How NOT do ride a flying change, plus a few more

I had a very spur of the moment lesson today, after going to watch my coach work a couple of her own horses, she offered to pop over and give me a lesson.

There has been so much change in this horse of late, in the last few weeks he's really clicked on working with an active hind leg, lengthening his neck and softening through the poll and jaw. I can't even begin to describe what a relief it is to no longer have a constant battle of holding him together. He's FINALLY released throughout his body and I can now push through the little niggly blocks as they arise.

As the title suggests, I'd better start with the 'interesting' flying changes We haven't dabbled with them for a long time, and decided to throw one in when the moment felt right. We got a lot of air time - unfortunately just under the wrong set of limbs Change was still clean though!






Big pats - clean change despite the acrobatics!



And a few others


Lift off!


Counter canter getting stronger and much more adjustable

And, woohoo ;) Playing with half steps. Just aiming to get a reaction from the hind legs to the aid at this point, which is happening quite nicely! Obviously a lot of tension through the neck, but the hind legs is what I'm focussing on right now.

You make it look so easy! Your leg position is divine.

LOL omg butt lift off! :P Thanks for sharing these! I'm happy you got those flying changes down, though! :) Brave!

Hahaha, hilarious! I'm so jealous of your equine opportunities. I'd love to have them! Haha.

You guys look great! What a gorgeous bay!

Haha gotta love that air time!! That was happening to me on lead changes a while back! I figured I was going a little too slow through the changes and he would become suspended for a second then switch......bounce!! I just sat there through about five of em!!! The last one had more speed......and it was smooth! I wish someone would've got me during those Kodak moments!!!

I like that you post pics! He looks really nice!

Haha ricci trust me the opportunities haven't been handed to me on a silver platter ;) And he is certainly not an easy horse, it's been a lot of work!

"bucking changes" are good fun
Spighi just needs to learn that he can't panic and run through my hand into the change, so we spent a lot of time coming across the centre line, preparing the change and then halting, halt-canter the other direction and repeat on the new rein. The canter certainly improved for it, maaaan it comes uphill when he's really through, getting that true powerhouse feeling for longer periods now, it's great.

I've got a few comps coming up now, I wasn't going to enter but he's been going so well that I thought I might give him a run at the elementary C and D tests, bit of travers, renvers, picking up counter canter on the CL and long side etc. He's got all the movements and the work, I just haven't strung them together yet so it could be 'fun'!

Yes the challenge is stringing it all together! A friend of mine who shows and trains at futurity level told me to try running a whole pattern.....what a gong show! I can do all the maneuvers individually well, and sometimes string them together ok......but to complete a whole pattern correctly and flawlessly......challenging! But who doesn't like a challenge?