flying changes

[not_with_it]

At the moment I just feel like im waiting to fall off.

Gin has recently learnt changes and 8 times out of ten she changes when asked, the other times she just speeds up so I collect her and start again. Her balance isnt great after the change but its loads better than it was when we started. My instructor says Gin needs to get slightly worked up to change as she needs the adrenaline rush to actually change her legs. She started doing really big changes which was understandable as they are new and exciting to her.
Today she got a little bit too giddy and although she wasnt naughty she was showing her athleticism

The hardest change for her is right to left and everytime I asked she would really tuck her bum and do little hops, really lifting her front end, followed by a vertical buck. It wasnt a nasty buck but obviously I dont want it to become a habit, and I was very nearly out the front door on 2 occasions today.

Any suggestions other than hang on for dear life?

Shes ridden forward throughout the change and its nothing to do with back, saddle etc. Its just pure excitement and the fact that they arent that easy for her. I thought about leaving the changes for a while and then coming back to them.

 

[Bossanova]

I'm teaching Odin changes atm and he does the most massive bucks in the left to right, I cant help but laugh when it happens which isnt that productive when trying to encourage a neat change!! I've gone back to changing him over a pole on that lead change as it seems to help.

 

[not_with_it]

I have to admit to laughing too, although I wasnt laughing tonight when I was sat infont of the saddle with my feet still in the stirrups

I havent got any poles at the mo but I might have to give that one a try.

 

[gracemacrae]

My horse has just learnt them too! He thinks they are great fun and having never previously bucked ever (I backed him) he sometimes bucks going from right to left. My instructor says not to worry about it as at least I am getting a reaction and the buck is because he is trying to understand what I am asking not through any badness or naughtiness. However instructor advised not to train them to change over a pole as it can make them late behind but suspect there are lots of ways to teach them and that's her opinion

 

[TURBOBERT]

Im doing the same with my chap. He does a small buck when I change the aid for lead then scoops off at a rate of knots afterwards . All rather hairy and chaotic but he is thrilled with himself. Im hoping the novelty wears off soon!

 

[Partoow]

Right to left change is often the more difficult one, my stallion used to kick the soles of my feet!!
I found on his' explosive' days that making sure i could calmly and easily without tension[so i really do not agree with the adrenalin thing your instructor is talking about] ride a canter /trot / canter transition over x on the diagonal really made it clear that i had the connection and the straightness between the two reins and the calm fluent reaction to my canter aids. This is where the problem lies. You must not pull the transition back in these moments of tension as this inhibits the hind leg and is the reason for the croup lifting , there is no stepping through of the hind leg and the croup lifts rather than transmit the energy through.
Good exercises to help being able to influence the flextion and control include half pass to the right, as this has a holding leg [the leg behind the girth asking fot the quaters to step across = holding leg] as you get to the track keep the holding leg back then take the shoulders and flection to the new dirrection , release the holding leg forward and ask for the left canter , being aware of the need of you the rider allowing the change by making sure you take your hips and shoulders to the left. This is something most right handed people find hard as the right hip does not like to come forward and therefore resists the freesom and lift throught the body to the shoulders.
Other good one is on a snake serpentine where you bring each loop a little back on its self as you make the turn using a good clear outside rein and leg[almost like you are riding one step of halfpass just before the centerline] this push of what will be the new inside leg prepares it for the change then take the shouders and flextion overto the new dirrection making sure you keep them in a corridor and then release the outside leg and swing it for ward remembering to release the hips to the new dirrection at the same time[ this is not a big obvious movement you need to stay with the horse not driving.
I always keep in my head 'same rhtymn in same rythmn out'
Do a couple then rest on a free rein. Doing the changes easy /difficult side/ easy/ rest. so that the tension is released before you pick up to work again.
You need to have soft easy light changes before you can add the power. they need to learn how to balance and respond to the ask before you add more energy especially if they are inclined to have a big canter.It is quite normal to have a more difficult side , think how hard it is for you to right with your other hand so some of these problems can also be due to our own one sidedness.
Hope that helps

 

[TURBOBERT]

That is really helpful thank you. I note you talk of 'releasing' the outside aid rather than applying the opposite one directing the change - if you know what I mean. I find the application of the opposite one behind the girth causes the strong reaction even if it is light. I have removed my spurs incase I am catching him but he is still very 'volitile' although his change is true so maybe I should be thankful for small mercies!

 

[not_with_it]

Gin was like that when we first started changes. She would lose balance after the change and set off throwing her head in the air

Now shes got the hang of it more shes so much easier to bring back after the change. Keep going, it does get easier.

 

[Bossanova]

Kottas says move the new inside leg forward at the same rate as the canter stride so it's a more gradual sweep than a sudden removal.
Seems to work

 

[not_with_it]

Thanks, thats really useful. Ive read it about 5 times to get my head round it and have a go. Ive been riding slight leg yeild away from from the asking leg, so from the right leg, just before the change to get her listening to that leg. I also ask for a simple change when she anticipates the change. I will try from the halfpass. She has always had an issue about using her hind legs in the canter which I suppose doesnt help the changes.

 

[Partoow]

the quality of the canter is paramount and the fact that it is fuelled from the hind leg to the hand. The use of the leg should be smoothat all times, when i say release it does not mean it gets taken off and then jabbed on again it relaxes and moves to the girth,Most horses react like this because most right handed riders do not make a good consistent cotact with the left leg at the girth as the right hip keeps them stuck in the right hand side of the saddle . so when you come to doing the changes the actual feel of the inside leg becomes a bit ofa shock and hence a lot of the over reacting.
I only know all this because i have had to teach a number of horses changes and riders why they find it hard. Plus i had to understand it my self the result being that my stallion could only just get the 5 4x changes on the diagonal for the PSG they ended up that big and when we were in Holland he got a 9 so i think we must have mastered them in the end and i really did wonder if i was ever going to be able to get the consistent balance.