POSITIONING - for the purpose of a flying change
(displayed on both a young and experienced horse)
Riding a flying change requires precise positioning and timing from the rider to cue the horse effectively.
Positioning for the flying change:
🐴 Balanced Seat: Sit centred, maintain body control and follow the horses movement.
🐴 Inside Leg at the Girth: Keep your inside leg (the leg on the side of the lead you’re changing from) at the girth to maintain forward momentum.
🐴 Outside Leg Behind the Girth: Move your outside leg (the leg on the side of the lead you’re changing to) slightly behind the girth to cue the change.
🐴 Light Rein Contact: Maintain light contact with both reins, guiding the horse’s head slightly toward the new lead.
🐴 Look Forward: Keep your eyes and body facing forward, staying balanced and focused on the direction of travel.
Timing for the flying change:
🐴 Moment of Suspension: This is when the horse’s feet are off the ground, and it is in the air. This moment is ideal for making the lead change because the horse is in a balanced position, making it easier to switch leads smoothly.
🐴 Straightness and Balance: Ensure the horse is straight and balanced in the canter before asking for the change. The horse should be on the correct bend and engaged through the hindquarters.
🐴 Prepare with a Half-Halt: Use a half-halt to re-balance and prepare the horse just before the moment of suspension. This helps to engage the hindquarters and set up for the change.
🐴 Maintain Forward Momentum: Ensure the horse maintains forward energy and is not slowing down or losing impulsion before the change.
By following these positioning basics and practicing regularly, you and your horse can achieve clean, balanced, and responsive flying changes.
Remember it will not look the same from one rider to another, we all have our unique way and style of riding. ☺️
TRANSITIONS - for the purpose of flying changes
(displayed on a young horse, final 2 walk to canter transitions are done on a schoolmaster)
Transitions play an important role in preparing both horse and rider for successful flying changes by improving balance, timing, engagement, and responsiveness.
How to practice transitions:
🐴 Start with Simple Transitions: Begin with basic transitions like walk-trot-walk or trot-canter-trot to establish responsiveness and balance.
🐴 Use Half-Halts: Before each transition, apply a half-halt to prepare the horse, helping it engage its hindquarters and stay balanced.
🐴 Focus on Smoothness: Aim for smooth, controlled transitions where the horse stays relaxed and maintains a steady rhythm.
🐴 Vary the Transitions: Practice transitions within and between gaits, such as moving from collected to extended trot or canter, and back, to improve the horse’s adjustability.
🐴 Incorporate Transitions into Patterns: Use transitions during exercises like circles, serpentines, or figures of eight to help the horse stay focused and balanced.
🐴 Use Poles or Markers: Set up poles or markers in the arena to practice transitions at specific points, improving timing and precision.
🐴 Gradually Increase Difficulty: As the horse becomes more responsive, introduce more challenging transitions, like canter-walk-canter, to build strength and engagement.
Overall, transitions are foundational exercises that build the strength, control, and communication necessary for successful flying changes.
Have fun with them! ☺️
LEG YIELDING - for the purpose of flying changes
(displayed on a schoolmaster)
Leg yielding plays an important role in preparing a horse for flying changes by developing the horse’s balance, responsiveness, and ability to shift weight between its hind legs.
How to perform the leg yield:
🐴 Start with a Straight Line: Begin on a straight track, such as along the wall or on a diagonal line across the arena.
🐴 Apply Inside Leg: Use your inside leg (slightly behind the girth) to ask the horse to move sideways while maintaining forward momentum. The horse should move away from the pressure of your inside leg.
🐴 Maintain Soft Outside Rein: Keep light contact with the outside rein to control the horse’s shoulder and prevent over-bending.
🐴 Slight Flexion to the Inside: Use the inside rein gently to create a slight flexion in the horse’s neck toward the direction you’re moving away from (the opposite of the leg you’re using).
🐴 Stay Balanced: Keep your weight centered in the saddle, with your shoulders parallel to the horse’s shoulders.
🐴 Forward and Sideways Movement: Ensure the horse moves both forward and sideways, with the inside legs crossing in front of the outside legs.
🐴 Keep a Steady Rhythm: Maintain a consistent pace and rhythm, ensuring the horse stays relaxed and balanced throughout the movement.
🐴 Practice Both Directions: Work on leg yielding in both directions to develop even suppleness and responsiveness.
How you can apply it to your training:
🐴 Leg Yield Before the Change: You can use leg yielding in your schooling sessions before asking for a flying change. For example, if you’re preparing for a right-to-left flying change, leg yield slightly to the right to engage the horse’s left hind leg, then ask for the change.
🐴 Transition Exercises: Incorporate leg yielding into transition exercises, such as trot-canter-trot transitions, to reinforce the connection between the leg yield and the
FLYING CHANGES - INTRO (YOUNG HORSE)
Aiming to give you raw footage. This demo was done on a green 5yr old with well established basics. It was his first time through a flying change, so this is what it can look like.
I will follow up with 3 videos explaining:
🐴 Leg yielding
🐴 Transitions
🐴 Positioning
Enjoy ☺️
Would love to hear any feedback 👍
GIVEAWAY!!
You could WIN a Performance Package for you and your horse!
1.2kg of HHIO Performance Minerals and as an introduction to RideFit, a 4 Week Performance Coaching Package; which includes:
🐴 Rider analysis and discussion (video or in person)
🐴 4 week personalised rider training programme (in and out of the saddle)
🐴 Weekly check in’s over the 4 weeks
To enter, you must:
👍 Like and Follow @healthyhorsesinsideout on FB and Instagram
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Jump on in!
Winner will be drawn on the 31st of July! 🙌
