How do you perform a flying change?

Question

when horse riding how do you get the horse to do a flying change? Would most riding school horses be able to do it or is it a complicated move?

Answer 1

Most schools will teach you how to do it, it's not very complicated, it just takes some practice.

Start with a big figure 8, cantering....Every time you cross the middle, slow to a trot for just a few strides, shift your weight to the outside, and ask again for a canter. It also help to lift a little on the inside rein, and give some outside leg.

That's a simple change....

For a flying change, start with a big figure 8 cantering, and do your normal simple changes. Then, after you do a one or two simple changes, instead of asking for a trot, lift the inside rein, shift you weight and give some outside leg.

He/She will either switch, start to cross-canter (different leads in the front than the back) or just keep on cantering on the wrong lead.

If he cross canters, pull him up to a trot and ask for the lead again....after a few times of trying a flying change, he'll understand what you want and switch.

If he just keeps cantering on the wrong lead, lean to the outside and keep giving outside leg, he should switch....but make sure you don't let him canter too long on the wrong lead. Pull him up and ask for the correct lead.

No matter what happens, ALWAYS end on the correct lead so he knows what you're asking for in the big picture.

Good Luck! It takes practice but you'll get it!

Answer 2

see if he can do a simple lead change first (lope drop to a trot and pick up the other lead in about three strides) if he can just shorten up your simple lead change and when you start to switch your legs to cue for the next lead your hrose should change if he knows how.

Answer 3

If your horse is responsive to leg cues, then it is no issue when it comes to flying lead changes...the biggest mistake people make is thinking that just reining in the other direction and leaning that way will do the trick, it doesn't.

If your horse isn't responsive to leg cues, (in other words, if you can't move his hind quarters over just with your legs) then you need to forget flying lead changes until you get past teaching the cues...When doing the flying lead changes, you must (should) maintain a balanced seat and keep your horse's body straight, not "lean" in the direction of the desired lead.  You begin with making sure that you can take the proper lead as any time, from a stand still, just by pushing your horse's hind quarters over and asking for a canter...when you can do that easily, then you are ready to do simple lead changes by breaking your horse down from a canter to a trot, push his hind quarters over to the lead that you are wanting to take and pick up your canter...gradually, lesson the time between the changes and before you know it, you are doing perfect flying lead changes where the hind end is in cahoots with the front end...a true canter.  Good luck and be patient, don't leave out any steps, they are all important.

Answer 4

a flying lead change is when you switch directions at your canter. you keep a canter but set up as if your going to ask for a new one with the right lead (adjust the reigns, squeeze, etc.) you change the lead of your canter without breaking to a trot.

i'm exploring different horses to show, and usually when i show they ask for a flying lead change, and i have been able to do it on all the school horses there, so i'm guessing yes most riding school horses should be able to perform it

good luck (:

Answer 5

It is not that a complicated move, but the horse does need to be schooled fairly well and able to respond to a riders aids well. A rider needs to be able to use his/her aids lightly but effectively. Generally most riding school horses are not schooled to recognise aids that are not obvious. It really is best (on a riding school horse ) to perfect your simple change of lead whilst cantering.

Answer 6

Do a figure of 8 in canter as you reach the middle... The rider momentarily blocks the horse's forward momentum by closing and setting the left hand (for change onto left lead), while at the same time changing leg aids from asking for the right lead to asking for a left lead. When the rider blocked his hand it has made the horses moment of suspension slightly longer giving the horse time to rearange its legs...

I guess that most riding school horses wont be able to do it but one at my riding school can =)

Answer 7

IF the horse knows how to take the cue, outside leg with more inside rein (or if trying to counter canter/do one time changes, etc, just opposite leg opposite rein, shift weight to hip opposite of the lead...the rein should be that of the lead you want, and your leg should be opposite)...but only enough of each to cue the horse, as you want to try to keep them straight in most cases, though sometimes a slight bend is called for.

Pretty much any horse CAN do a change, but not always consciously...if you watch a horse that's running in the turn out, they will do flyings with the greatest of ease, but it's much harder for them to know you're asking for that under saddle, plus they have to keep balance for themselves and you. I would say that about half of riding school horses can...ponies, however, often take more training to do it because they have a little less need, seeing as they are smaller and have great agility. There are, however, ways to train the horses to do them...you can use ground poles to simplify it, but it all depends on the horse and their training.