Explain to me about lead changes..please

[spook1]

Hi All
I was wondering if someone could explain the easiest way to ask for a lead change and when going from a trot to the canter. So.....

If I am trotting and want to pick up the left lead do I press with the right leg at the girth and "push" with my left...? or am I backwards....
I can not keep it streght in my head...:eek:
Thanks!

[slc2]

left lead. You're circling counter clockwise, or 'to the left'. Right leg back, left leg at the girth. Right lead. You're circling clockwise, or 'to the right'. Left leg back, right leg at the girth.

To remember, our teacher had us lie on the floor on our stomachs, with our knees on the floor and feet up in the air. Tip your head to the right, pull your left leg back. Tip your head to the left, put your right leg back. Do it over and over.

What's the easy way to remember it? The 'outside' leg is the one you put back further. You always put the leg back that's on the outside of the circle, if on the rail, the rail is the 'outside', you put further back the leg closer to the track, the rail, etc.

[Equa]

Initially, the outside leg is the defining aid for canter is because you want to activate the horse's outside hind as it is the first leg to start the sequence of the canter stride.

Eventually, you find that your horse will pick up canter as you step into your inside stirrup and push the inside seat bone a little more forward and heavier, and change the rhythm of your seat from trot to canter - the outside leg becomes just a reminder.

[slc2]

But you have to walk before you run.

[SmartAlex]

I posed this question on another topic. Should have read this one first.

My horse is beginning to mistake my inside leg to bend him around at the canter to be a cue for the opposite lead. He has NO clue about lead changes, but is now trying to invent them on his own. I guess that's not a question... How do I explain to him I want him to bend not switch? Much more inside rein? Leg more forward on his side?

But this does answer my question about the cue for canter. Good explanation.

[Valentina_32926]

"Inside" leg at girth, outside leg behind girth, slightly more weight on inside seat bone.

make sure not to hold the inside rein while being certain to maintain contact (steady connection) on outside rein.

[WindsongEq]

Hi All
I was wondering if someone could explain the easiest way to ask for a lead change and when going from a trot to the canter. So.....

If I am trotting and want to pick up the left lead do I press with the right leg at the girth and "push" with my left...? or am I backwards....
I can not keep it streght in my head...:eek:
Thanks!

I think from your post you are asking not for a lead change, but a canter depart on a particular lead. (you are right you are backwards)
If you are trotting and want to pick up the left lead, you put your inside leg (left) at the girth, and your outer leg (right) behind the girth.
Also, it is easier for the horse to ask for the canter depart from the trot on a circle, rather than when going straight ahead.
If your horse still picks up the wrong lead you must give us a better description of the pattern you are riding and which way he is bent.

[goeslikestink]

I think from your post you are asking not for a lead change, but a canter depart on a particular lead. (you are right you are backwards)
If you are trotting and want to pick up the left lead, you put your inside leg (left) at the girth, and your outer leg (right) behind the girth.
Also, it is easier for the horse to ask for the canter depart from the trot on a circle, rather than when going straight ahead.
If your horse still picks up the wrong lead you must give us a better description of the pattern you are riding and which way he is bent.

tend to agree but i would say its a lot easier if you was riding in a square arena and ask at a corner-- then you can go a few steps of canter straight and balanced and not at angle whereby makes you unsure or unsecure in your seat

[spook1]

Hi
Thank you guys so much! I knew I didn't understand what I thought I was told...lol:lol: Your right I was asking for the lead depature not a flying change. I have a 160x 75 arena and I do use the corners which helps. My poor horse...he was right in spite of me given the wrong cues...:eek: Such a good boy!
Thanks again!

[smithywess]

Is your horse supple,balanced,straight and with a desire to move forward at walk and trot? Are you able to change his balance at these gaits and obtain some collection? Nothing much good happens in canter unless the trot and particularly the walk are good.Is he able to counter bend in these two gaits?So many questions.

[angtomczak]

So glad this question is up.....

So which leg do you kick with? And what do you do with your hands/reins?

I don't know if it matters, but I ride western.

[SmartAlex]

"Inside" leg at girth, outside leg behind girth, slightly more weight on inside seat bone.

I just got back from riding. This helped tremendously.

[WindsongEq]

So glad this question is up.....

So which leg do you kick with? And what do you do with your hands/reins?

I don't know if it matters, but I ride western.
It doesn't matter that you ride western as the aids are universal for the lower levels of all horse sports, I showed Western for many years as a kid, it is always inside leg at the girth, outer leg behind the girth. The inside leg is the one on the inside of the direction you are circling. Keep your hands/reins quiet while just learning how to ask for canter departs on a particular lead. You do not kick... you can cue with your inner leg for a horse that doesn't tend to bend, you can cue with a small squeeze of the calf on your outer leg if he tends to drift out. For kids on small ponies, then can even cue with a small squeeze of both calves temporarily until their legs are longer. On a finished western pleasure or dressage horse, just pushing the inner seat bone forward with the legs placed as above will give a lovely canter depart on a chosen lead.

[NRB]

Glad I am not the only one Windsong. I ask with a touch of weight on my inside seat bone. On a green horse (or with a green rider on my horse) I'd ask with outside leg behind the girth, inside on the girth as mentioned above.

[SmartAlex]

I actually use my outside seatbone in conjunction with my outside leg behind the girth. I often feel I'm going to get left behind, but if I trust my horse he takes care of things. I'll have to think about this next ride, but I don't think I am using my inside seatbone.

I'm starting to wonder just how confused my horse will be if another person ever rides him. He is five and I acquired him as a two yr old greenie who knew walk/trot/whoa. Sometimes I have to stop and think about how I really am cueing him. Like any strong relationship, so much communication is subconscious.

[angtomczak]

I sure hope no one is watching me in my office chair practicing leg and seatbone pressure while reciting left, right, left, right!! :D:lol::winkgrin:

I think I'll practice cueing with both legs first and see how that goes.

[SmartAlex]

HA!

[Valentina_32926]

I just got back from riding. This helped tremendously.
Glad I could help :)

[spook1]

Hi Guys
Thanks again! made a BIG difference...my guy was very happy with me:D

[goeslikestink]

read this to by me somewhere i say how to do the half halt stride
http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=117959&highlight=half+halts+stride