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| How do you start teaching changes? | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 19 2008, 09:58 AM (740 Views) | |
| Sparky Boy | Aug 19 2008, 09:58 AM Post #1 |
I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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Just curious. I just started with my little mare. We do simple changes now and she'll change over a pole very easily on a diagonal. This girl is very smart so I think she quickly associated the pole with the new lead. I tend to foul it all up when the pole is gone.  I think my timing is off and then I get in her face instead of using my weight and new outside leg.
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| MissBri | Aug 19 2008, 11:08 AM Post #2 |
Cead Mile Failte ! ! SLAINTE!
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Go slower - if you or the horse get excited, tense, or confused - Stop and do something else - preferable something that will calm the mind. Remove the pole. Start riding figure eights. Trot one circle, then pick up a canter in the center starting the next loop. At center, trot half of the next circle, pick up a canter. Canter through the center continuing half of the next circle, downward to trot. Pick up canter at the center, canter entire circle. Before center, downward transition to trot, couple of trot steps, then ask for new canter. Next time through, half halt before center, then ask for new canter. Wait a step or two and see if he gets it. If not ask again - teeny abdominal half halt (to rock him back onto his haunches), and canter. Remember when you are introducing something new - it takes a while before the application of the aid results in immediate results. Many horses need a stride or two to 'figure out' what you are asking. Be patient, it will come. When asking for a canter, try and use your seat - think seat bones down, pelvic tilt (rock up forward) your crotch toward the new inside shoulder. So tighten the belly, then relax and inside shoulder pelvic tilt - almost as one movement. Do not lean forward or to the side, keep relaxed and breathe. Outside leg to prevent the hip from drifting, inside leg to create impulsion, movement. |
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| OpticalIllusion | Aug 20 2008, 12:00 PM Post #3 |
Guiding your way to Candy Mountain, since 1873.
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The most successful way Ive learned is to go long ways across the arena. So start on left lead (or whichever way first) canter and go up the center of the ring and then leg yield to the rail towards the right. When you are near the rail so your perpendicular, change your aids to the right lead canter. The thing is that the horse has to stay straight when you leg yield, and has to have good momentum while still being collected, so that they are really on their hind so they can do the change. You can use a pole where you want the change and then just take it away or go to the side of it. If they get the front and not the back, try carrying a dressage whip in your outside hand and give them a little tap when you ask for the change.
Edited by OpticalIllusion, Aug 20 2008, 12:03 PM.
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| OpticalIllusion | Aug 20 2008, 12:02 PM Post #4 |
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Guiding your way to Candy Mountain, since 1873.
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grr, double post
Edited by OpticalIllusion, Aug 20 2008, 12:03 PM.
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| Sparky Boy | Aug 20 2008, 12:56 PM Post #5 |
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I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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Thanks for those tips. I do think it's my timing that's the biggest problem. Anybody got a trick or tip to help that? Edited by Sparky Boy, Aug 25 2008, 12:14 PM.
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| spike25 | Aug 20 2008, 03:53 PM Post #6 |
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I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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I like to develop a good leg yield and counter canter first then go on to doing the changes on corners or from a ground rail. |
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| LADY | Aug 20 2008, 05:50 PM Post #7 |
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Schooling
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WOW! Great advice from EVERYONE! If you think that the problem is in your head,(because your horse can counter canter, leg yield, etc). Spend some time visualizing what you want tna d thinking about each step of the way. Get on a made horse and pretend you're teaching him. Go through all the motions and with your successes, your confidence will build, and you will relax, and BINGO! your horse will do the change for you. Good Luck. I know you can do it because i just did it with my young horse! |
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| elektra949 | Oct 25 2008, 05:28 PM Post #8 |
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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this seems a little silly, but it works, and it will fade away so it helps- before you get on, draw a line in the sand of your arena with your foot..... in a place that isnt super-traveled while riding- then use that as your change point, and after going over it a few times, it will fade away, but you will know where it was.... that may help with timing at least for a few lessons, and help you feel what you need to do without the actual pole there...... if that made sense.... hehe 
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| Sparky Boy | Oct 27 2008, 10:07 AM Post #9 |
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I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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Mr. Trainer was out recently. I only see him once in a while but since he's a magician and knows all  , he figured out immediately that it wasn't so much my timing but my lack of straightness. Once I had a decent canter and kept her straight, she gave me some very nice changes. That darn horse is much smarter than me sometimes..... She's probably saying, just get out of my way and let me do it, jeeeez........ |
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| Witchy | Oct 27 2008, 01:43 PM Post #10 |
Is the meadow on fire?
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I just took my boy for a lesson with the pony Guru, Patty Miller, and here is what I got from her about teaching changes. She recommends teaching changes over a pole. Put a pole in both corners just in from the rail and cut across the arena on the long diagional and ride very straight and collected to it. The pole and the arena fence will help with the change. Then be sure to ask for the change the exact same way every time. You can also counter canter down the long side and ask for the change at the corner with or without the pole. Only do it once or twice in each direction. Don't drill changes. She also said she never practices changes by cutting across the center of the ring, because it makes it harder to keep them on a lead when you have a single jump in the center or diagional on course. She said it's the single biggest reason for horses that swap off. If you want to practice changes, counter canter down the long side and change at the corner. |
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| Petey's Mom | Nov 17 2008, 07:47 PM Post #11 |
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I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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What a great way to teach changes! I was working with my guy yesterday doing it on the diagonal over a pole. I could get the change one direction but not the other. So I brought him back to a trot before the pole then asked for the canter over the pole. I will try counter canter down the side then ask for the change in the corner next time. |
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| Danielle Fournier | Nov 19 2008, 11:32 AM Post #12 |
I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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This is how I was taught.. My trainer and I started with poles across the diagonal for my mare this summer, and eventually took the poles away. You really need to sit down, rock your horse back and feel the bounce/jump in their stride(Basically collect with tons of impulsion). When they are coming off the ground you need to ask for the change, not when they are landing. It really is all about the feel, straightness, keeping them collected, and TONS of impulsion! And trying not to do too many of them (Ex: if you get 2 each direction, quit) I worked on these all summer and now have auto changes!!! YAY!!! |
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| MissBri | Nov 24 2008, 10:23 AM Post #13 |
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Cead Mile Failte ! ! SLAINTE!
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So how is everyone's changes coming? |
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| Hunter_rider | Nov 24 2008, 07:56 PM Post #14 |
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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If your horse is balanced, the changes should be very easy. When my 3 year old was asked for his first time, it was across the diagonal, the rider stepped out and asked with the outside leg and inside rein, he swapped immediately- with no issues. It is ALL in the flatwork! |
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| Sparky Boy | Dec 12 2008, 08:27 AM Post #15 |
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I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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Yeah, I've found that it's all about being straight and somewhat balanced. The last horse show we did, back in October, she was doing changes on course quite easily. |
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1:41 PM Nov 27
