Flying Changes

[kateandjack]

 Hello everyone, I'm new but have a question:

Have you got any tips on how I can teach my jumping pony to do automatic flying changes?
When I flip him onto the other rein he will change with his front end but not with his back legs, and then he gets upset and frustrated.
Any ideas?
Thanks
 

Comments

[regentlion]

I've always "just done it," and cued for a change and gotten it. Granted my horses already had their simple changes and a good counter canter. Except for one mare, she had an auto flying change from the first time I ever tried a change on her---she was 3 and had been cantering only a month or so and I was just goofing off. Got lucky on that one.

I CAN tell you what NOT to do...

1. Don't just try to throw your horse off balance to get the change. That is how you get just the front but not the hind. "Flipping them" onto the change is NOT the answer.

2. Don't "run" them into the change. Excessive speed is NOT the answer.

I have a VERY NICE pony who came from a hunter barn where they tried to train her to do flying changes by flipping her and running her. She's completely fried now in terms of a counter canter OR a flying change. She just gets all worked up and nervous. I don't know that she'll EVER be comfortable or confident enough in herself to do a flying change.

One thing I HAVE learned is you need a straight, confident horse with a GOOD QUALITY canter.