Sticky lead change (sometimes) what am I doing wrong?

[RileysMom]

Hi all,

I hope you all had nice holidays!

I’m having a lead change issue and wanted to solicit some advice. Lease horse is a well-trained packer, who can be on the lazy side. She gets moving much more forward over jumps though. In one direction, her change is sticky–she will always change in front, but not behind. She’ll get it in front, cross-canter for a step, and then fix it in back. In the other direction, the change is usually not an issue. I think this is all rider error–the horse is sound and has her hocks injected twice a year. And her change is not always sticky in that one direction–sometimes it’s fine, especially if she’s really forward and/or really in a frame and on the bit. My trainer has been out of town visiting family the past few weeks, so when she gets back we’re going to work on this (and horse needs a few tune-up rides). In the meantime, what’s the rider typically doing wrong when this kind of thing happens?

[KateKat]

Using too much inside hand/bend so horse isn’t straight, horse is unbalanced, not enough pace. Story of my life basically with my current horse

You already said it yourself too- when she’s forward the change isn’t sticky. So make sure she’s listening to you leg and don’t pull or hold for the change. Try just cantering really forward, and relying mainly on your new outside leg to cue for it.

[RugBug]

There are a variety of reasons, but forward and straight are usually what you need to fix.

I will say that I had a horse that had a very easy change one direction and the other side was sticky. I figured out that the easy way he just needed to be forward and straight. The other direction, He needed to have a lot of impulsion and would get the change from a more collected canter. I just hand to remember which was which.

[alterhorse]

“A common problem seen in horse show hunters is that in a rush to get to the show ring, green horses are taught to “swap” their leads rather than truly learning how to “change” their lead. Swapping of leads occurs when a horse is pulled into the change by its rider, thus the shoulder swaps before the hind end follows. Problems can result from this later on in the horse’s career, because the horse may not have a strong hind end and may not know the proper lead change technique. This lack of strength and knowledge can result in late changes. A true lead change occurs when the horse changes from hind to front, while being properly engaged throughout the transition.”
https://www.southernstates.com/articles/the-key-to-lead-changes.aspx

[copper1]

More inside leg to help straighten the horse and get him balanced

[Lord_Helpus]

Do a figure 8 in the ring, starting with a simple change. Be very aware of the aids you are giving the horse to change from one lead to the other as you take 2 - 3 trot steps.

What you will be (should be) doing is changing the bend from the prior direction to the new direction before asking for the new lead. Note that, if you ask for the new lead before the new bend is established you will have a harder time getting the new lead. The same holds true for a flying change.

Probably what is happening is that the hard direction is going into the horse’s stiff side and you are not getting the new bend before you ask.

A horse CANNOT change behind if its butt is to the outside. You have to establish the new bend (from nose to tail) before the horse is able to change correctly.

The flying change requires bending, straightening, rebending. Work on the stiff side (the “rebending” direction) and you will get your changes.

[ToTheNines]

Lots of good advice here, and here are a couple of tips from my learner’s perspective. I have had years and years of superb trainers.

ETA: this is directed to the typical non pro hunter course, not jumpers or handy, or whether it is a correct dressage change. I have never been penalized for a front to back change (as long as it is not a late change).

Straightness above all else! Before, during and after the jump. Then the change.

Lose all internal hope that you are going to land on the lead. IMO, the typical amateur who tries to land the lead, or even subconsciously thinks about it, is going to lose straightness. If you are straight, you may or may not get the lead you want, but you will land prepared to get a good change. The worst thing is landing on the inside shoulder.

The pieces for a lead change are the same for all horses, but for some riders or horses or horse/rider combination, one piece is more difficult for you or the horse than others. Or one piece may be more difficult L-R than R-L or vice versa. For my long horse, I need to think about his shape (bend) more. For my shorter horse, it’s not letting him slow down into it. For my forehanded horse, it’s not letting his butt get light and swingy. Find a trainer who can help you from the ground with the proper elements as well as any weak pieces.

Thought of another one…don’t let her sucker you into a false offer I have one that will do this. Yeah Mom, let’s change now! Then he only changes in front because we were not really ready. And if you don’t get the change behind, do not trot! If you can’t get it fixed out of the second corner of the short side, just make her jump the next jump off the cross canter. Mine hates that and if I make him cross canter a jump, he is likely to help a bit more next time! Most horses do not want to be unbalanced!

[fourfillies]

My guy is very much like RugBug’s easy change off any pace one direction. Adding pace to the sticky direction only made it harder for me to get the timing down. Once we started to turn the corner (and he got on his inside shoulder) we were cooked. Old trainer considered it a pace issue and we never got that change better than 50/50. Switched trainers and stopped even trying for 6 weeks, halted in every corner. Worked on collection and impulsion. Restarted the changes with a “pause” button before the corner. The mental 1/4 second was enough to stop panicking about “getting the change” and focus on the timing and bend off a bouncy canter. Once I figured it out the “issue” was gone.

[Ponyclubrocks]

If I think about the steps as I ride I tend to have my horse set up correctly and get a clean change. These are the steps I go through (They actually occur more quickly and fluidly than it sounds in written form).

Lets say I am on the left lead then head across the diagonal to change to a right lead in the far corner. As I approach the corner (but before I get there) I think “establish my new outside hand” which means I apply my right leg at the girth to push my horse into my left hand. Then I think "establish new bend which means a do a little give take with my right hand, more of a squeeze or a pulse than a pull. Then as we approach the corner my left leg moves behind the girth but doesn’t ask yet, just signals lightly that I’m going to ask, then I ask just before or at the turn by applying the left leg that has remained in position behind the girth. My trainer added the step of bringing my leg back but not asking immediately to reduce the incidence of my horse over reacting or “jumping” into the change. I think before that I set him up then kind of goosed him with my leg and he would over react. A less sensitive horse might not need that step.

If I start getting incomplete changes it almost always is because I am getting sloppy and skipping steps or muddling my aids. If I think through the steps and apply them clearly my horse is balanced and able to change.

Good luck!

[snaffle635]

As Ponyclub said, I like the idea of thinking in steps. A clinician boiled it down to three simple steps.

1. Slow down.
2. Move the horse’s shoulders to the outside.
3. Apply the aids.

Well darn tootin’ if that didn’t work! Honestly, I think it’s all in slowing down my own mind and thinking through (a) what I need to do and (b) what I’m feeling. If I go slowly, I can think ‘move the shoulders to the outside’, but I can also wait to feel if the shoulders are actually moved to the outside.

BTW, you’re not actually doing a shoulder-out (is that even such a thing?). You’re actually bringing the haunches a little to the inside, which is the ‘bend’ that everyone’s talking about above. I like the visual of moving the shoulders to the outside because it keeps me from pulling on my inside rein.

[Lord_Helpus]

I just came across this article in a Western magazine. Western reining horses are awesome doing lead changes so this method is probably worth trying.

http://americashorsedaily.com/horse-training-for-straight-change/#.VsJnqvkrIgs