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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Change of Lead Through Trot

10/6/2015

 
I am not sure that I like how the USEF has structured the development of changes of lead in the tests. The first hint of lead changes comes at First Level. In the first two tests, the downward transition from canter to trot comes at X and then the horse picks up the new canter lead at C and later at F. In Test 3, there is a canter to trot transition at x, but the horse must pick up the new lead somewhere around V.

This makes sense. In each test, the horse picks up the new lead quicker and quicker. From those uncomplicated and easy transitions, the horse has to then go from walk to canter to walk at Second Level Test 1. Where's the gradual introduction to the canter from walk like at First Level? 

At Second Level Test 1, the canter is picked up from the walk, and then the lead changes are simple ones (through the walk). So it goes walk to canter then a three loop serpentine with changes of lead through walk over the centerline. Yikes. That's a pretty big leap from change of lead through trot.

Everyone says that Second Level is where the rubber meets the road, but now that it's staring me in the face, I am seeing how important perfecting the work at First Level is going to be. And in reality, it doesn't really feel like mastery of First Level is any guarantee that Second Level will come any easier. There's a big jump from the First Level skills to those that are expected at Second. 

It's not like we're ready for Second Level anyway, but I am finally at the place where I need to be schooling the next level while I show the current level. With Second Level at least kind of visible on the horizon, I've been asking Speedy to improve his walk to canter transitions, which are getting more and more reliable. I've also been working a few other exercises to help him be able to do the changes of lead at the walk. Here are two of them.
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Change of Lead in the Serpentine: At second Level, we'll have to do simple changes of lead (walk to canter to walk) over the centerline. Since we're not ready for that, I am doing super quick changes of lead through trot at the centerline. What that means is that Speedy canters a 20-meter half circle, transitions to trot, and then with only one or two trot strides, picks up the next lead. When we can, I bring him down to a walk and then I ask for the new lead. Sometimes he can get to the walk quickly while still being balanced enough to pick up the new lead.

When he recognizes that we're doing the exercise, he knows that I am going to be asking for down transitions which helps him to rock back on his butt a little bit more. ​
Change of Rein Before the Change of Lead: This is an exercise that Chemaine showed me when she was here last week. 
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In the third test of First Level, we have to do the change of lead through trot somewhere around X. The trouble I've been having is getting Speedy on the new outside rein in time enough to get to K without falling in.   

Chemaine had us canter a 20-meter half circle at C on the right lead . As we came through the circle heading towards K, Chemaine had me change the bend before asking for the downward transition to trot. By doing this, Speedy is on the new bend, which makes picking up the left lead easier. 

It feels a bit like riding the counter counter though, so I have to really coordinate my aids to get the downward transition to trot. I still sit on my left seat bone, but it's now the the inside seat bone, and my half halting rein becomes the right rein instead of the left.

Right now, I am not being as effective with my seat aids as I need to be for the downward transitions. Speedy and I are both relying too much on my rein aids. For the upward transition to canter, he's getting better and better off my seat. 
We have another set of lessons with Chemaine in two weeks followed by a USDF/USEF show the following weekend, so hopefully that gives us time to continue to refine the trot to canter transition.
jenj
10/6/2015 06:04:44 am

I'm finally seriously looking ahead to first, but the c/w/c transitions at second are scary! Those look like great exercises that you're doing, I'll have to try them out.

Bakersfield Dressage link
10/6/2015 05:29:46 pm

I remember when I very first started out - I thought it would be the coolest thing ever to be at First Level. I figured there was no way I'd make it as it looked so hard. LOL

Not that it's easy by any means, but the better we get, the easier things are. Second Level used to look impossible, but now I am seeing that we are getting there.

I am learning that it's not really about time, meaning a level each year. It's really about how much you learn in that time. The more quickly we and our horses learn, the more quickly we move along.

As long as we work hard, meaning you, me, the next rider, we'll all get there one day or the next. :0)

Jan link
10/6/2015 08:41:20 am

The c/w/c transitions are the devil's transition. It took until 3rd for Mikey and I to be super consistent and nail them. Only because they're not part of 3rd! But you do need them for flying changes... so urgh, the struggle continues...

Bakersfield Dressage link
10/6/2015 05:32:28 pm

They ARE horrible! Why are they in Test 1? I can see the progression to flying changes, and I like how the tests start you in that direction in First Level, but then WHAMMO. That canter to walk comes out of nowhere.

Austen link
10/6/2015 02:28:41 pm

The CWC is actually a test of collection. If you think of it that way, I think it's easier to figure out how to ride it. Yes, it's a transition, but you REALLY need the collection to ride the movement properly. It's pretty common for them to suck majorly when a horse/rider are just starting out, as most riders don't have that level of collection yet.

I would suggest you keep working at your lateral work (especially work at shoulder in) to strengthen Speedy's hind leg. Then I would do a lot of transitions on a 10 or 8 meter circle, to get him thinking about how much he can step under during them. Finally, it's important you get him truly in front of your leg, as you can't afford the time it'll take to nag him or grip him.

In the meantime, really work at soldifying your canter transitions. Hack over your canter cue with Chemaine and ensure you understand it inside and out. When it gets to that canter serpentine (which, seriously. Is stupid hard. Why is it in 1?!?!), you'll want to be able to confidently access the correct lead when you need it! That takes practice.

LUCK!!! :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
10/6/2015 05:44:09 pm

I totally agree - the walk/canter/walk is TOTALLY about collection. We're finally getting nice walk to canter transitions, but Speedy just isn't balanced or strong enough to do the canter to walk ... yet! He still wants to fall on his forehand in the canter, which means he can't do a canter to walk ... obviously :0)

And yes, the better he gets at the lateral stuff, the stronger he will be in his hind end. I am not in a hurry to rush to Second Level, but the more we work on those skills, the better our work at First gets. And you know me, I like to finish a level in the 70s if we can.

Since Speedy didn't have any other rider before me, we learned the canter cues together which means there's nothing to have to relearn or re-teach. And while he's not perfectly even on both sides, he can get the correct lead 99% of the time. He only misses if I have something NQR.

Your advice is sound, so thank you! We love small circles - those little horses make that task easy, and now that we've added shoulder in to our daily routine, his little butt should start getting stronger and stronger. Although if it gets any bigger, it's not going to fit in my trailer. :0) LOL


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    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at Second Level. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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