Stopping a horse anticipating your next move

[Ziggy_]

I do quite a bit of jumping with my mare and flying changes are her party trick - on a course she will switch legs when I turn my head to look at the next jump.

Thing is now were practising prelim 12 (yes I know I've mentioned it about 10 times! sorry) and you have to canter across the diagonal on the left leg, come back to trot just after X, and pick up canter on the right leg in the corner.

But everytime we reach X, without fail she feels me half halt, figures out where we're going and changes. I've only ridden the test once but I practised this bit about 5 times but she did it every time - I tried slowing her down ready to drop into trot a bit early but she just collects herself up and switches legs!!! Somehow I doubt the judge is going to be impressed by flying changes at prelim level so i need some help please!!

ETA - I have been attempting a bit of counter canter als o as I thought this might help but she switches legs there too. If I keep giving the aids for canter on the leg I want we end up doing tempi changes

 

[jesterfaerie]

Have you tried bringing her back to trot well before X, say just off the corner, then trotting her and picking up canter again? You could possibly try this, repeat it once or twice at the same spot then try it a bit further towards X (say and extra stride towards it) once she gets the hang of it sometimes drop into trot sometimes keep the canter, so she will stop trying to anticipate you as much.

 

[Sal_E]

You need to get her to only react when responding to you, whether you're wanting a flying change, a simple change, back to trot, counter canter etc. So, basically, you need to do lots of all of these within each schooling session & always correct her if she gets ahead of you - so she ends up WAITING until you ask for the desired action. So, for example, work on doing something at 'x' but keep changing what you want & bring her back & ask again if ever she anticipates.

Don't get cross if she gets it wrong though as she thinks she's being helpful! Just remain patient & go again - making sure you are clearly asking what you want. If you do find yourself getting cross, do something different - you're only human & it can be very frustrating.

Nearer your competition, if you haven't got it sorted you'll need to 'cheat' by doing lots & lots of diagonal rein changes & always breaking to trot so she starts to anticipate it - initially don't go back to canter, just trot at 'x' & leave it - then trot for many paces & canter, trot for several paces & canter, trot for a few paces then canter etc. What I'm saying is 'cheat' by using her antipation to your advantage by keep practicing the same thing so she knows what's coming. After your comp though, do go back to trying to teach her to WAIT by teaching her that she DOESN'T know what's coming - i.e. keep changing what you want, all the time...