Flying changes without being asked
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bocelli
16 Jan 2012 20:11
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My 14 yo horse has taken to change lead without being asked lately. He does it when cantering to the left, he will change lead (a flying change) and canter to the right.
I do not ride him often because of my bad health, but his usual rider told me that he started doing this some months ago.
I rode him myself last week, and he did the same to me. We cantered to the right without problems, then when we started cantering to the left the same problem arose. At first he cantered beautifully, then after the corner he became tense and either changed lead or fell into trot. I tried riding him forward, long and low, and finally I could canter left past the corner twice, I left it at that.
My question is, can this be due to a physical problem? Or is it just a problem of training?
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Horse Hero Guru
23 Jan 2012 19:47
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Hi Bocelli
There are several reasons why your horse has started to change canter lead without being asked, particularly when the changes occur on one lead only.
As you ask, the problem may well be physical, so the first things to do are to check that the tack fits (even mature horses change shape, especially when there is a change in season, work load or diet), get specialists to check that there are no problems with your horse’s back, neck, teeth and feet (unlevel shoeing can cause a lot of problems). If all of these things are found to be alright then the next check is the rider.
Horses are very sensitive – they can feel a fly walking on their skin, so a rider who sits just slightly to one side or who puts a bit more weight in one stirrup than the other can be unwittingly giving their horse a cue to change lead. An indication that his is the problem would be to see whether he changes lead when working on the lunge, long reins or when being loose schooled?
If there is the least doubt that it may be a rider problem I suggest that you get a good instructor to watch your horse ridden and see whether he is actually doing what he is being asked (even if no-one realised he was being asked!). A good lunge lesson (have a look at the video of Joseph Murphy working on the lunge) may help.
I hope that you manage to find a solution to the problem quickly so that you can enjoy riding your horse again after your illness.
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bocelli
23 Jan 2012 21:18
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Many thanks HorseHeroGuru. I tried lungeing him this week, he did not change lead. So maybe it is a problem of the rider, I would not have worried if the problem was "me" (I guess I must be a nuisance most of the time!!) but he does it with his usual rider too.
I've arranged the vet to check him, and a good instructor to come and have a look at both of them horse and rider. I will keep you informed!
Thanks again!
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Horse Hero Guru
23 Jan 2012 22:15
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I look forward to hearing how your horse progresses
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