Flying Changes Memories!

Ask a high level Dressage person for help:

-I went to a high level Dressage Master clinic and watched 30 minute individual lessons. During the question and answer session for the auditors, I explained I was seeking to do flying changes on my horse and wondered why the riders put their foot so far back on the side of the horse when cueing the flying change. She was stunned at my stupidity and was unable to answer.

-High Level Dressage rider in my lessons with Jenny had only done flying changes on an already trained horse. She is learning flying changes along with me in lessons. She is thrilled when it happens. She doesn’t do leg yields in her Dressage. I don’t remember which horse I had at the time.

-A Dressage Trainer. I asked her about taking me on for training with the purpose of flying lead changes. She said, “I just go through the center and it happens.” Sigh. I did not seek training lessons. Her horses are not gaited. They have suspension!

Sage

-My first MFT to ride. Jenny Vaught spent many hours training Sage for my beginning beginner self. Sage would have been highly trained with leg cues. It became time for me to do the Level 2 tasks in the original test. Sage and I cantered. I did the change directions in the circle and cued for the lead change. Sage slowed down to slow motion speed, braced her front legs and gave me a change that nearly snapped my head off. That brace went from my legs to the top of me head. Oh Wow! I didn’t leave the saddle, only my head snapped! After time was spent practicing, the snap off my head was minimal. Sage was the first fox trotter to pass Level 2!

-Years passed and Jenny used Sage for student apprentices to learn what flying changes felt like. Sage had become a valued lesson horse for beginning beginners by this time. So when the apprentices asked for the flying change, Sage snapped their heads nearly off. We laughed. We didn’t warn them either. They were apprentices, skilled horse riders. Hahaha