Flying Changes Problem- Cross cantering. I need a solution!?

Question

Flying Changes Problem- Cross cantering. I need a solution!?

Answer 1

Your horse is dropping his shoulder and not starting the lead change from the back and following threw to the front. work more on your counter-canter and suppleness work on your horses poll, neck, jaw, shoulders, ribs and hip. you should be able to move any part of your horses body to be able to help your horse lift and suspend for a proper change.

Answer 2

It will not become a habit. Very few things become habits with horses. This is just the result of something else and that's why you have to find what that something else is.



So...



Horses will cross canter if they are either not developed evenly (which I don't think is his case since he has done so many). OR if they were not balanced going into the change. So make sure he is balanced before asking for the change. We tend to get a little sloppy when we do something several times so make sure he is balanced.



Other thank that is sounds like you are training him beautifully.

Answer 3

maybe give him a break from it and do something fun with him for a day then try it again he could just be tired of doing the same thing and needs to loosen up. Take him on a trail or set up something he likes like jumping, barrels,the beach or a dam or if hes a lazy horse trail him. then try him again the next day.

hope this helps : )

Answer 4

I know you probably know most of this, however, I think you may benefit from going over this information again. I wrote this up for one user on here asking a question about Flying Lead Changes and it covers a lot of good information. I hope you enjoy!



First of all a horse should be picking up the correct and counter lead when asked 100% of the time and should be able to perform simple lead changes before even attempting a flying lead change. Sure, you might get lucky and accomplish it, but it will be far from correct. Anyway, the horse and rider should be balanced at the walk, trot, canter and should have mastered basic to advanced body control. When I say this I mean the horse willingly moves his shoulders, ribs, and hips. He should also understand vertical and lateral flexion as well as how to bend his body. Not to mention must grasp the concept of rounding the back and driving underneath themselves with the hindquarters (aka collection). Sound simple? Think again for this is merely the foundation that equestrians use to build a flawless flying or interrupted lead change.



You must also understand the rhythm of a canter. The correct execution of his gait is three beats. Next time you watch a horse canter or lope, take a close look at how his legs move. When transitioning into the canter going to the left the horse first strikes off with the right hind hoof, then the left hind and the right fore move in unison, and lastly the left fore finishes the stride (and this is your left lead). When going to the right the horse's left hind hoof begins the stride, followed by the right hind and left fore moving in unison, then lastly the right fore finishing the stride (hence your right read). So in reality the canter starts in the hindquarters then finishes with your correct lead.



Make sense?



Before you can think about a flying lead change you must understand the biomechanics of the horse and what it takes to reach that level of performance. Without this you will find your horse picking up wrong leads, cross-cantering, and not picking up the leads correctly on all four legs. I could continue rambling on, but it's getting late so I'm afraid I'm going to sum up leads in a nut shell.



It's all about hip control. Think back on how all of your canter departures start on that hind left or right hoof. If I shift my horse's hip to the left and squeeze my right leg he is prepared to pick up the left lead. If I shift my horse's hip to the right and squeeze with the left leg he is prepared to pick up the right lead. When you squeeze your leg against the side you are not just asking for impulsion to the canter. You are actually asking for your horse to tilt his hip towards the inside of the arena AND then DRIVE that outside hind to pick up the inside lead.



If you horse is cross-cantering it's because more than likely he switched in the front but not in the hindquarters. So although you may of asked him to swing his hindquarters in, he may of gotten lazy and tried to avoid it. So start working on getting him to bend his hip to the inside and outside of the circle. He should nail those flying lead changes because you're setting his body up to change at the same time.



Remember don't get in a rush, or else you'll skip steps. Training horses and riders is like building a house... first you have to pour the cement and lay a foundation before you can start building up to the more complex stuff.

Answer 5

Hmm... What I do is when he gets his front and not his back, I squeeze on my outside rein when we go around the corner. He usually switches it. It's a little out of sync, but he normally gets it after a couple tries.

Answer 6

I had this exact problem. Wat I did was only do two a day. One each way. But if he doesn't get it all the way trot pick up the canter. And do it again until he gets it completely. When he gets it both ways just stop. And finish on a good note.

Answer 7

one more thing. don't do simple lead changes, especially when training you reiner. it confuses them, and encourages cross cantering. all a lead change is, is a lead departure in mid air.



Instead, counter canter, and then change leads going in the same direction, at X. never ask for a lead change in a figure eight, or a change of direction. then they will anticipate the change of direction. that can make the center a touchy spot for you. Like this: depart on a counter canter, at X and continue around your circle. When you hit X again, change his nose, then bring his hip over. when he changes, bring him immediately down to a walk. walk around the circle and do it again. only do it about 5 times.



I do only about 2-5 (depending on the colt) lead changes a day, otherwise the horse gets sick of it. 15 is way. too. many. i would lay off it for a couple of days and work on your lateral movements, like haunches in, or spins.



Never reprimand the horse within the lead change maneuver. If he cross canters, bring him down to a trot and hold some haunches in for about a quarter of a circle. Move his rib cage around. that will pick up his shoulder, and will allow you to control it during the change. Try it again. If he still cross canters, bring him down again and move his hip around some more.



Another good exercise is to back figure eights. when you can to this flawlessly, you should have a darn good chance of getting your lead changes everytime.