Still Working the Change of Lead

7/14/2015

I don't know why I am so fixated on the change of lead through trot, but I am. I am being very careful not to over-school it, but it's something that I think Speedy is going to be able to do well.

The good thing about working on the change of lead is that it addresses a ton of other movements:

The canter lengthening - He gets just as heavy in the lengthening as he does when crossing the diagonal. Whether I am asking for a downward transition to trot or a return to working canter, I have to get him listening to that outside rein. Working on the change of lead will help both.
The canter departure - I am doing TONS of them so that I can do downward transitions. All of these transitions are just making his canter departures better and better.
Working trot - the more I school the canter transitions, the better his trot work is getting. He's figuring out that he needs to step deeply with his hind legs in order to lift up into a canter.
The counter canter - the change of lead through trot comes after the counter canter, so I am doing one or two of those most every ride. He's getting nicely balanced to the left, but the counter canter on the right lead needs some work.

Sunday bath

I am riding Speedy only every other day right now, but I am making those rides really count. Since he gets cranky if I school him every day, I'm letting him know that he has to work hard on the days we do ride. So far, he's been happier with this arrangement.

When I rode on Monday, I had to use a lot of spur and bounce him pretty hard off the left rein, but it worked. He gave me some of the best changes of lead through trot that he has done. So often I blame myself when Speedy doesn't get it. In this case, it's still my fault, but only because I need to be really firm in my expectations.

When I let him lean on me, he can't balance himself enough to get a good trot transition. And when he "falls" into the trot, he can't get under himself to pick up the new lead smoothly. I love that I am "feeling" all of this because now I can help him to fix it.

We have a two-day USDF show in a week and a half. I don't think we'll have this test 3 mastered by then, but I am feeling pretty good about it.

Mia link

7/13/2015 11:15:29 pm

With Ava (and obviously it's different for different horses), I had to do constant transitions into and out of canter to get her to sit and balance. I worked on doing 10 strides canter 10 strides trot until we could hit that. Then 7 strides each, then 5, etc. To the point she could jump into and out of the canter much easier... but, you know, the horse has to build the muscles to do it too much to start.

Sounds like you're on the right track.

Have you tried leg yield in canter to help with his balance?

Austen link

7/14/2015 12:06:43 am

Those transitions are super important building blocks for everything to come, so I totally get it why you are obsessed with them. It wasn't until we started trying to really nail our canter/walks that we were able to keep the connection and thoroughness for the canter/trots. Now the canter/trot is really great, and the canter/walk is passable and occasionally really good, and the change is getting there.

A big part of the exercise seems to be about strength on the horse's part. Yes, they have to understand it, but they also have to be able to support themselves in balance to be able to successfully hold themselves together while executing the movement. It's legitimately hard.

7/14/2015 12:07:26 am

BTW: Good luck with the upcoming show prep! :)

Val

7/14/2015 01:36:38 am

Schooling this exercise allowed Harley to figure out the flying change under saddle. One day is just skipped the trot transition and hopped onto the other lead. It was so exciting. I think that speaks to how much those transitions help the horse find his balance.

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage