Lead change BOUNCE!

Ya! I've been tempted to spank him, but I know I'm doing something wrong, and yesterday I just sat there, slid my outside leg back and kissed to him and got a nice change.......and yes, I'm finding he slows ride down to change and he nearlly becomes stationary for a second or two sometimes then switches leads.....so I've been tricking him by throwing in a lead change on the sly so that he is moving forward a bit better and not anticipating....I guess I have to be thankful he's not rushing or diving int it!!!

It's really hard to sit there all calm through crow hops of your own creation!!!!

I agree, don't get onto him for it. If I ask Selena in the wrong stride or the wrong moment she will try and change really fast to respond to me and it ends up as a hop. I'd have someone as the extra set of eyes tell you when to cue it.

Thank you! I'm glad I'm not alone!!!!

Don't get after him. You will get him to start fearing a lead change.

It is hard to tell without seeing him but I would try this:

1) Stop changing across the center of the arena. You may need practice changing, but he does not need practice changing 'there'.

2) More collection. Drive him into the bit a little more. Sit back, drive him forward and 'bump' the bit if he speeds up.

3) Use a little outside leg to get a little reverse bend before a change. Then, your cue can be removing the leg as opposed to applying the new leg.

4) Do a change or two every ride from a counter canter on a big circle and lose the changes done across the arena.

5) When I am coaching someone, I have then go across the arena, change direction but not the lead until they are at least half way around the new circle in a counter canter. If a horse anticipate that change. I won't let them change then. I'll have them change the circle and direction again (keeping the same old lead) and come out of the corner and go diagonally to the opposite corner and change somewhere when the horse is collected and relaxed. The ask by applying the leg lightly that would ask for reverse bend and change with a soft cluck when the leg is taken off. You can avoid most of the 'tail swish' and most horses quit hopping or coming up behind with a change.

If you do not figure it out, just quit doing changes until you have knowledgeable eyes on the ground and good coach. Practicing bad changes really foul up good ones. Usually it is just 'over-riding' and 'under-collection'.

I'm so glad Rosie is naturally leaded, I don't have to worry about strides or anything, she just gets it:P

Sassy, Playboy and Dusty however......-.-
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Thank you so much! The reverse bend and removing the leg makes a ton of sense! Ya I'm definitely over riding him, I guess I'm just a micro manager!!! About three out of ten changes are the bounce type! Yes I have a friend coming (the girl who trained and showed him.....she won a couple of classes on him) out to ride with me in the next week, she always gets after me, so it will be good for me!!!! Thanks for that good explanation!!! I appreciate it!
(I never did get after him, because I knew it was me, not him!!)