ASK THE EXPERTS – June 2009

Q. My horse and I are ready to show third level, but the lead change from right to left is often late behind. Do you have any suggestions for training exercises that might help fix this problem? Sincerely, Late Behind (Serina Tart, Roseboro, NC)

A. Dear Late Behind: Great question as this is a common problem. You may have heard your horse needs to be more collected. This is true; however it’s been my experience that horses with late lead changes need to be suppler on the side of the new lead to help promote better balance and collection. You must always remember that a lead change is a transition and should be ridden with the same thought of any other transition, in that the transition itself is only as good as the quality, suppleness, and balance of the gait before.

One exercise I like to use is leg yielding on the track. You can start by tracking right on the right lead. This exercise is more about bending than about angle. While cantering on the right lead down the long side you will use a gentle opening rein on the left, bending your horse left towards the track with a slight body angle towards the inside. Once you get to the corner, bend your horse back to the right through the corner and ride your short side as normal. Then continue to do the leg yield on the next long side.

Some words of caution; if you get too much angle your horse will be unable to go forward and the quality of the gait will be lost. You must always be careful to keep your left hand on the left side of your horse’s neck with a slight opening rein, do not use an indirect rein (i.e., left hand towards the right). You may have to do a few long sides before you begin to feel more suppleness on the left. Once you feel that your horse is letting go and softer on the left rein, you can turn up the next quarter line, straighten your horse, and ride him forward in an uphill balance. I like to use the quarter lines as sometimes if you are asking for a change to counter canter against the track it can be a bit confusing for the horse. Keep your whip on the right side and ask for the change, tapping your horse with the whip at the same time you use your leg as this will help to promote a quicker response. Then continue through the remainder of the short side in counter canter, cross the diagonal and do the same thing on the other side. This exercise also works great at the trot without the flying change of course. You may want to get a feel for the exercise at the trot first anyway as this will help to promote more suppleness for a better canter.

Stacey Hastings is a USDF Certified Instructor Training-4th Level; a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist; and an “L” graduate with distinction. She is based in Mooresville, NC at FinncastleFarms. Learn more at www.staceyhastingsdressage.com and www.finncastlefarms.com .