Note: this is the script for the video voice blog. Watch the video instead of reading this
I knew flying lead changes would be difficult. I cherish the difficult part of the journey dealing with my favorite horse movement in the universe. That is easy to say, but when the difficulty is real, some humans start whining. I never whine, but that is a lie. Why did I say, “Why did I ever want to do flying changes?” Why did I say, “Whose idea was it to do flying changes?” Why did I whine today? Because it was difficult. Because I couldn’t get the left to right flying change. I got several changes from right to left. Why aren’t I thrilled with that!
Fancy is trying to dominate me and be the leader. She won over me today. Erin rode her twice (before I rode and after I failed) and won the flying change game both times. Fancy’s time of the month appears to have returned, even though I’m giving her medicine to stop that cycle. The time of the month makes Fancy difficult in a “who’s the leader and dominate” kind of life horses live in.
In the world of horsemanship, which Erin told me today, It’s the little things that matter in the domination game. Everything that goes on between you and Fancy matter. She might be beating you in the little things, which leads to her huge win today. Plus, hormones are raging which matters greatly.
Lord help me! I knew the journey would be difficult and today, I got smacked with a big loss. Today was a wine bottle day based on failure while celebrating the flying lead changes I did get. Those are miraculous and due to the experience and knowledge of Erin Patterson.
FANCY’s CONDITIONS
I thought that once Fancy could do flying lead changes under Erin Patterson’s development, she would be able to do them with me as the rider. That statement is true. However, Fancy has formulated conditions for my success. Fancy loves to do flying changes, but there are rules.
“Rules?”, I mumble when Erin translates the rules from Fancy speak into Susan’s brain. When I formulated Plan A, I didn’t know there would be conditions. I thought only that getting my body balanced, leg cues given and focus would be all I had to do. Now I am starting to realize there is a Plan B. Plan B is me obeying Fancy’s conditions as translated by Erin.
Firstly, let me explain what a flying change feels like. I’m at the stage of the game where I can tell which lead my horse is going to pick up in a transition from anything to a canter.
I have FEEL! I do have feel, but not near as much as I have thought and bragged about! Ha! Here is my statement and I find it incredulous. When Fancy does a smooth flying change, I can’t feel it! What! That is just crazy. I have to sneak a look at her legs to find out which lead she is on because is so smooth, I don’t believe she has switched leads. This is crazy. This is not at all what I imagined.
Now that I have learned Fancy’s flying change conditions. It helps me to write them down.
- My body must be enthusiastic. Fancy does not give a flying lead change to a mummy, even though the mummy might be balanced. My core muscles must be enthusiastic. No, I can’t explain it.
- I can’t lean back for the switch cue. I have to be enthusiastically leaning slightly forward, sort of like how Roy Rogers and those old time cowboys rode the gallop.
- Faster is better at this stage of Plan B. Lead changes are easier for her, the faster she goes.
- Lifting the reins up in rhythm helps her.
I did get a bumpy, popping left to right lead change for my first one!
Next phase for Plan B is to discuss conditions 1 through 4 with myself, before I start asking for them and not to stop after the first flying change. I need to keep riding or ask for more flying changes, not stop and reward her for one. Fancy’s lead changes get better as she does them. Per Erin, they become magical after the first one. I can’t imagine what that will be like!
Thank you magical Erin Patterson for Plan A success! Good luck on Plan B (me) from a grateful and amazed client!
10/12/2020- During a group lesson with Erin Patterson, I accomplished Condition 1 and 2 and got a smooth flying change. Erin swelled my head with praise and stated my body did what she has been coaching it to do for the first time! I dismounted immediately as Fancy’s reward and praised her.