I have just now started to push my gelding a little faster on the pattern. At a lope, after I turn the first barrel I will break him to a trot and pick up on the left lead. When I let him go faster, he doesn't swap to his left lead until he is on the backside of the second barrel. Is there anything I can do to teach him to swap his leads at a faster speed?
Make sure you are actually CUEING him to change leads and not just leaving him to do his own thing. At this point in training he will still need guidance, you won't be able to ride him like he's a finished horse that KNOWS he needs to change leads.
Does he do lead changes the rest of the time? Can you lope nice figure eights? If not... He doesn't KNOW how to do them, and doesn't know what you want. Him switching on the backside is his own body going "Oh crap!"
I'd practice lead changes and collection off the pattern, that way when you go back to the pattern you will have a solid cue to give him so you can be like "hey buddy, new direction, gotta change your leads" without the emergency dumping onto the new lead. Because I'd also be willing to bet that the backside lead change is also the most god awful jarring thing to ride. Lol
Make sure you are actually CUEING him to change leads and not just leaving him to do his own thing. At this point in training he will still need guidance, you won't be able to ride him like he's a finished horse that KNOWS he needs to change leads.
Does he do lead changes the rest of the time? Can you lope nice figure eights? If not... He doesn't KNOW how to do them, and doesn't know what you want. Him switching on the backside is his own body going "Oh crap!"
I'd practice lead changes and collection off the pattern, that way when you go back to the pattern you will have a solid cue to give him so you can be like "hey buddy, new direction, gotta change your leads" without the emergency dumping onto the new lead. Because I'd also be willing to bet that the backside lead change is also the most god awful jarring thing to ride. Lol
Good luck!!
Thanks for replying! I definitely will have to work on the figure eights. I hadn't even thought of that!
If you've never trained a horse to do flying changes before - I STRONGLY suggest either taking lessons or having a trainer work him - or both.
A lot of naughty habits can be created when teaching flying changes. They should be done with collection, and NEVER done by dumping the horse onto his forehand .
Won't swap leads.
