In some cases, it's helpful to experiment with different tempos. Sometimes a decrease or increase in tempo will improve the horse's throughness and keep him straighter. Also stronger use of the rider's inside leg to demand the change can help solve the problem.
Rushing and anticipating usually originate from rider error such as improperly timed aids and poor coordination of the rider's legs, seat and hands. When the aids are not correctly timed, the horse becomes nervous and unsettled. This causes him to hasten and shorten his stride, resulting in short abrupt changes. The best correction for this error is to transition to the walk and regroup.
The rider must relax and gather his thoughts. He may then canter on again, and establish a tempo and cadence which will best allow him a better feel of the horse's stride. By improving his feel, his chances of properly timing the changes will improve. It goes without saying that riders who have not learned their flying changes on well trained schoolmasters are at a great disadvantage and, in many cases, may never acquire the feel necessary to train horses to the highest levels.
Anticipation comes from over exuberance and repeated test riding. In the case of a spirited horse, it's best never to ask for a flying change in the same place. And when performing multiple changes, ask for them out of sequence by changing the count. Ask for very little at a time. It's best not to perform the changes at the letter where they are required. For instance, if nine changes every second stride is called to be ridden on the diagonal from the right rein, ride them from the left. If 15 are required to be performed from the left rein, perform them from the right, etc. In order to counter the horse's anticipation and early change, the rider must hold the horse longer with the outside leg and keep the seat and upper body very quiet. The aids must be relaxed and soft.
Over and behind the rider's hands. Some horses tend to come over the bit when first learning the flying changes. This fault is simply corrected by going back and riding simple changes until the horse is back on the rider's aides. In some cases a horse will come high in his head carriage when learning the multiple changes. This causes a tightening of his back muscles, which in turn gives his back better support to absorb the upward thrusts caused by the repeated changes. The rider should not attempt to correct this indiscretion. It will sort itself out when the multiple changes gain maturity.
A horse sneaks behind the rider's hands when he lacks impulsion or when the rider fails to give at the end of the third canter beat. In the case of the former the rider must ride forward with increased energy. In the case of the latter the rider must lighten the contact with the horse's mouth and give with the hands as the change comes through.
John Winnett has represented the United States in both show jumping and dressage at World Championships and Olympic Games. After a long competitive career he retired from international compertition in 2000. He resides in Wellington, Fla., where he trains and instructs with his wife, Roanne.
Read John Winnett's full article on teaching flying changes in the October 2007 issue of Dressage Today magazine.
