First flying change!

Once again the Danish trainer Jimmi Sørensen is here, and I have booked three lessons with him.

He came 10 minutes early, so I got a bit stressed as I felt I hadn't had enough time to warm up Fame, but we just went ahead with some supplying work.





I asked Jimmi if he could help me with my walk piroutttes, and he asked if he could sit up and feel a bit on Fame first, which I of course agreed to.

Here Jimmi and Fame are doing some walk piouettes.

While he was sitting on her, I asked him if he could try some flying changes on her as well.

Riding flying changes requires feel and timing, and I feel so rusty as I haven't done them for 6-7 years.
I haven't tried since last time a couple of weeks ago.
I feel Fame is ready for it though.
And Jimmi and Fame did som nice flying changes. Three or four off actually.
I was proud of my horse. Jimmi liked her too.

If you ride your flying change by shifting the direction (like you do on a show jumper), most horses finds that logical.
But in dressage, the horse is not to change on a change of direction; that is why we learn them counter canter. They are to change on the aid, and the change is to be straight, balanced and uphill. A bit more difficult for the horse to understand.
In the beginning you just want them to change on the aid, and to make a correct change (not change one stride afterwards with the hindlegs).

Then it was my turn.
Here we go.


We first started out to get a good, collected canter.
Then Jimmi wanted us to change on a soft serpentine along the longside.
Didn't work out too good, Fame got a bit strong and rushed off.
So we changed tactics and took a short diagonal instead - and we made it!!
A clear change, and a good one too! Yippeee!!


I am patting Fame's neck off right after the change.

Treat time. She had earned that one!