What is a simple change of lead in dressage?

A simple change is a way of changing the canter lead. The two canters are punctuated by three to five clear walk steps, resulting in a change of canter lead. In essence, it’s canter – walk – canter. This movement is first required at elementary level in British Dressage dressage tests.

How do you perform a simple lead change?

A simple lead change is a lead change made through a transition down to the jog or walk and then back to the lope on the other lead. According to AQHA’s rules, there should be only one to three strides at the jog or walk before picking up the lope again.

How do you do a simple change in dressage?

This is a change of leg where the horse is brought back immediately into walk and, after approx. one horse’s length, is restarted immediately into a canter with the other leg leading. The walk steps should be clearly shown. A simple change is always through the walk.

How do you teach flying changes to dressage?

“Start with a couple of poles in the arena; one raised left to right, the other right to left. As you canter over the poles, open your hand and turn the horse in the desired direction to encourage him to change leg, first one way then the other.”

What is lead change?

A lead change refers to an animal, usually a horse, moving in a canter or gallop, changing from one lead to the other. There are two basic forms of lead change: simple and flying. When a horse is executing the correct lead, the inside front and hind legs reach farther forwards than the outside legs.

How many steps walk in a simple change?

3-5 walk steps
Taking too many walk steps (generally, a simple change is 3-5 walk steps)

How do you ask for a flying lead change?

Remaining centered in the saddle to help him maintain his balance, ask for the change: Ask for a slight right bend and use a strong left leg. This will give him the information he needs to change to the right lead. 5. Continue cantering to the end of the ring, then ride a nice transition to the walk.

When should I teach flying changes?

It’s not wise to train with the thought, I’ve got to get the changes in two months. In general though, most horses are ready to begin flying changes when they are balanced in the counter canter and can engage with good impulsion.

What is the aid for a flying change?

For a flying change from left to right: Seat: Push your right seat bone forward toward your horse’s right ear. Right leg: Close your right leg on the girth to ask your horse to go forward during the change.

How do you teach flying lead changes dressage?

Keep the aids simple. Use the same aids as you would going from walk to canter: inside leg on the girth, outside leg behind. Your inside leg produces the canter or, in this case, the change of lead. Your outside leg initiates the change and keeps your horse straight.

What should I do when I change my horse’s lead?

When we get to the wall, I change my leg pressure. I take my right leg off and put on my left leg. This helps “trip” the lead change, along with the inches-away fence. Once she’s changed to the right lead, we continue on a circle to the right.

What’s the best way to start a lead change?

To start the lead-change work, I lope a left-lead circle. When my horse is responsive, I transition my loping circle to a straight diagonal line toward about where the third cone would be in a reining pattern (about ⅔ of the way down the arena).

Do you lose patience with a lead change?

Lead changes can try your patience if you’re not in the right mindset to work on them. There’s never a time when losing patience benefits you in training a horse. Never get into a battle with your horse over a lead change. Once you scare the horse, it’s difficult to go back and undo that damage.