Having a lot of fun watching these lead change lessons. One question some-one might help with. I was originally taught English and emphasis was put on diagonal aids for canter, so the outside leg had to be "behind the girth".
I now ride Western.... when Monty talks about using the outside leg (ie opposite leg to the lead you are on) he does not mention specific leg position - just using that leg to shorten the side opposite to the lead.
Is leg position critical or not ? When I watch the videos of Clint he does not appear to shift his outside leg back, although he does seem to make a definite move to "open" the (new) inside leg when asking for the change.
The flying lead change lessons take a moment for Monty to show the extended shaft of his spurs which are rubber coated. The point being his ability to cue the horse with a minimum of movement vs having to use your heal which would require alot of angle change and bend it looks like. I have never used spurs, my experience with riding was basically in just field and light trail riding. But for the first time I can see them as a justifiable tool and not an instrument of pain. Irish
talking about lead change and the right lead.
well my horse will not chage leads at all,she stays on the same lead going left or right.ridden on the lunge or just cantering in the field.is this normal.
i've tried everything even got a friend to have a try still no joy....
anitagrace.
p.s........help needed........
Hi Jules and Anita
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I have just been to a Reining Clinic this weekend, and we were working on Lead Changes and setting up for Lead Departures.
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This is one task my Ranger finds a bit of a challenge. He likes being on his right lead.
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According to the Instructor for the weekend, there are 3 spur positions on the horse that move different parts of the horse's body.
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These are:
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1. Position 1 - Right behind the girth
= moves the horse's shoulders
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2. Position 2 - Back slightly from the girth in the ribs
= moves the horse's rib cage and ques to side pass
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3. Position 3 - Back a bit further from Position 2
= moves the hind quarters
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In order to take up the LEFT LEAD, the rider should have his or her leg queing in Position 3 on the RIGHT side of the horse in order to move the hind quarters over to the left which makes the left front leg stride out further making it easier for the horse to take up the LEFT LEAD when asked. And vice versa for the right lead.
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When you are first training your horse, you exagerate the distance between the positions so that the horse understands that each que is different. As you both get more experienced, you can be more subtle. That's what the Instrictor told us, and its what I have been doing and have found that it works.
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Its important to release the pressure as soon as the horse takes up the correct lead and also to stop and correct him immediately if he doesn't. Don't keep jabbing him in the side. He needs to know that taking up the correct lead gets the spur away from him.
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For the horse that won't change leads, Ranger and I have a bit of trouble with this. This is the second Reining Clinic I have been to and at both clinics we worked on the Counter Canter, which is cantering or loping in a circle on the incorrect lead.
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If you are cantering to the LEFT on the RIGHT Lead, you can give your horse a que to move the hind quarters over to the right, to facilitate the change from the left to the right lead. Ranger and I have struggled with this for some time, but on the weekend he actually did a flying lead change! I was so excited. We stopped and had a nice rest then.
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I think its best to see if you can find someone to come over and give you a hand and tell you what to do while you are in the saddle if you are finding this concept a bit confusing.
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I think I have explained this correctly... If not, anyone out there can feel free to correct me :-)
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All you can do is practice :-) I took Ranger to his first Reining Clinic nearly 18 months ago, and it has taken us this long to have the small win we had on the weekend with lead changes. So it can take time :-)
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Hope it all works out well for you both.
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Kind regards,
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Gen