In First level test 3, you canter across the KXM diagonal and “at X, change of lead through the trot”.
Does this mean you trot AT X, and within a few strides of trot, pick up the new lead?
Or is it OK to trot a stride or two before X?
Any judges out there?
I’m not a judge, but I did the 1st level tests a lot last year, and I was just a demo rider for 2 sessions of an L program. IIRC, The change of lead through the trot should be centered over X, so if you wait until X to trot, you will probably get the comment that your change was late.
If you really want to nail it, you should have an equal number of trot steps on either side of X.
Yep. This is correct.
Exactly. Ideally a change through trot should be between 4 and 6 strides so that the trot is clearly shown.
Ditto. :yes:
Edited to add, that I misread this the first time. Four, IMO, would be ideal. Six is too much.
This is a “transition” so it should look as a “transition” thru a trot. Not as 3 separate gaits: canter, then trot, then canter. Be careful not to do too many strides of trot. If it will NOT look as you rode it as a “transition”, you can be penalized for that with a comment like “too many trot steps”. More important than centering your trot transition over the X is: horse should remain steady on the bit thru the whole transition, transition should be straight, fluid and with a supple back. The whole diagonal should look like one fluid, effortless movement. This movement will affect your rider and submission scores in collectives.
Ideally it is three strides (transition/balance/transition), centered over X, on the aid(s)/straight. 6 strides would go from 1/4 line to 3/4 line, wayyyy too long.
Thank you all, very helpful comments!
What ideayoda said. Srtide 1-good downward transition and straighten. Stride 2-straight at/over X. Stride 3-new bend and upward transition. Done right you can get a really good score on this move :yes: 
Be careful to show at least three trot strides. I’ve seen many judges mark the movement down for less.
Too few and the horse is not rebalancing, more than 3 and the horse is likely not well on the aids, or the rider is holding them (certainly not more than 4). THe first thing the horse is asked to do is transition to trot at x and then trot at end of diagonal…transition, balance, reorganize, depart (probably 5-6 strides in trot). But lead changes over a point should be around 3 (same in w/c/w).
Axel Steiner adviced us against counting the strides in the trot transitions - he emphasized that the transition should look balanced between 2 canters and the whole movement has to have a flowing rhythm to it. He reminded that judges should be less of a “bean counters” and look more for balance in the whole movement.
But the fact is that IF the rider is taking too long then the horses are not properly on the aids. If the rider cannot canter/trot/canter with ease, then they should go back a couple of tests to the canter/trot and x/depart at the end of the diagonal.
What does too fast a change (1 or 2 strides) do? Tends to hollow the back and/or tense the horse. What is prep for most transitions? Two hh (alerts) and transition, hence three. What is too slow a change (4 or more)? A horse which is off the aids or out of balance. A little error with ok balance? Fine. A little without balance? Problematic reactions. More strides still? Off or dull to the aids.
Of course there are other elements: the most important is straightness and balance (and bit acceptance/proper tempo as a result). All play into the score. Often one can say poor down, but straight, (too many strides might happen here) but balanced depart, or whatever.
Most riders don’t need to worry about too few strides, that is so rarely a problem. Probably because they spend too much time fiddleing in the trot and they use way too much flexion in the canter on the straight line and it takes time to change from one flexion to the other. I think a good change through the trot happens by preparing the canter before, not so much by balancing during the trot. Make sure the horse is straight over their legs in the canter coming in (not leaning over the original outside shoulder when you turn onto the diagonal, because that’s a sure fire way to get a depart on the wrong lead), get an effective half halt in the canter, exhale, sit heavy, the trot happens, as soon as you feel it, ask for canter and off you go…
i was taught 1-2 doesn’t make the transition look clear enough and it looks like horse is anticipating or ad-libbing, and 4-6 makes it look like you can’t get your horse to listen to you…LOL.
i have also always heard that a judge should not give a good score to a bad transition just because it has 3 strides. # strides isn’t everything.
No one has said that it is. But if you don’t give a minimum number of strides for the transition, it can’t possibly be balanced or correct. It’s a change of lead through the trot, after all - not a simple or flying change. Trot has to be exhibited both before and after the canter transition. I can’t see that less than two strides before and after would adequately exhibit both trot, and balance in the transition.
JMO. 
Exactly and some of the animals being exhibited will be ponies or small horses that may take a much smaller step. The main thing the judge will look for is a clear trot being exhibited with clean transitions into and out of the trot. When I judge I am looking for that cleanness over the “acceptable” number of strides. Certainly as a judge I will be able to determining if the trot is held too long and the score will reflect this.
I will score that movement higher on a rider that may have a shade too many trot strides (as long as it is not excessive) over one that did the “acceptable” number of strides but was weak in the two in/out transitions as to me, those transitions are the meat of that movement.
Good for Axel, now he needs to get other judges on the same page.
I was always taught to do three strides, one before, one at and one after X. If ridden well it should make for a smooth transition. If, If, If… Wonderful word
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