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Discussion on Advice on teaching flying changes
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Member:
Catrine
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 27, 2005 - 3:25 am:
I'm looking for advice on how best to teach a horse flying changes. I would love to hear some different approaches 
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Member:
Longride
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 27, 2005 - 6:23 pm:
Catrine - there are several approaches to teaching lead changes. What would work best for you depends somewhat on your riding background, your horse's natural balance and your goals. Fill us in.
Barbara
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Member:
America
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 27, 2005 - 9:12 pm:
Catrine , flying changes can be taught to your horse if your horse knows its leads and can do a simple lead change from a trot and walk then from a stop, side pass in one or two steps in slight haunches in and ask for lead new lead, at the canter half halt twice ask for new lead when leading leg is down in center of ring . You may try to ask for it as you come down the diaganal right before the corner . Some times I have also put a ground rail down to help the horse with a little more air time for his flying changes. some cases I have even put one end (the new lead side )of the ground rail on a block. With practice and patients you and your horse will pick it up. Good luck!
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Member:
Catrine
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Posted on Friday, Jan 28, 2005 - 11:59 pm:
Thank you for your replies. The horse in question is a 12yo jumper that has a lot of experience from the showring up tp 4'6''. He was imported from Europe this summer, where he obviously never learned his changes. He will sometimes do them on course, but not on command. The kid who bought him has decided she would like to do a little equitation, so we really want him to get them soon. We have been doing a lot of simple changes, and have been using poles by the end of the diagonal. These approaches have always worked for me in the past, but he has proven to be a little more challenging than most. He also has gotten smart about it, and will anticipate the simple change before you ask for it sometimes. The kid does not have much experience with changes, but is not in the situation that she can get the horse schooled much, so we have to take the time it takes. In every other way he would be a great equitation horse, so it's a little frustrating 
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Member:
Longride
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 29, 2005 - 9:17 am:
Catrine -Remember I said there are lots of different approaches. Heres another. Your problem may be in the rider. If the horse changes on course, he probably has the balance he needs. However getting changes on an older horse that doesn't respond to the methods you have already tried requires that the rider be able to ride a correct positioning of the shoulders at the canter, especially over fences. When the horse lands, it tends to be falling over its inside shoulder. The first thing that has to happen is that it must be straightened - the shoulders brought back in line with the hindquarters. Trying to move the hindquarters over in line with the shoulders wont work in the fast dynamics of the jumper ring.
If the rider can bring the shoulders slighty to the inside when riding a canter on the long side of the arena on noth leads, the next step is to ride a figure of eight. At the point of the change, the rider must be sitting clearly in the position for the original lead (outside seat bone back), then straighten the shoulders as they are making a clear change in seat position to the new lead,(I'm assuming the change of leg position here) finishing the movement by bringing the shoulders over to the new lead. Think of it in two strides. First stride on the original lead,finishing straight, second stride begins straight and ends positioned to the new lead. If the horse and ride have practiced this second stride positioning with the exercise on straight lines, the horse will recognise what is being asked. If I use any lateral movement to prepare the horse for the change, it is to the outside. If I landed from a jump I would move the horse laterally towards the rail, realigning the shoulders, ask for the change and finish the turn. While using a haunches in on the flat may not affect its balance, it disturbs a horse already falling to the inside. The actual change is easy for the horse. Communicating what is wanted is the hard part.
Good luck. I'm sure there are other apporaches out there too.
Barbara
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