Flying Change Hell Support Group

[EventerAJ]

Improve your flat rides and keep them fresh with LOTS of transitions. I mean LOTS. Change gaits every 5-10 strides. Walk/trot/walk. Trot/walk/trot. Trot/halt/trot. Focus on the promptness, straightness, rhythm before/during/after the transition. Praise and reward for effort, not perfection; but try to make each transition a little bit better than the last one, don’t be satisfied with “Well, we eventually achieved my desired gait.”

Don’t worry where the head is. Truly. Just ride the horse’s body straight and from behind. If the back drops, do it again. If the horse dives on your hand in the downward; fine, whatever, you get to practice another upward transition and then downward transition again. Don’t get mad that it’s difficult, keep your emotions neutral and your aids the same (don’t escalate!).

I’ll do a dozen walk/trot transitions, and then when I get the best one, half-halt and ask for canter. Canter half a 20m circle or less, and back to trot. Organize the trot (assuming the transition wasn’t pretty) and canter again. Doing dozens and dozens of transitions keeps the horse focused on you, and less anticipatory about the “WTC pattern” they can fall into. 50 transitions per ride should be your goal, and transitions within gaits (working/medium/ext) count too. The best thing about this exercise is it works to stabilize both hot horses and lazy horses-- the hot horses will spend more time in the downward gait, soft rein, stretchy…the lazy horses I will push on more in the upward gaits.

[IPEsq]

Oh I totally forgot about this thread. I made it through teaching the flying change hell…I think. We can get clean changes both ways, on the aids, pretty much all the time unless either I screw up somewhere or he tries to change way before the ask (in which case I’m more or less blocking him). Which brings us to a trend this winter where some rides I would get all sorts of changes I was not asking for because he thought he was being mr. smartypants. Kind of its own circle of flying change hell, I suppose.

[IPEsq]

You can also ask for different things. Change direction with a half turn in reverse. Canter first then trot, or trot and canter one way before going the other way. Do some forward and back within the gaits. If he is anticipating, that means he thinks there’s a pattern. You can use anticipation to help you, but if it’s making him anxious, you have to show him there’s no pattern. So change up your order of things to where he’s not following a pattern. If you are a hunter, incorporate some poles courses including some trot poles where you are cantering somewhere then return to trot to go through the trot poles then go back to cantering and doing something else.

[exvet]

When I saw this thread come up again instead of hopping back on the train I decided to give things another week or two in order to be sure I was not imagining things and that we could claim consistency. I am so happy, relieved, worn out, mentally exhausted and elated all at the same time. I have now had a month of true in the air flying changes, most clean. This has been no less than 3 years in the making. I first introduced flying changes three or so years ago at the behest of two different riding instructors. I didn’t feel that our canter was of the right quality but we were really working through the counter canter for second level and both felt it was time and necessary. At first my willing to please Welsh Cob got them figured out - in the air and mostly clean. One direction of course far better than the other. All along I had connection issues with the right rein and the other major missing basic was truly being forward, at least at the canter. As one instructor labeled him, ‘Your horse [pony] is pleasantly disobedient’. As we conquered second level with high scores given particularly to his trot work at the lateral movements we knew it was time to start work on third level. For more than two years I’ve had all the pieces (movements) but the flying changes. My two missing links - true connection on the right rein and lack of forward. This nemesis has prevented me from really having the quality of the canter needed especially in the left lead to be able to perform true flying changes.

My welsh cob is the master of energy efficiency. He wants to please but being true to his breed of course he was/is always sure that he knows what I really want as opposed to what I’m asking for and he of course delivers LOL. This combination lead to the master of the skip a change, especially when I would change from left to right lead in the canter (that failure to have him connected and through on the right rein and lack of jump in the canter). Now this guy really isn’t what I would call lazy. He can put out eye popping, ground covering mediums at the touch of a calf; but, when he does it also looks like he’s swallowed a broom - tense, over-powered, and lacking any semblance of supple.

So fast forward to today and I not only have a pony who can change in the air, do so clean, on the aids, remain forward and bend. I wouldn’t say we’re at the level of suppleness and throughness to earn 70s yet but I dare say we could if the tests third and above were all scored just on the trot work, piaffe and passage His canter work is 60s worthy. Trot work definitely 70s. In addition to those pesky basics of true ELASTIC connection, remaining supple on both sides of the body, and responding promptly from the leg (ie, forward) I also have created a pony (I bred/foaled him) that has incredible sit power but the thought of pushing off and lifting up after the sit …EEK!!! This also hasn’t helped with the quality of the canter (jump) or thus the flying changes but he’s getting it.

I’ve been very blessed over my years of riding. I’ve managed to get help from some of the best on this side of the pond and even a couple from the other side. I believe I’ve learned helpful nuggets from all with my long string of mounts including this homebred. I’ve been told by many of these accomplished, FEI level afficionados is that the skip a change is the hardest evasion to unlearn or get past. No kidding; but, it is possible. What has helped the most - Improving the QUALITY of the CANTER. Strength and engagement in and of itself had NOT been the issue. It’s getting my special compact little power house to realize that I really do mean that you can sit, push and lift, stay through in the connection and bend the body, AND place the feet when and where I want. This isn’t just about miles and miles of canter which we have done in order to build stamina but it has been about teaching him how to use his body correctly.

I have one instructor who when we met told me she could teach even pigs to do flying changes. I introduced my Welsh Cob to her, “Meet Mr. Pig. He’s the most loveable Mr. Pig on earth but I’m about to give up on flying changes.” That was two years ago. She warned me after watching us ride that it would take 2-3 years and I’d probably be doing more intermediate/grand prix work with everything except the flying changes/tempis until I could get the canter to catch up with the scope and talent Mr. Pig demonstrated (s) with the trot.

If you’ve gotten this far then you definitely have either been there or have been as desperate as myself. Our recipe for teaching Junior, aka Mr. Pig how to use his body in no particular order because dressage is NOT linear:

1. In hand work and long lining so I can SEE and help him use himself properly especially in the canter transitions. Prior to that it was mastering the concept of bend. Lots of transition up to the canter from trot and/or walk and with the first stride: GO!!! and stay there. This is not meant to be misconstrued as running around out of balance at the end of the line like dope on the rope; but working softly into the connection and having the energy cycled through the back end and top line.
2. miles of trot - counter canter - trot transitions on the 20 meter circle.
3. miles of shoulder in and haunches in at the canter, mostly on the longs sides, or for me the roping arena
4. Endless forward and back at trot and canter which has lead to another of our light bulb moments - passage. Probably teaching this pony to bounce has really transcended that acknowledgement of sit and push. Of course I taught him how to piaffe in hand long ago, then piaffe under saddle and now his passage is starting to look like one even from a spectator’s point of view.
5. 20 meter counter canter circle spiraling in and out and slipping in a flying change on one of the times when starting to spiral out - worked like a dream
6. Used judiciously but effectively - walk pirouettes to canter pirouettes.

So I feel like I’m finally seeing the pearly gates and I think they’re starting to open. A bonus to all this work and perseverance is the pony who was labeled as actually having a nice trot and canter by Lilo Fore but an ‘unfortunate’ walk - pure, 4 beat but no overstride under saddle (many others have agreed) has gone from a 5/6 walk to a definite 7 walk. With all this work on the canter, my little fire plug now lifts his withers in collected walk and actually over strides when working properly. Since I’m not new to this rodeo I also realize that our success in maintaining proper flying changes and better quality of the gaits, depends solely on me setting up this guy properly and riding every stride every moment before, during and after each change and through every transition. He will never be one to give away things for free.

My advice for those who are entering into Hell or just hanging out in Purgatory, DON’T GIVE UP especially if you believe/know your mount has 3 pure, correct gaits. Truth be told I’ve known ever since this bundle of pure ornery pony hit the ground with some assistance from me, that he did possess 3 decent gaits. They were appreciated while mare side and then hid for a while as his owner/breeder/trainer fumbled through yet another progression from ground on up through the levels. I’m hoping to show fourth level with a bit more confirmation and conviction this year (showed fourth at schooling shows last year - low 60s which we managed on his trot work mostly) and we’ll see if those who sit in the judgment seat agree but I’m pretty sure the light I see at the end of the tunnel isn’t a dream or a foretelling of my end (despite being 60 years old). Here’s hoping that we can continue to progress and if I’m right, barring any unforeseen physical surprises/injuries, we’ll be visiting the tempis and riding PSG like those in my past who have gone before him.

[sorrelfilly721]

I think we’ve finally made it to the other side. Thought this flying change pic would give you a laugh. From our Level 3 Test 2 this past weekend.

[Lunabear1988]

The tail, ha, love it!

[Curly_Feather]

We are working on multiple changes. I can’t call them sequence changes yet, because I’m not doing any counting. We’re just trying for a few in a row with no flinging ourselves around.

If we use the long side, it is better. Relatively straight, not so much throwing our bodies around, also I can find a half-halt. And the changes happen mostly on the aid.
https://youtu.be/_np5TM-NRes

On the diagonal, it is a free-for-all. At least half the ones that happen on a diagonal are not at all asked for, I’m just a passenger. We also sometimes unexpectedly (for both of us) switch to an exuberant half-pass. Straightness is a foreign and faraway concept.
https://youtu.be/u2s1GbvCMDM

[sascha]

Who has fixed a step change? I’ve got one great change now and one that is way more often than not a step change.

[RJC]

For me it has everything to do with how through he is in the canter. My horse loves to brace at the base of his neck but pose so that he mostly looks like he’s going correctly. It’s the entire difference between a clean flying change and a skip change (which is does so deftly, I’ve been given decent scores on them )

[exvet]

I’ve been working the better part of 2.5 to 3 years on getting rid of the skip a change, worse one direction than the other. We have pretty much left those behind us but as stated it does depend on how through they are, how supple they are and they absolutely have to be forward from the leg, seat and aid. I have a tool box kit full of exercises to work on each aspect.

[IPEsq]

I have but it’s my least favorite problem to fix, and the technique will vary some with the horse depending on what other factors are at play. But you have got to go forward. And you also have to be ok with late behind or even making a turn with the change, so long as they don’t skip, at least as a first step. Once the hind legs are at least reliably coming along for the ride, then you can clean up the rest. If you must do simple changes, never change through trot with this kind of horse. Always walk and establish a true walk gait before the next lead.

[sascha]

@IPEsq

I have but it’s my least favorite problem to fix

Mine too! lol I can deal with late behind, crazy (even late) in front because with those mistakes it’s so easy to say, “Oh yes, here’s the hole. Let’s fix that.” and then boom, correct change. I think part of my problem with this particular horse is that the answer is always “Let’s go faster flatter! It’ll be so much fun!” Well, maybe for ONE of us, it’ll be fun Meanwhile, I’m all, “Have you even seen your hind end? It is substantial. And your abs are a freaking masterpiece. Let’s get it together here!”

[Mondo]

@sascha

Who has fixed a step change? I’ve got one great change now and one that is way more often than not a step change.

The best way to fix that is to canter across the diagonal. Have a ground pole at X. As you canter over it, ask for the change. He will change in mid air over the pole because he won’t have time for a step in between.

[sascha]

@Mondo

He will change in mid air over the pole because he won’t have time for a step in between.

And then there is the horse we used to joke had 7 or 8 legs on particularly crazy days. There’s always another leg to fill in somewhere <- this was only an issue when very green - I may try a pole now that we’re 100% 4-legged in all gaits every day of the year.