In previous articles we looked at the process of schooling a horse in order to have a horse that is supple, forward-going and light on the leg and rein. We also looked at collection and the more complicated movements that can be performed during collection. In this, the last of this series of articles, we will be looking at the flying change.

The flying change is not strictly a dressage movement, but is useful and even essential in almost any discipline. It is also not one to be performed during collection only. The only reason I have left it until last, is that it can be quite challenging. If the horse is not well-balanced and able to carry himself and strike off at the canter confidently on the required leg without wavering, there is no point in trying to teach him to do a flying change.

It is also much easier to teach the horse to perform a flying change correctly, if he is already capable of performing a half-pass at the canter.

Flying change

Most horses when free, in play or in fleeing, will perform flying changes automatically as they change direction. However, with a rider on their backs, they will often pretend not to have ever heard about any such thing. Others again, may require hardly any teaching, knowing what to do almost instinctively – those are the exceptions though, but wonderful exceptions they are!

There are many ways of teaching a horse to do a flying change, but not all are equally effective. There is the technique of placing a pole on the ground and cantering over it. At the pole, give the horse the canter aid (inside leg on the girth and outside leg behind the girth) to canter on the other leg. Many horses will change quite easily in this way, but may not do it so readily when the pole is removed.

Another technique is to ride a figure of eight, doing a simple change in the middle. Gradually reduce the amount of trot or walk steps in the middle, until the canter on the other leg is virtually immediate.

This may have the problem though, that the horse still ‘thinks trot or walk’ and will not do a true flying change, but rather an almost imperceptible break before he changes. The horse will also anticipate the change and not be truly responding to the rider’s aids.

Perhaps the best way is to first look at the mechanics of a flying change. In his book, The Art of Riding, Baron Hans Von Blixen-Finecke says: "The horse changes the lead by a hopping action with the inside legs, behind first and then in front. These inside legs are gaining less ground while the outside ones pass them, reaching out into the new lead."

"To teach a young horse the flying change, I normally use the corner-line (A or C to B or E in a dressage arena), approaching the long side at half pass and giving the aids – quite strongly to begin with – just before arriving at the track.

"It is wise to have a long dressage whip to support the outside leg, and you should allow the horse to lengthen the stride after the change. If you ask for a more collected canter, chances are that the change will be crooked and the quarters will swing.

"Done in the fashion I suggest, you will make the horse cover ground, and there is a wall [or a fence] to assist you on the outside. It can be difficult sometimes to feel whether the horse changes in one or two strides; and it is helpful therefore, to have somebody with a trained eye to watch you from the ground."

"Nearly all horses change, if you use this method, the very first time you try. You take them by surprise, I suppose. You will probably find to your disappointment, as I have repeatedly done, that the next day they will not change. This is, in my experience, normal procedure and nothing to worry about."

If a horse is not supple or balanced enough, he may change only in the front, or at the very least change in two stages – first the front and then the back. Again, do not worry about it too much, but do not carry on and on when this is the case, and do not punish the horse. Go back to basics and try again a week or so later.

As we have seen, one should allow for some lengthening of stride, but some horses tend to become very strong and speed up; some may even try to bolt when asked for a flying change. This could also indicate that the horse may not be quite ready for this exercise.

No force necessary

With time, patience and determination, a horse will eventually be able to perform a flying change correctly. When he does, be quick to praise him, as this will help him to understand when he has done it correctly and be eager to do it again.

"It takes quite a long time, months at least, before single flying changes are established to the point that you can enjoy them anywhere and whenever you feel like it. But it is great fun and well worth the effort." From that point on, it won’t be too long before you can start changing on a straight line and eventually even attempt two-time changes.

I hope that with this series of articles on schooling, many of you have now realised the value of schooling and the importance of a well-balanced, supple and responsive horse in each and every discipline you may be engaged in and that some of the "mystery" has been removed from those movements that seem to be at the grasp of only the most highly schooled and trained horses.

Just remember: The higher the level of schooling, the more finely-tuned the relationship between horse and rider, and the greater the physical capabilities of the horse. Nevertheless, schooling should be kept fun for both horse and rider, never a forceful or bullying process – like the Baron reminds us: "Where art ends force begins".