While this might be an excellent way of teaching a dressage change for a trainer on a dressage horse, it’s not at all an efficient way of teaching a kid’s hunter pony.
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Speaking as someone who teaches a lot of small people, it’s really important to remember that the lead change has to be attainable for the intended pilot. The average small pony rider understands and can execute go forward (kick) and steer. Many many of them can not reliably identify when they are on the wrong lead, or at least not in time to then set up for and ask for any kind of sophisticated change. I teach my little riders to go forward into the corner, turn and kick with outside leg (keeping in mind that in the moment even the concept of which one is the outside leg might be too much. These are riders who are still learning their right from their left!).
So the lead change installation in the pony has to match that level of riding. Go forward into the corner, turn, kick.
Also OP, you don’t mention how heavy you are. But carrying weight can definitely inhibit the small ponies until they’re strong enough to lift themselves and you through the change.
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Ditto. I’m going through a phase at the moment where for the life of me cannot get a change on my horse. I blame my previous one as he was overly automatic so I never quite got the actual mechanics.
I also say a recent video from Amelia Newcomb that explained changes super well. She really breaks it down.
My issue is usually that I’m not forward enough…so straightness and forward are your friend. Counter canter is a good tool to use as well to ensure your straightness and balance.
I hate seeing some of the changes in the hunter ring that look overly dramatic and trying to put the horse off balance. They should be flowy and not interrupting the rhythm.
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Quit worrying about micromanaging the change, get a good canter and ride the pony forward. Stop picking pick, picking on them. Goooo.
IME, riders fiddle too much with their hands trying to direct every step telling them what to do while riders body tells them sloooow. Mixed messages don’t get good results.
Some Ponies really have trouble getting and sustaining a good, forward canter and many riders just cant keep Pony ahead of the leg, not enough barrel to take that leg. Some Ponies (and horses) just lack the physical ability to come from behind and forever go around dumped on the forehand which hinders good lead changes.
Try just working on getting that good canter, raise hands and think up, down, up, down like the merry go round. The good canter allows good lead changes and once installed, the canter can be recreated by a kid and the rest takes care of itself. Most of the time. We are talking Ponies…originally named Pony because all the other 4 letter words were taken 
The methods mentioned above all work but only IF that canter is installed. The creatures are dead smart, all about teaching them to want to, not micromanaging and picking.
Knew one Medium that started swapping off about 3-4 strides out coming off the corner. Vetted ad nauseum, nothing. New saddle, nope. Body work, nope. Training ride by tiny Pro, yup, no swap. Pretty good kid rider, nope, swap every time
Visiting clinician observed situation, Noted that kid circled when they felt the swap. Inadvertently had taught Pony if it swapped, it didn’t have to jump into into the line. Had kid just keep going into and down the line every time and the swap went away.
Same clinician watched another Medium who had started stopping at anything less than a perfect distance to single oxers and developed a nasty right duck that defied explanation or diagnosis. When the stopping started, trainer had kid ( another good little jock) bridge the reins in left hand and reach back with right to apply stick. Cured the stop but Pony started ducking out to the right.
Clinician deduced bridging the rein and reaching back with the right arm “ opened the gate” and allowed the Pony to “ escape”. They were right. Replaced stick with spurs, after a few half hearted attempts, Pony realized it would have to try something else.
Mention these because theres nothing like another set of eyes from another, neutral observer. Does OP have access to somebody who can watch her and offer input? Preferably a neutral party with no personal or financial stake in the Ponies that can and usually does influence their observations. Like that clinician who regularly visited trainer to keep them sharp, a train the trainer visit if you will.
Give getting some outside help or a mentor some serious thought. Good trainers don’t work in a vacuum and always seek outside input and knowledge to keep learning.
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