How to Do a Flying Lead Change

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Get your horse warmed up and ready to ride.

   Some horses are not always trained to do flying lead changes.
   
   To train the horse, start by doing figure eights; canter one circle, slow down in the center to a walk, then go the other direction at the canter.
   
   Doing this helps the horse figure out that it is to switch leads when given a certain signal. , For example, spiraling in at the trot, 5 meter circles, etc. , Ask it to change direction normally (at a walk or trot). , For the purpose of clarity in this explanation, the article will say the horse's stronger lead is its left. , About 5 to 6 strides before the pole in the center, bring your horse down to trot, then once it trots over the pole, bend it to the left, push its haunches in with your inside (right) leg, then ask for a canter on the left lead.
   
   This is a simple lead change. , You want your horse to be strong with simple lead changes in one or two trot steps, before you attempt a flying change. , Once your horse is strong with simple changes with one or two trot steps, you can move on to flying changes.
   
   Similar to when you do a simple change, in a flying lead change you want to ask your horse to switch its leads over the pole. ,,,,,, Younger horses especially may have difficulty with this if they hollow their backs. , If the horse did not change its canter lead, return to the trot at either A or C and begin again on the next long diagonal.
   
   The most common reason a flying change will fail is because the horse will misinterpret the aids as an invitation to increase the speed rather than an aid to keep the horse balanced into the hand. , Once your horse is 99 percent correct with its flying changes over the pole, remove the pole.
   
   When the horse gets the change, continue to canter for a few seconds, then bring it down to a walk and give it its head (for praise).
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   Step 2: Place a single trot pole in the center of the ring or riding area

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   Step 3: parallel to the long side.

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   Step 4: Practice a lot of figure eights at the trot.

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   Step 5: Do a lot of bending exercises.

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   Step 6: Warm your horse up with a canter or two both ways.

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   Step 7: Determine your horse's stronger lead.

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   Step 8: Ride to the right

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   Step 9: canter a circle

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    Step 10: then do a figure eight.

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    Step 11: After a few time of trotting 5 to 6 strides before the pole

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    Step 12: make the simple change in three to four strides

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    Step 13: then again once it gets the feel of that

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    Step 14: decrease it to one or two strides.

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    Step 15: Keep practicing until the horse is comfortable with this.

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    Step 16: Canter around the ring with a strong

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    Step 17: collected canter.

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    Step 18: Ride across the diagonal of the arena.

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    Step 19: Keep your inside leg pressed gently to the girth and your outside leg pressed gently just behind the girth.

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    Step 20: Cross the pole or centre line and swap the positions of your legs

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    Step 21: so that your new inside leg is on the girth and your new outside leg is behind the girth.

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    Step 22: Bend your horse gently through its entire body

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    Step 23: not just the shoulder

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    Step 24: while keeping the canter in a controlled and steady pace.

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    Step 25: Keep your hands gentle throughout the transition and allow your horse to stretch through its back.

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    Step 26: Continue the canter through the corner regardless of the lead.

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    Step 27: If the horse doesn't get it when you go over the pole

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    Step 28: bring it back to a trot

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    Step 29: then ask for a canter on the correct lead

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    Step 30: then circle over the pole with the correct lead.

Detailed Guide

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