how to teach flying changes

loopylucifer

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which is the best why to do this. which methods have you found works best for you?
im talking chages for jumping rather than perfect ones for dressage if that makes sense. And im also talking 10yr old rather than a baby. I have done changes many times on horses which know how to change but never had to teach one from scratch. Have been using a pole which seems to help, but not sure if this is the best way to do it.
 
Over a pole with schooling whips. As you go over the pole really exaggerate your legs and give them a flick on the quarter than will be the outside, so if you are changing from left rein to right, flick the left quarter. It encourages then to use that leg to change.
Hope that makes sense.
 
For jumping you preferably want to be landing on the correct lead to mak the turn for the next jump anyway. Most horses automatically change their leg when turning in jumping but if you want to teach them to change on your command I would establish a half decent counter canter first... which is the basis for a flying change.
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Different methods will suit different horses. There was a thread on this recently in competition riders - worth having a look there. Pole method is good and seems to suit many horses but can also teach it out of half pass (not so good if you aren't into dressage maybe) and also via simple changes through walk.
 
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