Anticipating Flying Lead Changes

Q.  I recently bought a gelding that has been shown a bit in western riding, although he was not completely “finished” in this event.  My problem is that he seems to be a little too eager to do flying changes.  He wants to do them before he’s asked and even when I don’t want him to change leads at all!

A.  Anticipation is common in horses because they are creatures that learn by repetition.  Your horse will likely need to have a part of his training foundation rebuilt but first you will have to pinpoint why the problem has occurred and then tackle it from there.

I have found horses anticipate for basically two reasons.  Often a horse will learn a skill or a maneuver without completely understanding it.  I call this being “trick trained.”  It’s like the person who learns to play a song on the piano by memory, but doesn’t know the music theory behind it – scales, chords and notes.

For your horse, it’s possible he knows the “how” but doesn’t understand the “why” or “when” so he doesn’t really listen to your aids and throws in a flying change when it’s not called for.  We also see this when showmanship horses set up automatically but have no understanding of how to move each foot individually, in response to the handler’s cue.  Or the trail horse that learns to negotiate the gate on auto pilot without waiting for the rider to move the hips, shoulders, etc. step by step.  When these horses have their routines upset, (i.e. the horse is required to back through the gate or the gate is used as a part of another obstacle) it creates anxiety.

Another reason horses anticipate is they associate the skill or maneuver with pain or surprise.  The horse that rushes over a jump doesn’t do so because of the love of jumping but more likely because he has been bumped in the mouth by unsteady hands or scared by another mistake.  Often riders assist their horses to change leads by an abrupt change of direction, spur or by throwing their weight over toward the new lead.

How can you go about rebuilding his foundation? Here are some suggestions.

MIX IT UP  .Often horses associate a lead change with a certain location.  Perhaps coming across the middle, in a corner or in between two pylons.  In this case they’re taking the situation (the trail gate, the inspection in front of the judge) not the rider’s aids, as their cue.  Do lots of counter cantering, circles and leg yields at the canter and throw in a flying change every now and then.

BE CLEAR.  It’s important that you’re very specific in the position of your legs.  Your outside leg will be behind the girth and your inside leg will be farther forward in order to remain on the lead.  If your signal is unclear, your horse will be guessing.  If your signal is abrupt your horse will get scared.  The moment my horse does the change I will soften my body.  This exhaling communicates “yes” to the horse.

WATCH FOR WARNING SIGNS.  If your horse starts to raise his head or his stride starts to get light and hoppy, he is thinking about changing leads without being asked.  Don’t let him change when it’s his idea.  Just confirm the lead you’re on with your outside leg back and change when he’s settled.

As flying changes become less of a big deal, and as your horse becomes really confident in the meaning of your aids, your flying changes should happen when and where you want them!

Q.  Do you think riders should use draw reins and martingales?

A.  Draw reins, martingales, spurs, crops, etc. are artificial aids.  Their purpose is to reinforce the rider’s natural aids.  They have their place providing several things are in order first.

The horse should have a good understanding of the rider’s language.  If you don’t understand Russian and someone yells at you in that language it will either scare you or annoy you, but you won’t do what they say.  Similarly, draw reins, a bigger bit and spurs are meant to amplify signals that your horse already understands.

The rider should be experienced.  Seasoned riders differ from novices in the timing and intensity of their cues.  They know when to say “yes” and when to say “no”.  They know the adequate degree of pressure to use to get the desired result.  In an inexperienced rider’s hands draw reins, martingales, etc are likely to either make the horse dull and apathetic, or trapped and afraid.  This will happen if a rider keeps constant pressure as a preventative measure, holding the horse’s head in place, and neglecting to provide instant freedom when the horse does yield to the bit.

© Copyright 2006 Lindsay Grice.  All rights reserved.