Teaching and Setting Up Lead Changes

Start by teaching your horse very clear simple changes across the diagonal line of your arena.  It is best to have a railing or fence line to use at first.  You can start with trotting your diagonal line and doing a walk transition at the middle of the line, then continue at the trot to get the basic idea in your horse's mind about the exercise.  If that goes smoothly then proceed to the canter, doing a simple change through the trot when you start to get to the rail at the end of your diagonal line.  If your horse remains relaxed and listening you can continue to do the other direction.  At this point you will most likely have one direction that is better/smoother than the other, so work on that  until it is relaxed and smooth both ways.  Take your time.  

Time and patience is needed

If you continue too fast your horse will become worried and rush, it is worth the slow down here to get changes later.  Horses are all different in how they learn and some get this very quickly and some take a few weeks to months to gain the core strength and relaxation to acquire the flying lead change.  As an example,   I had a TB/Percheron cross that took about 3  months, but he did get them and was very good at flying changes thereafter.  

By this point we are getting smooth, relaxed simple changes through the trot in both directions.  Now we can note how many strides (at the trot) it takes your horse to organize a simple change of lead.   Most horses will start to get them quicker with practice.  When you start to get them in one stride or less (half stride) your horse is ready for the flying change.  

We begin by asking for a little more pace at the canter as we approach the end of the diagonal line which will help with the impulsion needed for a flying change of lead.  

John Abbot on Casanova

Let's take a moment and talk about our riding position here too.  You will be in a light seat, stepping slightly to the outside and carry your hands together towards the rail as you canter to the corner i.e. if you are on the right lead, carry your horse to the right keeping your hands close to each other which should create a slight left bend in the horse.   Your canter has a wave effect so you will think about asking your horse to change when you feel the upswing of the stride where your horse is gathering his step.  At  this point your horse may change his lead with a nudge from your (now) outside leg.  If your horse does not change leads front and back, go back to the simple change until he is relaxed and ready to try again.  

Other things that will help develop lead changes are doing Shoulder in,  Haunches in, and counter canter exercises.  The counter canter helps build the muscles needed for flying lead changes.  The Haunches in exercise helps the horse understand about moving his haunches when asked.  

If you acquire a horse that has a lead change issue.  Please make sure to eliminate any soundness issues before starting to retrain and REALLY take your time with these horses, most of them have been rushed and develop  a worried attitude about the exercises.  Rebuild confidence.   

Your horse may be in any stage of this process, so you decide where to start.  Also, if you have further questions you can ask on my website help /contact page.  

Contact Us

John R. Abbott

Boys On Hill, LLC

Phone: 770-309-2210

Email: JRABWF@gmail.com

Website: www.boysonhill.com