Lead changes..hind leg?

Question

so i'm pretty sure my horse understands what I am asking him to do, and he can change his leads in the front but he has a hard time changing his hind legs. is there anything I can do to help him change behind??? it will probably take him awhile to figure it out but he has done it a few times.

Answer 1

Couple of reasons a horse canters disunited:  balance problems related to immaturity, or related to the rider's balance, or to the horse's conformation.   Physical problems, usually soft tissue, but also any joint-related problems.  If he changes but just changes late, it's probably just an immaturity/balance problem.  Does he canter on the correct lead both front and back when in the roundpen with no one on his back?  That's a starting point for the answer.  The canter change should be sumultaneous or start behind, as that's where the canter strike off begins.  Make sure you're shifting your weight from the outside to the new outside just before asking for the change.  Ask for the change at the same spot every time, for a while, to help him get it.

Answer 2

In a lead change horses have to have a little more impulsion from the hind end than what you are used to so they don't drag their back lead. They also cannot be leaning one way or the other. If a horse is leaning one direction, there is no way that they can complete the change smoothly without throwing themselves into the lead, dropping their shoulder and accelerating. I show Western Riding and when I practice, I do lead changes on the straight and that encourages horses to not anticipate or drop their shoulder when you have to do them in the center of the pen. You also have to cue for the change when their back legs are off of the ground. While we are on cues, are you sure you know how to cue properly for a lead change? Make sure you know the right way before trying to teach your horse.  

Answer 3

Well you need to have him balanced and collected while going forward.  He needs to have impulsion for the change.

As mentioned make sure you are going straight and give him plenty of time to balance himself.  Its not fair to try and go fast, uncollected, and make the horse turn abruptly to change his lead.  Doing it this way tends to make them very nervous and fearful of lead changes.

If you are getting his changes in the front and not the back it sounds like you just need to hold him together a little more with your outside rein to get him to sit back on his hocks and just keep your leg on to keep the forward impulsion.

I like to go across the diagonal of the arena, if gives more time to set the horse up if needed.  Once you get straight, ask for a slight bend (if you turned left, ask for some right bend) and make sure the horse is moving of that side.  (don't go cantering sideways though, just a little bend.)  After your horse is soft and supple and moving off that side then you can ask for your lead change.  But do not throw away that outside rein.  That is what keeps him on his back end and balanced.  

You can also try using a pole on the ground to canter over and ask for changes in the air.  Once your horse gets used to that you can remove the pole.  

Going back to the basics is always helpful and will benifit no matter what stage of training your in.  As mentioned try doing simple changes.  Same thing, across the diaganol, trot 10-20 steps and make sure you dont rush it.  Get your bend, make him move off that side, then ask for the change and dont give up that outside rein..  Once he starts to understand what your asking then you can take out some trot steps.  Pretty soon, you will need 1-3 trot steps.  Once your horse is listening, bending, moving off that side, and staying balanced, try the flying.  

Just remember not to drill the horse to exhaustion with something.  If he does something correctly make sure you lat him know by petting him and telling him good boy.  Always end on a good note.  Drilling will "fry" the horses brain and then he will dread any work in general for fear of being drilled on one thing.  Work both sides evenly.

If you are still having trouble with changes, have a vet look at him and see if there is an unlerlying problem.  Ask a trusted trainer to help you or watch what you do while riding.  You may thing you have him balanced but another pair of eyes can tell you for sure.

Good luck, and remember dont give up.  Flyings are hard and they can take some time to master.  Just think outside the box.  There are textbook ways to teach a horse something but some horses you may just have to try different ways.

Answer 4

Just make sure he's collected and balanced when you ask him for the change. And it's easier for them to get a full change on a straight line, so try to ask before the turn. A lot of horses have trouble getting their changes behind. It just takes time and practice. You might even try doing a bunch of simple changes and throw in a flying change every once in a while, just to see if that help him "get it". Also, do lots of trotting and collected canter to help him build up the muscles in his hind end. Good luck. :)

Answer 5

Assuming that he doesn't have a physical condition that is causing him to avoid switching on the hind legs, such as hock arthritis, you should be able to get him united by cueing at the correct moment in his stride.  Be sure he is collected and working off of the hindquarter when you ask for the canter.  If you can't get him working with rear impulsion, that may be an indication that he has a physical condition that needs attention.  Given that you can get proper collection at the trot, the time to cue is when the opposite hind foot is about to hit the ground.  So, if you want a right lead, cue when the left hind is about to hit the ground.  Cue by shifting your weight to the left seat bone, applying your left leg, and shortening your left rein.  Do exactly the same thing for a left lead, only cue with right seat, right leg, and shortened right rein, as the right hind foot is about to hit the ground.

When there is no physical impairment, most disunited canters happen because the cue comes at the wrong moment in the sequence of footfalls.

Answer 6

I have trouble with this all the time, it will get better over time. To get the correct lead on his hind legs too, just make him move out faster and it should correct that.

works for me.