Re: RC: Re: Changing leads and going disunited

[sharp penny <penelope_75647@yahoo.com>]

   If you are not specifically cueing for a certain
lead and just having a romp in the field I wouldn't
make a big deal out of this. When you feel your horse
crossfire, I would just ask for the trot, get you and
your horse gathered up and then ask for the canter
again. Eventually your horse will learn to keep the
lead in both front and back. One side of your horses
haunches may be underdeveloped causing him to favor
the stronger side. You may want to look into why this
is and do some exercises to develope that weaker side

   If you are asking for a flying lead change than
it's a whole 'nother story. This takes a lot of prep
work. If you cant "push" your horses hindquarters over
with your leg at all three gaits than s/he isn't
advanced enough to correctly do flying lead changes.
Trying to teach flying changes will only confuse and
fustruate both you and your horse.

   Once I can manuver my horses hind-end with my legs,
then I'll work on canter circles keeping the front-end
on the circle and push his rear off the circle for a
few strides (both in and out of the circle). I'll also
work on straight lines doing this. When we can do this
100% of the time then we're ready to ask for a lead
change. I like to start out in a med size circle in a
counter canter then ask for the lead change to the
"correct lead" for that circle. In other words if I'm
doing a circle to the left, we'll start out on the
right lead and ask for the change to the left.

   When asking for the lead change always ride your
horse from back to front. In other words get the hind
lead change and the front will follow. To ask I hold
the front end with my reins while I push the hind-end
over with my leg. As my horse gathers himself and
starts to sweep away from my leg, I release the front
end and let it follow the direction of the hindend.
You can also do this using one or two trot steps to
get your leg in position and help aid your horse. The
less you depend on the trot to help in the change the
better.

    Another "crutch" I sometimes have had to use, is
to set a ground pole in my circle and ask for the
change as my horse canters over the pole. Sometimes
the visual really helps the horse as well as the
rider. So as my horse departs for the canter over the
log I push his hindend over and he'll land with the
correct hind lead. As the rear end switches leads in
the air over the log remember to release the front and
it will follow the hind.

   A very common mistake is to sling your weight in
the direction of the new lead. This can lead to
dropped shoulders and crossfiring. You must stay
centered and balanced in the saddle. In either case a
few Dressage lessons with a qualified instructor
wouldn't hurt.

   I hope this isn't too confusing. It's hard for me
to verbalize what comes naturally for in the saddle.

Penny



--- Amanda Perez <amandaperez@ureach.com> wrote:
>   here's the way I have dealth with this problem in
> the past.
> 
> 1.  teach horse to cue to a canter from a walk.  I
> have found 
> that this is really essential in teaching
> lead-changes and 
> flying changes.  Horse has to learn control and
> balance to 
> canter from a walk.  Best of all is if you can get
> horse to cue 
> to a canter from a stand-still, but that's askign
> alot.  I find 
> if the horse will not take the canter from a walk
> (has to 
> be 'run into it) it is MUCH harder to get good leads
> and 
> changes from them.
> 
> 2.  Teach horse flying changes by circling tightly
> at a canter, 
> stop,then quicly start a circle in the opposite
> direction 
> (forming a figure-eight), cuing to a canter after 1
> or two 
> steps.  Keep repeating the figure-eight, halting at
> the cross-
> over point each time and cuing for the correct lead
> after one-
> two walk steps.  Through repetition the horse will
> learn to 
> anticipate the lead change, so you can gradually
> eliminate the 
> halt/walk at the cross-over.
> 
> 3.  If horse  picks up the wrong leadm,
> cross-canters 
> (is 'disunited) OR trots when cued to canter,
> IMMEDIATELY pull 
> him up and verbally correct him with whatever your
> 'NO, Thats 
> NOT what I want' command is ("NO!", "WRONG!" 
> "ANNT!" or 
> whatever, but be consistant, and make sure verbal
> correction 
> and reins are applied firmly and quickly so horse
> knows its 
> being corrected and what it is for).
> 
> Take it slowly.  Make sure each step above is
> mastered before 
> progressing to the next.  Review all steps often,
> dropping back 
> to the pror step if you lose ground at your current
> step.  
> Don't do too many repititions.
> 
> The above can be done both in the ring and at field.
>  I'd start 
> in the ring, and once he is consitantly performing
> well there, 
> then take it in to the field.
> 
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