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

[bixa]

Ditto on the simple changes first. The mare I was riding at the time picked up flying changes pretty quickly after a few rounds of simple changes. Good luck!

[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

[pony_love]

Definately try to get a few lessons in with a trainer specifically on this issue, because every horse is a bit different and needs something a littl different, but some general advice

[harnessphoto]

sounds like your horse isn't balanced enough to be doing changes yet. changes are NOT about direction. they are about your horse being cued in to your aids. before you can attempt such complex canter work, you need a SOLID walk and trot. do lots of lateral and suppling work at the walk and trot to get your horse to really loosen up in his shoulders. groundwork will probably help too. and i agree... work with a trainer... this isn't the sort of thing you can read about online, then employ in real life.

[kateandjack]

Thanks for everyones advice, I'll give it a go when I go home at the weekend.
Just to answer few comments, I already have a trainer but only get to him about once a month so really want to be able to get this on my own.
And I probably shouldn't have used the word "flipping", it gives the wrong impression.
Jack has always had problems with canter, particularly on his left rein but we are over that now. He has established collected, working and extended canter, walk to canter with the slight shift of weight and half halt. He knows exactly what he is supposed to do as he changes in front almmost instantly when I ask him, but he seems to forget about his back end.
Silly boy.

[12to15steps]

Not silly - unbalanced, uneducated and unprepared.

Changes are one of those things that can really make or break a horse. It is very, very much worth it to have serious professional help when the time is right, either by spending some consecutive days with your trainer, or maybe even sending your horse to someone to get them started. A candid chat with your trainer about whether or not you're at a place in your riding where you can be helpful to teach the horse is in order.

Please don't misunderstand me - this is not me saying "you suck, don't do it." :) The changes, even in a hunter way, have lots of room for screwupability. It's much better to get it done right the first time than to have to go back and re-train later.