Switching leads

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Switching leads
Topic Started: Feb 24 2009, 08:26 AM (361 Views)
horseladi78	Feb 24 2009, 08:26 AM Post #1
Schooling Posts: 58 Group: Members Member #291 Joined: January 9, 2007	Alright i need some help, ideas, or exercises to help a horse not switch leads before a fence. I am at a loss as to what I might be able to do to help him not do it. And he is really good about doing it in that most likely you can't even feel him do it. I usually have to have a person on the ground tell me if he does it or not. He switches to either lead upon take off. I have tried placement poles; that just caused him to do it more. He does switch more if he is worried about the fences instead of stopping at it, but usually always switches no matter what on a diagional single. I have also tried cantering him over poles and x rails on a circle forcing him to stay on one lead or the other. Any other ideas as to how I can help prevent him for him switching? Edited by horseladi78, Feb 24 2009, 08:31 AM.



Brydelle Farm	Feb 24 2009, 07:15 PM Post #2
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back. Posts: 1,021 Group: Members Member #509 Joined: January 20, 2007	Do you have a video of him jumping?? Is this a new behavior? Is he sore somewhere? You mention that this started when he would be "worried" about a fence, so I am guessing, a bit of crow hopping, and then jumping. Improving his adjustability is perhaps the first place to start, so while adjusting his stride length being able to maintain the same energy/impulsion, then being able to maintain the same pace/same impulsion all the way around a course. Is his canter more up and down vs forward in general?



horseladi78	Feb 25 2009, 09:17 AM Post #3
Schooling Posts: 58 Group: Members Member #291 Joined: January 9, 2007	No this isn't neccessarily a new behavior; its always been a problem. I don't beleive he is sore, he has had a lamness exam with xrays and flexions, given adaquen and wears shoes all the way around. He mainly does the switching if he is worried about a fence as he used to be a very very bad stopper. He doesn't always stop now but will one tempi his changes all the way to a fence that he is worried about instead og stopping. Progress I guess but still wonder if there is anything I can incorporate into his training rides that might help or give him more confidence. He doesn't really favor one lead over another, he will switch either way either left right or right left. He does not have an up and down canter but can be a forward one if worried. He will rush a fence and switch his leads instead of stopping. He really should be a dressage horse with his one tempi changes..lol Any more ideas????



Brydelle Farm	Feb 25 2009, 05:29 PM Post #4
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back. Posts: 1,021 Group: Members Member #509 Joined: January 20, 2007	I would work on improving his confidence over fences. You might even go back to some cavaletti work at the canter, working on maintaining his pace and impulsion over the poles, then come through, keep the impulsion but change the pace - opening it up a bit and then collecting. When he gets "forward" what do you do? Be sure you aren't resisting him too much with your hand where he just pulls on you and drags you past the distance or takes a flyer. What about gymnastics? How is he with that? Will he swap in a 1-stride, 2-stride? Mix it up with bounces, start slow, again improve his confidence. A video would be helpful.



Lucassb	Jul 5 2009, 06:17 PM Post #5
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie! Posts: 177 Group: Members Member #400 Joined: January 17, 2007	I would work on holding the lead over poles on the ground. You can exaggerate the bend slightly to help him maintain whichever lead you select. Let's say you are cantering on the left lead, down the short side, turning down the diagonal to "jump" a 6 stride "line" made of poles on the ground. Down the short side, you have your right leg behind the girth slightly, almost thinking haunches in, while you keep a feel on the outside rein to control the right shoulder. You are bending him around your left leg, which remains at the girth, while you curl your fingers around the left rein so you can just see the horse's left eye. Maintain that posture as you canter the poles and then smoothly halt. Pick up the right lead and do the reverse...



Witchy	Jul 6 2009, 03:25 AM Post #6
Is the meadow on fire? Posts: 1,674 Group: Members Member #547 Joined: January 22, 2007	My trainer recommends that you never ever do lead changes across the diagional or through the center of the ring for just that reason. They anticipate the change going to the jump. We only do leachanges by counter cantering down the long side and then changing in the corner.



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