how to stop horse going disunited when changing lead and a wee video

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blood_magik

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I have found that even if I exaggerate my aids when Im asking for flying change Jerry forgets to change his back legs and usually breaks into trot. Sometimes he manages to fix himself without breaking but it's blimmin uncomfortable. :rolleyes:
Any tips on how I can try to sort this?
I've been working on simple changes and getting him to sit back on his hocks.

A wee video of him jumping tonight with Callum because he's special: :D
At about 1.11 on the video, Jerry goes disunited when Callum asks him to change lead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pZIm8yP4-g&feature=player_embedded

I can offer costco apple pie :D
 
that could be the case - apparently he was sluggish which usually means he isn't warm enough.
looking back at the video, he definitely isn't moving forwards in the canter - it's a half-assed effort :(
 
To get your horse to do clean changes you firstly need to have a balanced canter with plenty of impulsion. The horse needs to easily be able to peform a balanced counter canter on circle, loops and serpentines. He also needs to be able to canter-walk- canter transitions in balance including picking up a named lead leg through the transition.
Make sure you time your aids so that you ask for the new lead leg at the moment of suspension in the canter. If you ask at the wrong time he will not change or go disunited.
If you are still having problems, check that the horse is through to the contact in both reins and he is straight. You can sometimes use a schooling whip to tap through the new hind leg when working on the flat.
An exercise that really works for most horses I have trained is to canter a half 5 m loop on the short side of the school and incline quite steeply back to the track, just before you get back to the track slightly change the bend and ask with the outside leg, 9 out of 10 times they change. Once he has done it correctly on one rein don't try for the other, leave that for another day, praise him and finish.

Your canter needs far more connection and jump to get a true change as you need a decent moment of suspension

I know its dressage but the principles are the same- look at this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf1m-joTw8Q
 
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Firstly...What a pleasure to watch, nice rider, good contact, quiet seat and very balanced. Secondly, the horse does seem to be very behind the leg and not taking your jockey forwards which could be a reason for the disunited canter. He falls disunited because his hind legs arent fully engaged and he isnt 'sitting' into the change. Try working him more forwards off the leg and practicing an 'on and back' in canter. Corners, poles and circles are your friend for changes as they have to balanced and working underneath themselves. Try simple changes with lessening amounts of trot strides over a pole, asking for the new lead on top of it. this should aid the 'lift' from behind. Jerry seems to not be working over his back very well too which will also be a problem, pushing for a longer neck and flexion to either side (like SJers when they enter a ring) will also help. :)
 
I watched the video again and I think Callum needs to ride him more forwards into the contact. I might get him to do 12ft canter poles which is one exercise that my SJ instructor did with me when I started with him as I thought my canter was too flat and long when it wasn't.

At 1.23 when C asks for the flying change again he's definitely not collected or sitting back on his hocks enough.

winklepoker - I'll try getting him to extend and collect in the canter the next time I ride. His canter is a work in progress at the moment - he's a bit of a giraffe especially when he sees a jump in front of him :p

charlie76 - you talk about a moment of suspension. When Im practicing on the flat, he sort of bounces on the spot and then changes - is that what you mean?
I've watched that video and I can see how uphill and bouncy the canter has to be - I have a lot of work to do :rolleyes:

I think we need a few more flat lessons :o
 
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