Flying changes.

[Cash]

Please can someone talk me through how you would set up for and execute a flying change?

Friend and instructor have tried to explain (instructor admittedly half heartedly, she was actually trying to get me to work on my walk, but i wanted to do something more exciting

) but i don't think i'm getting it

 

[toomanyhorses26]

my instructor always teaches them on a demi volte - not ridden them on purpose myself ( the tb sometimes does some freestyling in the middle of his dressage test

) but watching the teaching of them the sahpe of the demi volte seems to get the horse collected and back on their hocks and the change of direction is quite definite so it looks quite clear to the horse what is expected .

 

[Cash]

Sorry to be a dressage numpty- what's a demi volte?

 

[toomanyhorses26]

it like a teardrop shape http://a10.idata.over-blog.com/600x450/0/02/30/33/le-chwal/demi-volte-demi-volte-renv.jpg

 

[Cash]

oooh thanks

So you'd ask for the change when you return to the track, after going across the diagonal?

 

[MillbrookSong]

or try riding them over a pole!

 

[toomanyhorses26]

yep thats the idea mostly is pretty successful but it does depend on the horses balance in the canter (like everything

) 1/2 circle

 

[help1]

My trainer explained it to me like this. When you come off the corner across the diagnol think that you are trying to push your horse onto the correct lead - use your opposite leg to push him/her over most people get into a tizzy and try to use too much rein or pull them onto the correct lead when they get it wrong.

 

[jumptoit]

A word of warning the PC Inter Dressage test has a half circle and return back to the track - tear drop, in counter canter so if you intend to do that test I'd be careful

.

 

[Cash]

[ QUOTE ]
My trainer explained it to me like this. When you come off the corner across the diagnol think that you are trying to push your horse onto the correct lead - use your opposite leg to push him/her over most people get into a tizzy and try to use too much rein or pull them onto the correct lead when they get it wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes- that's how mine explained it- but the problem is, I tend to, as you say, sort of over exaggerate it, and my opposite leg swings too far back, and he does a little sort of leap but nothing else happens

it's definitely something i'm doing, as i know he can do them...
I also don't think it helps that i'm used to riding the polo ponies- if you want them to change, you just lay the rein across their neck and shift your weight, it's great (maybe i'm not cut out for dressage

)

 

[help1]

Crikey I spent ages trying to use the wrong leg!!!

So don't worry. I always try to half halt a bit to almost get them to sit down a bit - but not a dressage person really we use it for Sjumping - so may not be the best person to advise!

 

[Cash]

[ QUOTE ]
A word of warning the PC Inter Dressage test has a half circle and return back to the track - tear drop, in counter canter so if you intend to do that test I'd be careful

.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm not planning on it

(assuming that was aimed at me!)
I can do the half circles in trot for Prelim 10, and that's as far as i'm going for now

lol. As i say, dressage is definitely not my forte- it's actually more that i'd like to be able to do them when SJing, because we end up spending quite a lot of time coming back to trot and re-establishing canter. Not really a necessity, just think it'd be useful.

 

[MandyMoo]

(this is how i do flying changes

lol...someone will probably shoot me down and say i am wrong

)

-you need to have an active, balanced canter with the horse on their hocks first of all
-say you are on the right leg, turn accross the menage with your inside leg slightly further forwards (as if asking for a right strike off in canter)
-once you reach the centre of the menage (or place you want the change), at the point of levitation (when both front legs are off the floor in the canter lead...you need to know the feel for this) you need to switch your legs round so the left leg is in front of the girth (as if asking for a left canter strike off), and if your aids were correct and the horse was balanced enough - a flying change should happen.

if your horse finds them particularly hard on a straight line, you could always try turnign as if doing a 20m circle in canter, and at the point of X, turn left (using all the aids above, but just using the turn to help make the horse change legs and understand) OR use a pole to go over, which helps to distinguish the ''point of levitation'' as when they go over the pole, that is when they are in the air and when you should ask for the change

xxx

 

[fingers_crossed]

HMM...dressage changes and sj changes are imho completely different in that case. Dressage you need to ask for the change when the horses leading leg is on the floor or the change will be late behind. To change on your aids the back legs need to be in suspension to 'swap over'. However to jump, as you want to it does not matter if they are worth an eight! It really depends what your horse expects. Some horses buck to sort themselves out if asked at the wrong time. The key thing really is to move your leg into position one stride, then apply the aid next stride, otherwise you have too much to do and are out of time.

 

[jumptoit]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
A word of warning the PC Inter Dressage test has a half circle and return back to the track - tear drop, in counter canter so if you intend to do that test I'd be careful

.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm not planning on it

(assuming that was aimed at me!)
I can do the half circles in trot for Prelim 10, and that's as far as i'm going for now

lol. As i say, dressage is definitely not my forte- it's actually more that i'd like to be able to do them when SJing, because we end up spending quite a lot of time coming back to trot and re-establishing canter. Not really a necessity, just think it'd be useful.

[/ QUOTE ]

Lol, just a friend taught hers them on a demi volte/teardrop and now it tries to change every time she does the test . . . whoops! If it's mainly for SJ then I'd go for the pole or small jump option

.

 

[Cash]

[ QUOTE ]
The key thing really is to move your leg into position one stride, then apply the aid next stride, otherwise you have too much to do and are out of time.

[/ QUOTE ]
I think tht could be where i'm going wrong, because i guess i tend to ask very suddenly and it all goes a bit wrong

Thanks very much everyone

 

[MissDeMeena]

Also, your upper body shouldn't move!!
It all comes from the seat and leg!
you'll find that some people, when they don't get what they want quickly enough, will start chucking their top-body about, this will only unbalance the horse, not help him to pick the correct lead.

 

[harrieta]

I have had great success in teaching my eventer over raised poles.

We placed one on the center line and rode the shape of a serpentine loop in canter, asking for the change of bend just before take off (also changing leg and seat aids). Seems to work well... !