Flying change

[Flowerofthefen]

Help!! My horse has learnt flying changes left to right, now I can't stop him!! He will strike off on left leg and if we circle straight away usually we keep left leg but on the strategy does a flying change. I've got an exercise do do, build him up a few strides at a time on the long side but wondering if anyone has had this issue and how you resolved it. I'm not helping now as I'm waiting for it ti happen and I'm sure I'm throwing him out of balance. I've also tried shoulder fore which works for a short time.

 

[mini-eventer]

It could be that he is uncomfortable somewhere, or just he is stronger and it is easier on the other leg. I would try really pushing forwards to see if that helps. If he does change quickly correct him and circle then try again.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

It could be that he is uncomfortable somewhere, or just he is stronger and it is easier on the other leg. I would try really pushing forwards to see if that helps. If he does change quickly correct him and circle then try again.

He is much stronger on his right side. I tried pushing him on yesterday which resulted in a few humps and legs everywhere!!

 

[rara007]

Work on the counter canter on both reins and make sure you correct it immediately any time he does an unasked for one. Even if you start with simple changes going large with true canter round the corners (or an impression of!) and build up from there.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Work on the counter canter on both reins and make sure you correct it immediately any time he does an unasked for one. Even if you start with simple changes going large with true canter round the corners (or an impression of!) and build up from there.

Thank you. The issue started when I was practicing for an elementary. One movement was, on the left rein in canter, shallow loop 5m in from the track. Right rein fine, left rein I couldn't keep him going so I used my inside leg and he changed. Now does it whenever he can. Really frustrating as the rest of the test is nice. Haven't done any counter counter yet.

 

[DressageCob]

My horse likes to put in a change on the right rein. It tends to be when I overuse my leg in the medium canter, or when I take too large a half halt straightening up after the canter half pass onto the centre line. He is quite nifty with his quarters and very much likes to swing them in.

I've been working a lot on the counter canter, and that has helped. He used to change out of the right counter canter but can now keep it fairly consistently around the arena or around a 20m circle.
Counter canter appears in several of the novices and elementaries (as well as some of the mediums) so it is definitely worth working on.

The other thing I've been told to do is to think shoulder in/shoulder fore in the canter at all times. That helps, so long as I ride it properly and not too much on the hand. I was working the other day on shoulder in in the walk, then walk to canter in the shoulder in positioning then keeping that positioning going large. That was fun.

 

[oldie48]

I like to get counter canter established first before introducing a change as it means they have a well balanced canter which makes it easier to introduce correct changes. If he's chucking in a change on the straight it's probably because he's lost balance so as others have said, I'd bring him back to walk and ask for a walk to canter trans on the correct rein. I also like to do half 10m circles in canter with a simple change through walk so they totally understand what the canter aids mean.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Is the easiest introduction to counter canter coming across school on diagonal then doing a few strides on the straight before trotting?

 

[Cortez]

You need to very secure in your own balance and seat when riding flying changes, or when riding horses which are naturally inclined to change. The slightest change in your weighting can (should) be enough to influence the horse.

 

[Skib]

Is the easiest introduction to counter canter coming across school on diagonal then doing a few strides on the straight before trotting?

That is how I was taught. But I also found it helpful to think a steady 3 beat rhythm. A flying change involves a break in that rhythm. I thought of it like a sewing machine.
But more than that, most of my riding was learned out hacking. And most horses have a stronger side - thus a favourite lead, like we humans are either left or right handed.
I chose a straight part of a path where we hacked in summer and practised trot canter transitions on the straight track until I got the lead I wanted. One needs to reject the wrong ones. (Which are initially the majority) I fear I have lost this skill and once the weather improves, may be I will have some lessons again to brush them up.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

You need to very secure in your own balance and seat when riding flying changes, or when riding horses which are naturally inclined to change. The slightest change in your weighting can (should) be enough to influence the horse.

I don't want to ride a flying change, just need to stop it and your right, you do need to be balanced and I think that's definitely an issue the minute as I'm not Radlett canter properly as I'm worried about the change!!