Flying changes. Help!

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Comanche

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I have a very capable Irish Draught. I have been out of the saddle for a bit due to having a baby. He has continued being ridden, although not particularly schooled. we have begun schooling again and we had a go at doing a figure of 8 in canter with a change in the middle. It is shocking lol. I knew he was changing leg, but I couldn't keep him out on the circle - he kept falling in or changing leg and then trotting. I thought it might be because I have lost some strength in my legs. I asked my OH to ride him through it so that I could see what was going on. He does change legs, but not when we ask - its about 4 strides too late. We tried asking earlier, but he still ignores us and changes when he feels like it. He canters a circle fine on both reins and on the right leg. I am positive that it is nothing to do with him - he knows his job, (although he may not be quite as flexible as he was prior to me getting pregnant) it must be us mucking up the aids somehow. Any advice??
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Try using a pole to help you to get him to change at the centre of the figure of eight.

Also try using a different excercise and see whether he still changes four strides too late, a half ten metre circle and back to the track, then change on the corner maybe??
 
Wouldn't use a pole myself IMO it makes them late behind, & sometimes when you remove it, they fail to change. Try doing walk to true canter, then walk to counter canter round the edge, then when this is easy, add in a serpentine in canter with a simple change as you cross the centre line, when you can do this easily replace the simple change with the aids for a flying change, if this is too difficult, go for a 1/2 circle & as you are returning to the track, change flexion & ask him to change. Hope that helps.
 
I've been teaching my horse flying changes - i dont put the pole in the centre though.

Put a pole on the track - about half way up the school. Angled like this / (not as sharp though)

Then get a good canter - quite short but lots of impulsion!! Then when on the right rein, do a 10m circle below the pole and then aim in an angeled line toward the pole - staying on the left rein - then when going over the pole, ask for the change!! it works for me!!

ETA - you can use the same pole for the right rein also!!
 
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