Lead change help?

[Tee]

I have a 14 year old Lippitt Morgan gelding that I have started lead changes on with the help of my instructor in lessons. I’d pretty much shelved them for the summer and planned to really focus on them in lessons this coming winter. He has the basic idea and is pretty consistent on his left to right change. Right to left is iffy, but getting there for the little bit I am working on it right now.

This weekend is a big Paint show that has open breed classes. We’re going with the intention of doing Western Pleasure and Eq, showmanship, and halter. Then I got to thinking, why not give the ranch riding a shot. It has a lead change that can be simple or flying, and I’m fine with the simple if we need to. The change is to his good way. I practiced some yesterday and the only issue that I am having is that he tends to change and then duck sideways to the direction of the change. He stays the same speed (thank heavens we’ve stopped the taking off after the change) and doesn’t get worked up at all. I can get him right back straight, but can’t seem to keep him straight through and after the change. Pretty much the same story riding one or two handed.

He was off work tonight, but I’d like to work on them some tomorrow. Would love to hear if you have any tips that might help.

[Palm_Beach]

Maybe you need to slow it down and quietly move just his hip before you step into the new lead? Sounds like he may be starting to “dive” into it, instead of lifting and stepping into it.

[SuckerForHorses]

I’ve also found that not following through immediately with a circle helps too. Took my gelding to a reining clinic and they had us practicing on a straight line in the middle of a figure 8. Instead of a slanted 8, it was more of two circles meeting and we asked for the change along the straight across the arena. That definitely helped because he wasn’t anticipating the circle as much. He was diving when the line where I asked him wasn’t straight.

[kewpalace]

Bob Avila had an article in the AQHA Journal about an exercise for changing leads straight, Horse Training for a Straight Lead Change. Seems like a fairly simple exercise. I have not yet tried it, but want to give it a go.

[beau159]

When I’ve taken lessons with my reining trainer, we actually very rarely do a flying lead change on a circle or figure 8. Almost always do it on a straight line; mainly, the purpose is that so the horse does not learn to “dive” into a circle after the change, and keep themselves straight and upright.

Could you practice your lead change along a fence, to physically “block” your horse from diving into the new lead?

He could also be diving if he is unbalanced in some way, and that’s the only way he can make the change work. Is he keeping his shoulders elevated, and straight?

[Tee]

Thank you! The article is fantastic and I will definitely use that exercise tonight, as well as changing on straight lines.

To me he seems very balanced and elevated in the front end (he’s built slightly uphill, which helps). I am guessing it has to do with circling directly after, even when I’m trying to keep him straight a few strides before the turn. So straight lines it is.

[kewpalace]

Another exercise we do to prevent diving (we have been doing this exercise briefly) is when you change at middle do not go into the circle for that lead, but keep on the same circle you were on doing a counter canter. When you come to the middle just go into the “correct” circle. This has helped my horse from diving into the change.

[TheHunterKid90]

You can do changes on the diagonal changing 3/4 of the way down.
You can do a middle circle in the arena, change and then continue on that same circle without changing direction.
And you can also change into the wrong lead into the wall and continue rising straight.

We never do middle lead changes in the figure 8 because we want our horses willingly guided and not anticipating the lead change in the middle of the pen. I would suggest also when you change to lift your hand up and forward a little and drive his shoulder out. You will make the change easier and your horse will be straighter.
Remember, cues to change lead are, lift the new shoulder, open the new inside leg and gently press his hip over with the outside leg.