trot stride then changes. Then next time around he becomes fast but is easily brought back when i ask for a more collected canter but still trots a stride then changes! I have tried over poles as it used to work but not anymore. I think he knows what im asking but just doesnt want to do it or it may be due to the past injury! (Chipped nav bone front right, this is his better rein, and favours this leg when jumping etc)
Any ideas to help would be much appreciated

 

[Snowysadude]

Can he canter, walk, canter (no trot)? Sorry this may sound very showjumperish (ironic as i dont jump!) but that is how i was first taught to get them to sit back and change behind as well as in front. Go across the diagonal in canter, walk 1 stride (canter to walk - if they cant get that then IMHO they are not balanced enough to do a proper flying change), then pick up canter on the other leg. Do that a couple of times on each rein, then when wanting them to change without the walk almost think walk so they sit back on their hocks, then ask for the change and you should get it without walk! That always works for me haha

P.S. forgot to say dont do this too much, once they get the flying change i leave it till next time because it can teach them to over-exaggerate the "flying" part (leap and go) hehe

 

[Chavhorse]

Can he canter, walk, canter (no trot)? Sorry this may sound very showjumperish (ironic as i dont jump!) but that is how i was first taught to get them to sit back and change behind as well as in front. Go across the diagonal in canter, walk 1 stride (canter to walk - if they cant get that then IMHO they are not balanced enough to do a proper flying change), then pick up canter on the other leg. Do that a couple of times on each rein, then when wanting them to change without the walk almost think walk so they sit back on their hocks, then ask for the change and you should get it without walk! That always works for me haha

P.S. forgot to say dont do this too much, once they get the flying change i leave it till next time because it can teach them to over-exaggerate the "flying" part (leap and go) hehe

Hi there,

Can he do collected, medium and extended canter?
Are the walk to canter / canter to walk transitions solid on both reins?
Can he calmly manage simple changes though the walk?

If not, the danger will be that he changes leads because he has to, through becoming unbalanced rather than through Your aids saying “prepare to change and change

If he is ok with the above then try the following;

Ride in counter canter down the long side asking for a change as your come into the short side.

In a serpentine

Change through and out of the circle

Out of a half pass

oh and a final thing.....I never used to try and teach lead changes on both reins in the same session maybe it was my beloved not so bright horse but he would always get his knickers in a total knot if I tried this so concentrate on one rein then rinse and repeat the other one next session.

Good luck

 

[NicoleS_007]

Hi there,

Can he do collected, medium and extended canter?
Are the walk to canter / canter to walk transitions solid on both reins?
Can he calmly manage simple changes though the walk?

If not, the danger will be that he changes leads because he has to, through becoming unbalanced rather than through Your aids saying “prepare to change and change

If he is ok with the above then try the following;

Ride in counter canter down the long side asking for a change as your come into the short side.

In a serpentine

Change through and out of the circle

Out of a half pass

oh and a final thing.....I never used to try and teach lead changes on both reins in the same session maybe it was my beloved not so bright horse but he would always get his knickers in a total knot if I tried this so concentrate on one rein then rinse and repeat the other one next session.

Good luck

He can do a collected canter, working and medium. Walk to canters are established on both reins but not canter to walk! darn lol ... I can get a canter to walk on a very small circle or going uphill (arena on a slant) sometimes but not really established. He will do a canter, one trot stride, one walk stride to canter. Have been working on getting him to listen more going from walk to canter by going up centre line and asking for what ever leg i want and he will go on what ever you ask now (compared to not knowing what a left canter was when i got him ). He used to lean going from trot to walk but thats sorted now, but havent really spend much time on the downwards trans as hes rather backward thinking! But now we have something to work on for a while then

 

[JustMe22]

Hmmmm..have you tried on a figure 8? It might be more difficult...equally, it might break whatever thought process he has going on.

Other option is to try over a cross pole or small jump, also at X...and ask him to change in the air, then slowly take it down so there's no jump...could try leaving the wings up with just a pole to start, then take the wings away, then the pole? I don't know Just a thought..