flying changes - horse keeps going disunited

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ghostly

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I've been practicing plenty of transitions, walk to canter, canter to walk etc. as well as transitions within the canter pace. The horse does best when asked on a diagonal but kept very straight through the change but still 4/5 times he'll go disunited. Asking him on an S bend serpentine he always goes disunited.

I'm not sure what's best to do, obviously I fuss and make much of him when he changes behind as well as in front but when he goes disunited I've tried stopping him and asking for canter again but it's hard to make it clear that he's not doing what I'm asking. Circling and tapping him behind my leg just upset him and get him in a tizz.

Arrgh, it's very frustrating as I know he can do it and he loves to please but he just seems very confused when he goes disunited.

He is pretty established otherwise and I'm not expecting tempi changes just correct flying changes behind as well as in front! Also I should note he is happy in his bit and saddle.

Any ideas for would be great!
 
The minute he does wrong,stop, and ask for a clean transistion. My boy does this also.

Try canter canter walk, change lead, canter, and slowly shorten the time in walk. I know this is the basic lesson but you might find you have to go back to it- I did :(
 
Was going to suggest the leg yield too. Try a bit more impulsion into the leg yield from the three quarter line to the track and change as you reach the track with a clear strong leg aid so he changes to the correct lead. Also try changing over a pole.
 
Hmm I would not do the walk canter transitions as this can result in the horse becoming too 'backward' you need more implusion( jump) so actually going back to canter trot canter .
Making sure you really have a clear holding leg,( leg behind the girth) this leg becomes the new leading leg aid and before you ask for the change you need to add a little pressure and half halt to make sure (new) inside shoulder is up forward and connected.
After this prep ask for the new canter by releasing holding( old outside ) leg and tapping quickly and clearly at the girth making sure you slightly open the new inside rein and making sure the old leading leg comes back to support the new outside hind leg under the body.
He probably goes disunited because he is not channelled straight forward enough.( hind legs stepping under the body rather than swinging the hind legs out )
This is why I prep for through trot not walk.
In the words of Carl himself ride the changes forward and collect after!
 
This isn't an uncommon problem, if the fronts changing the hind legs will eventually catch up and change maybe the aids need to be a little sharper or try carrying a schooling stick and using it try, it in jumping position to or a lighter seat its just a question of practice and keep trying shouldn’t take much more than a couple of sessions its always easier on a young horse than an older one I find there a little less stiff balance, suppleness and a lot of praise is the key I like them to have a huge extravagant changes it shows they are enjoying it and they settle as they start reaching 5.:):)
 
Thanks for all the advice, I'll try going back to the simple changes and see if coming off the quarter line helps. Interesting what you say about the canter- walk trans as it does seem to make him quite backward with a tenancy to bunch up. I wanted to avoid using a pole as often times it just becomes a crutch. It's difficult giving him a tap as well as he can be very hot so even a light correction with a whip sends him into a frenzy.

I shall keep trying though!

I should add he is older, not sure of his exact age but we think around 9/10 so I appreciate it's not as easy for him as it might be teaching a younger animal...
 
We taught my previous horse to do this by creating a square out of 4 trotting poles. I would go across the diagonal and ask for a change before I hit the second part of the square (hope that makes sense). That way he finally clicked as to what I was asking and then we could disperse with the poles!
 
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