Archive for August, 2009
Understanding and Learning Flying Lead Changes
Understanding which lead you are on is probably one of the most confusing parts about learning to ride a horse. The confusion comes in because some instructors teach leads off the front leg and some teach off the rear leg. In a lead change , the horse switches leads from the fight to the left of the left to the right at the command of the rider.
Trotting is a two beat diagonal gait. When the right front moves the left rear move simultaneously. When you are taught to post the trot you do so on a certain diagonal. When circling to the left that is when the arena wall is on your right, so you would rise with the right front foot. That is the only way I’ve ever heard it taught. Think about which hind leg you would rise with? If you said the left you would be correct.
Most instructors don’t teach their riding students much about timing or feel. Without some understanding about what the back end of the horse is doing going forward in riding will become more difficult than it has to be.
There is a diagonal in a three beat lope or canter. In a left lead , the diagonal would be the the left hind and the right front would move together. The footfall sequence for a left lead would be, beat one: The horse pushes off with the right rear leg. Beat two: The left rear and the right the left front leg front leg move together. Beat Three: Finally the left leg follows which is the leading leg. There is an airborne phase before the the right rear strikes the ground again and starts the sequence all over.
In a right lead beat one is the left rear leg pushing off. Beat two is the right rear leg moving with the left front leg, the diagonal pair. Again there is an airborne moment before the sequence starts again. It is during that airborne moment that the horse changes leads in the air and it is called a flying lead change.
Sounds simple but for some horse’s it is very difficult to teach. For other horses they can do it easily. Most horses drop to a trot when they are taught. You up two half circles next to one another and as the horse comes to the middle of the straightaway he drops to a trot and picks up the canter going into the other half circle on the opposite correct lead. Most horses learn this way because it is easiest for both horse and rider.
Before attempting flying lead changes make sure that he understands the flextion and forward motion exercises. He must be able to turn his hindquarters around his front end and do these things on a loose rein.
Make sure you understand the footfalls in the trot and the lope before you try to do flying lead changes.
The Best Way to Trail Ride is to be Prepared
Trail riding with a friend should be a relaxing experience for both you, your friend and your horses. I remember one trail ride that should have been a comedy show. It wasn’t funny then but it sure is now looking back at it. Unfortunately we did everything wrong and I didn’t listen to that inner voice that kept telling me “you’re going the wrong way, you’re going the wrong way”.
First we went out totally unprepared. I went with my friend and her horse who was my horse’s buddy. She said she had been out exploring just the other day and the trail leads back to the owners house, it’s just a big circle. “Come on just follow me, it’s easy and fun”. Despite my reluctance the horses wanted to do something different so I acquiesced and off we went. I let her lead since she said she knew the way, but when we came to a deep wet area her horse refused to go through the water, and there was no way around it but to go through it. Jake didn’t like going through water, he was a thoroughbred and never was taught that. I asked “what did you do the other day, it didn’t get that deep that fast. “ ” Are you sure we’re going the right way?” ” Don’t worry you can’t get lost” Ann said. Meanwhile Jake was getting more nervous and started crow hopping and tried to turn back. Ann would have none of that, at her suggestion Baylee who loves water went across with no problem. When I looked back there was Ann up to her knees in water leading Jake through it. I hopped off Baylee and gave her a leg up since she was in her English saddle.
All of a sudden she yelled back ” see the red house that’s the barn owner’s”. “Ann he doesn’t have two black dogs and that’s not his house, it’s not even finished”. It was a bit steep over there and Baylee and I stopped but Ann ventured forward until the two black dogs started chasing Jake’s heels. I was so far ahead of her Baylee went through that water at a gallop. Before we turned and ran I saw how close those dogs came to taking out a piece of Jake’s heel. I was back at the beginning of the trail and wondering if I should go get help or go in and find Ann. Just at that moment she came out of the woods on foot leading Jake. He took off so fast she fell off at the water crossing and he waited for her almost at the beginning of the trail munching on tree leaves. She grabbed hold of him and led him back the rest of the way.
I had to laugh when I saw her pulling on her horse who would rather be eating and her slipping and falling in the mud.
Ann was furious at Jake as soon as she found a spot high enough to mount him she was going to teach him a lesson about respect. To say Jake wasn’t well trained was true and Ann didn’t always think before she acted. She just about mounted Jake and he took off like a race horse and you’ve got to give her credit she didn’t let him jump the picnic table and stopped him before he ran into the electric fence. Baylee ran up and down the hills with him but not like a wild maniac.
At the barn everybody was looking at Ann and asking if she was ok and asking me what happened to Ann. I didn’t say a word except “It was a little muddy out there”.
We were very lucky no one got hurt. I was stupid to keep following her when her horse was so jumpy. He should not have acted that way in familiar territory. Baylee heard the dogs and started to turn around and I should have let him go because those dogs meant business.
Will I ever go on a trail ride again? Not with Ann. I have since then and enjoyed being with a group and having an experienced leader. I felt better knowing we were prepared and Baylee was much more relaxed. Listen to those inner voices and if they warn you to stay back at the barn do it.
