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Posted by pleasurequeen
Link: http://www.wingerhorses.com
on 6/11/2008, 8:53 pm, in reply to "Lead Changes"
67.150.190.100 | Message modified by user pleasurequeen 6/11/2008, 8:56 pm
are probably the worst ways of going about the changes and doing them. Doing small circles(or small counter cantering circles) going slow, using poles will only teach bad habits. At the time and in the long run... Dropping shoulders, crossfiring, up and down changes, loss of pace and stride during the change and alot of other things that make the changes incorrect, funky or not equall.
To teach lead changes you must be going foward, have complete control of thier shoulders and hip(entire body) and the horse must know how to move over laterally.
Its much easier on a horse to have PACE while changing, then going slow and trying to have the horse change.. This will result into not changing equally, sometimes hoping up and down, and then resulting later on with the horse SUCKING BACK and not going foward through the change...
First thing is, get the horse to move over laterally with shoulders and hip while going foward and giving...
You yourself look foward and keep your eyes up.. You also need to count one two, one two... Its about timing... Getting in rythym with the horse will deffinately help...
So remember, foward and over, foward and over.. While you push the horse over dont just let the horse fall sideways, or run through your hands... Make sure you keep the same pace, and when you move the horses shoulders and body over and keep them together... Then ask for a change...
DONT TEACH A HORSE TO CHANGE WHEN YOUR LEG LETS OFF!!! Bad bad bad.. Teach the horse to change when you change your legs.
Age dosent matter, training, knowledge, control is what matters.
I have two yr olds that can change leads and get through an entire western riding pattern and successfully.
Doing circles will only teach the horse how to drop its shoulder, resulting in not changing evenly...
If your horses changes both front to back, that means you are lacking pace and push... Changing back to front is okay.. but of course changing equally is the best...
Soooo NO CIRCLES, NOOO POLES...
GO foward, teach the horse how to lateral, and move its shoulders and body around while giving and going foward... 
Thats all one can say over the net when it comes to changes!!
Home of World Show and Congress Winners. AQHA/APHA Training.. www.wingerhorses.com Best in the West!
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