Sounds great! If you don't have the horse where he'll move his hip right over for you at the walk and the jog, how can you expect it to magically happen at the lope. Plus it gives you a lot of practice using the cues in slow motion and stress-free!
I like the discussion about breaking flying changes down to a walking exercise. I am in the process of learning changes with my horse and am definitely learning as much as my horse. There is a huge difference in riding a finished horse and having to teach a horse. I am going to try this exercise with my horse tomorrow. I will make a video and talk about how it works for me!
my trainer always says when i ride to always have a positive attitude and positive body postures and an open mind aswell as trust and with these riding should be easy breezy :D when i ridem, to make the horse do something that you want that is different to the horse even the slightest correction from the horse deserves a praise:) but overall this iss some good stuff:)
Would you go about this any differently for a gaited horse than for a quarter/stock type? My mare seems to favor the right lead over the left. She'll pick up both leads if i ask but i have to emphasis my que more when asking for the left lead. Any suggestions on how to correct that? She also wants to run into the canter (espically on the left lead) i've been told to just keep running her into it and eventually she'll stop, but all it's done is make her worse. Any suggestions?
@FavoriteLilFoxtrot You posted this awhile ago but if your still having problems with your mare. The first thing you need to do is Stop running her into it. It will get you an unbalanced frustrated horse.(also it should be the same on gaited horses as the mechanics are still the same. I am currently breaking a Paso Fino Stallion and he is doing well with it).
When I"m teaching a young horse his leads I set him up just as les is doing in his video,Hindquarters in, shoulder out. Then I ask for the lead softly and if I get no response. I tap him with a crop slightly behind my leg. Typically a young horse will sort of jump into the canter from there. If my horse just speeds up. I slow him down to a nice collected working trot and try again with a little harder tap. I work on several transitions in the lesson always working to get smooth transitions
Respond to this video... . At first I let my horse take whatever pace he is comfortable with at the canter. Also It is okay to keep emphasizing the correct lead at first eventually she will begin to understand what your asking. sorry it was so long. I hope it helps
Wow...this video has helped me more than any other training video! I now feel like I can get my horse in her correct lead. It makes so much sense, can't wait to try this on my 4 yr old green mare.
I just tried this method with my Thoroughbred jumper with great success. He changes from left to right very consistently but right to left has been a problem for a while. I followed your instructions and practiced first at the walk and the trot, and when I moved up to canter, he changed cleanly and without diving on his forehand and galloping off. Thank you for posting this video!
@scoohey I have had this same question before and I don't know either. However I have noticed that all men that ride reining all ride with their feet all the way up like that. And I have never seen a woman that hasn't either but I have noticed that the womans feet aren't quite all the way in compared to the mans. This needs some looking into!
@scoohey I have had this same question before and I don't know either. However I have noticed that all men that ride reining all ride with their feet all the way up like that. And I have never seen a woman that hasn't either but I have noticed that the woman's feet aren't quite all the way in compared to the mans. This needs some looking into!
@Gail419 It is a riding fault, it is more secure to put the whole foot in but not proper, and if you did this exercising tb's you take a god chance of getting hung up if you were to get spun on and dumped. plus you cant properly put your heal down. to ride balanced.
Make sure that the saddle is not pinching her shoulder. Have you tried it bareback? Have you tried it from the ground? Look at those things first so that you can start to eliminate things that might be holding her back.
i have a question, my mare will NOT move her hips over for me. it doesn't matter how long i work with her (i've worked more than 2hrs before) i dont think its stubornness i think shes confussed. i've had a professional watch me work with her and was told i was cueing correctly, how do i help her understand?
First we are not seen a want to be trainer, Les Vogt is a Hall of Fame rider, as a teacher he is 5 stars, here he teaches potential green horse and green rider how to lead change, when pro trainers work their horses they have an endless bag of tricks from the simple to the complex, this DVD is for green rider/horse.
These are not lead changes made easy. Lad changes ARE ONLY USED IN THE CANTER/LOPE. You don't need to do so many steps for lead changes. And this video has terrible picture. Thumbs DOWN!
I think you're missing the point. Babies walk before they crawl. Well horses learn basic body control before they can properly execute a CORRECT lead change. He is slowing down to a crawl to teach people the correct body control to set the horse up for success not failure.
The process is commonly know as 'exaggerate and refine' Straightness will come later once the horse understands exactly what is being asked. If you are being taught to ride a horse that already knows this, you will be taught to give a cue instead of how to teach the horse. This video is on how to teach a green horse.
@UltimateDQ Sure but a horse that has a hard time getting straight lead changes will probably have that problem no matter what, that could just be his/her weakness, or could be a rider issue. Claiming that teaching lead changes in this manner would cause straightness issues is like saying that teaching shoulder-in, traverse, and half-pass will keep your horse from trotting straight. These are simply exercises in suppleness, and body controll.
I can see what you are saying, but it's not the same as a travers. In a travers you teach the horse to respond to an aid by moving his body in a certain way. Without the aid he should trot straight. So the same with your method for teaching a flying change, you are teaching him to respond a certain way to a certain aid and using this method you are teaching him to move his hip in as he changes to your aid. You even see this in lope departures in the highest levels of reining cause it's reliable.
@UltimateDQ Absolutely right! But this trainer is not teaching his horse to just go sideways all the time, he is teaching the horse to respond to his aids as he asks, just like we would. When he is not asking the horse to move his hip over the horse goes straight No he probably won't put as much time into making the lead changes AS STRAIGHT in the end as we would, but once the horse understands to give a lead change when asked he won't swing his hip out any more than is natural.
Yup, I guess there are many ways to skin a cat, and I'm sure you can end up with nice smooth lead changes with this method, I just would rather not teach my horse something (moving his hip in in the lead change) that I have to unteach it later, if I can help it. Having said that, not all dressage horses have the straightest of changes either!! So whatever floats your boat!
P.S. I know he's not asking the horse to move over all the time, I meant we was moving the hip over in the change. : )
Yes roofighter! He made it so clear, I was never taught in a way that was as clear as he put it, I now, actually think that what I was doing before was wrong, I'm going to go try it like right now lol. Yes, Thank You Les!!
Anything that works is the right way. I primarily work dressage, and each professional I had help me had a different way of going about lead changes. The trainer that got through to me was actually a reining trainer.
Isn't it great to have one of the worlds greatest horsemen share knowledge for all to value by. The lead change is one aspect that seems to frighten a lot of riders and this video will help to make that very much clearer. Thanks Les.
Your actually not trying to turn the horse, you are asking the horse to change leads. For example if you are on the left lead going on a left circle, when you start the circle going to the right at canter, if you are still on the left lead you are in counter canter so you want the horse to change leads to pick up the right lead. Enlighten yourself on the workings of the horse and rider.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
What the heck is a lead change anyway? and why would you want to know how to do a lead change? Why not just turn the horse with the rein to what ever direction you want to go? Why do you have to get into such complicated teachings when all it looks like is that you are trying to turn your horse? does anyone want to enlighten me? please? and thank you! '
A horse canters (a slow gallop) in a circle with the inside legs "leading" or going further forward . When you change directions, you need your horse to change the "leading" legs. It helps the horse tremendously in his/her balance.
Running in the pasture, horses cane leads as naturally as the breathe. Put a rider on them though, and the task is more challenging. Once you have that control, you'll find that your horse will turn around better, stop better, back up better. He will become more responsive to your hands and legs. A horse on a wrong lead expecially the hind lead will easily become off ballance and somtimes even fall...
well it's about balance. when you're on the correct lead, it may not matter as much when you're at a slower pace, but when cantering, you want you're horse to have to correct lead so that you can turn it better.. easier. and it won't trip or be unsure of it's footing. like my horse has troubles with her right lead and when we're cantering that way.. like trying to make a right turn toward a jump or around a barrel, se trips and breaks stride.. i hope that helped..?(:
Lead changes occur in the canter/lope or in gallop. Walk and trot/jog do not have a lead, but this video shows the body contoll needed at the more controllable speed of a walk and trot/jog.
@itsamj007 Because horses "lead" each stride (set of 4 hooves hitting the ground) causes its balance to lean in on a correct lead. The lead change is a swap in balance that allows a horse to move naturally. Otherwise, they are completely off balanced and cannot canter on like they began with.
It's like running in tight circles. If you just wrench around to go the other way, you're not gonna be balanced, you need a moment to change the balance of your feet.
I'm thinking about taking a class at my horse university....anyone ever taken a class from there? Was it fun/informative? I've seen their youtube videos, but I want to make sure their classes are just as interesting.
Very very informational! I have been struggling with lead changes for months. My current trainer told me HOW to cue for a lead change(lift the inside rein and press th outside spur) but never told me the WHY's behind the cues. I totally understand the mechanics of a lead change now. It was like a lightbulb! Awesome! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
I just received his Independent Study Program. I am not a beginner but I have some bad habits and WOW what a eye opener. WHY and more WHY did I not get this program before. I LOVE this guy. I got the program through pay pal and pay 50.00 a month. I got an email from them that said if I have any questions just email. I am not rich but I CAN afford this program. I would highly recommend it to anyone whom wants to win on a budget!
Sounds great! If you don't have the horse where he'll move his hip right over for you at the walk and the jog, how can you expect it to magically happen at the lope. Plus it gives you a lot of practice using the cues in slow motion and stress-free!
Equinista 2 months ago
@Equinista That's why you have to teach them at the walk and trot first.
nvsmorgans 2 months ago
I like the discussion about breaking flying changes down to a walking exercise. I am in the process of learning changes with my horse and am definitely learning as much as my horse. There is a huge difference in riding a finished horse and having to teach a horse. I am going to try this exercise with my horse tomorrow. I will make a video and talk about how it works for me!
TaraNolanHorses 2 months ago
my trainer always says when i ride to always have a positive attitude and positive body postures and an open mind aswell as trust and with these riding should be easy breezy :D when i ridem, to make the horse do something that you want that is different to the horse even the slightest correction from the horse deserves a praise:) but overall this iss some good stuff:)
westernbarreler1 8 months ago
Would you go about this any differently for a gaited horse than for a quarter/stock type? My mare seems to favor the right lead over the left. She'll pick up both leads if i ask but i have to emphasis my que more when asking for the left lead. Any suggestions on how to correct that? She also wants to run into the canter (espically on the left lead) i've been told to just keep running her into it and eventually she'll stop, but all it's done is make her worse. Any suggestions?
FavoriteLilFoxtrot 8 months ago
@FavoriteLilFoxtrot You posted this awhile ago but if your still having problems with your mare. The first thing you need to do is Stop running her into it. It will get you an unbalanced frustrated horse.(also it should be the same on gaited horses as the mechanics are still the same. I am currently breaking a Paso Fino Stallion and he is doing well with it).
Ridinoncloudz 4 months ago
When I"m teaching a young horse his leads I set him up just as les is doing in his video,Hindquarters in, shoulder out. Then I ask for the lead softly and if I get no response. I tap him with a crop slightly behind my leg. Typically a young horse will sort of jump into the canter from there. If my horse just speeds up. I slow him down to a nice collected working trot and try again with a little harder tap. I work on several transitions in the lesson always working to get smooth transitions
Ridinoncloudz 4 months ago
Respond to this video... . At first I let my horse take whatever pace he is comfortable with at the canter. Also It is okay to keep emphasizing the correct lead at first eventually she will begin to understand what your asking. sorry it was so long. I hope it helps
Ridinoncloudz 4 months ago
very awesome video!
wideeyes2024 10 months ago
thank you!!
jett888 10 months ago
Wow...this video has helped me more than any other training video! I now feel like I can get my horse in her correct lead. It makes so much sense, can't wait to try this on my 4 yr old green mare.
2onery4u 11 months ago
I just tried this method with my Thoroughbred jumper with great success. He changes from left to right very consistently but right to left has been a problem for a while. I followed your instructions and practiced first at the walk and the trot, and when I moved up to canter, he changed cleanly and without diving on his forehand and galloping off. Thank you for posting this video!
lyndie78 11 months ago
Just prefer to ride that way. Gives me more security that my stirrup will stay put working cattle.
Equinista 1 year ago
why is your foot all the way in the stirrup?
scoohey 1 year ago
@scoohey I have had this same question before and I don't know either. However I have noticed that all men that ride reining all ride with their feet all the way up like that. And I have never seen a woman that hasn't either but I have noticed that the womans feet aren't quite all the way in compared to the mans. This needs some looking into!
Gail419 11 months ago
@scoohey I have had this same question before and I don't know either. However I have noticed that all men that ride reining all ride with their feet all the way up like that. And I have never seen a woman that hasn't either but I have noticed that the woman's feet aren't quite all the way in compared to the mans. This needs some looking into!
Gail419 11 months ago
@Gail419 It is a riding fault, it is more secure to put the whole foot in but not proper, and if you did this exercising tb's you take a god chance of getting hung up if you were to get spun on and dumped. plus you cant properly put your heal down. to ride balanced.
scoohey 9 months ago
If you want to see a horse trained from scratch with this kind of body control, check out our Cowhorse U Foundation Level program at LesVogt.com
Equinista 1 year ago
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@Equinista why is your foot all the way in the stirrup
scoohey 1 year ago
can you have another video all on a green horse.
ForeverFlattsFan 1 year ago
Make sure that the saddle is not pinching her shoulder. Have you tried it bareback? Have you tried it from the ground? Look at those things first so that you can start to eliminate things that might be holding her back.
Equinista 1 year ago
i have a question, my mare will NOT move her hips over for me. it doesn't matter how long i work with her (i've worked more than 2hrs before) i dont think its stubornness i think shes confussed. i've had a professional watch me work with her and was told i was cueing correctly, how do i help her understand?
Msemilydepp 1 year ago
hello,i`m a brazilian trainer . very good work. thanks for this assistance.
fernandoferreirobr 1 year ago
hmEinsam heute wer ist bereit für bisl tel labern oda chat
AriannaRodriguez12 1 year ago
First we are not seen a want to be trainer, Les Vogt is a Hall of Fame rider, as a teacher he is 5 stars, here he teaches potential green horse and green rider how to lead change, when pro trainers work their horses they have an endless bag of tricks from the simple to the complex, this DVD is for green rider/horse.
MrJbhhbj 1 year ago
Can get a lot out of that. Thanks for posting.
leilaminette 1 year ago
Seems like he is too big for that horse.
goodymfla 2 years ago
These are not lead changes made easy. Lad changes ARE ONLY USED IN THE CANTER/LOPE. You don't need to do so many steps for lead changes. And this video has terrible picture. Thumbs DOWN!
scarlett123100 2 years ago
I think you're missing the point. Babies walk before they crawl. Well horses learn basic body control before they can properly execute a CORRECT lead change. He is slowing down to a crawl to teach people the correct body control to set the horse up for success not failure.
I'll agree on the bad picture.
dmquarterhorses 2 years ago
5 star Instruction- very useful info!
bayocntry 2 years ago 2
very interesting .
ottopasquier 2 years ago
This is great unless you want your change to be straight. He is a great teacher though.
UltimateDQ 2 years ago
The process is commonly know as 'exaggerate and refine' Straightness will come later once the horse understands exactly what is being asked. If you are being taught to ride a horse that already knows this, you will be taught to give a cue instead of how to teach the horse. This video is on how to teach a green horse.
jmdnarri 2 years ago
Ya, I understand that. Lots of times they don't get really straight though, which doesn't work in the dressage so well.
UltimateDQ 2 years ago
@UltimateDQ Sure but a horse that has a hard time getting straight lead changes will probably have that problem no matter what, that could just be his/her weakness, or could be a rider issue. Claiming that teaching lead changes in this manner would cause straightness issues is like saying that teaching shoulder-in, traverse, and half-pass will keep your horse from trotting straight. These are simply exercises in suppleness, and body controll.
jmdnarri 2 years ago
I can see what you are saying, but it's not the same as a travers. In a travers you teach the horse to respond to an aid by moving his body in a certain way. Without the aid he should trot straight. So the same with your method for teaching a flying change, you are teaching him to respond a certain way to a certain aid and using this method you are teaching him to move his hip in as he changes to your aid. You even see this in lope departures in the highest levels of reining cause it's reliable.
UltimateDQ 2 years ago
@UltimateDQ Absolutely right! But this trainer is not teaching his horse to just go sideways all the time, he is teaching the horse to respond to his aids as he asks, just like we would. When he is not asking the horse to move his hip over the horse goes straight No he probably won't put as much time into making the lead changes AS STRAIGHT in the end as we would, but once the horse understands to give a lead change when asked he won't swing his hip out any more than is natural.
jmdnarri 2 years ago
Yup, I guess there are many ways to skin a cat, and I'm sure you can end up with nice smooth lead changes with this method, I just would rather not teach my horse something (moving his hip in in the lead change) that I have to unteach it later, if I can help it. Having said that, not all dressage horses have the straightest of changes either!! So whatever floats your boat!
P.S. I know he's not asking the horse to move over all the time, I meant we was moving the hip over in the change. : )
UltimateDQ 2 years ago
Yes roofighter! He made it so clear, I was never taught in a way that was as clear as he put it, I now, actually think that what I was doing before was wrong, I'm going to go try it like right now lol. Yes, Thank You Les!!
metalicrose1618 2 years ago
Anything that works is the right way. I primarily work dressage, and each professional I had help me had a different way of going about lead changes. The trainer that got through to me was actually a reining trainer.
jmdnarri 2 years ago
Isn't it great to have one of the worlds greatest horsemen share knowledge for all to value by. The lead change is one aspect that seems to frighten a lot of riders and this video will help to make that very much clearer. Thanks Les.
roofighter46 2 years ago
Your actually not trying to turn the horse, you are asking the horse to change leads. For example if you are on the left lead going on a left circle, when you start the circle going to the right at canter, if you are still on the left lead you are in counter canter so you want the horse to change leads to pick up the right lead. Enlighten yourself on the workings of the horse and rider.
bundybear036 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
What the heck is a lead change anyway? and why would you want to know how to do a lead change? Why not just turn the horse with the rein to what ever direction you want to go? Why do you have to get into such complicated teachings when all it looks like is that you are trying to turn your horse? does anyone want to enlighten me? please? and thank you! '
amj
itsamj007 2 years ago
A horse canters (a slow gallop) in a circle with the inside legs "leading" or going further forward . When you change directions, you need your horse to change the "leading" legs. It helps the horse tremendously in his/her balance.
bethdhoffman 2 years ago 2
and the back legs to other wise there disunited
tilleysmypony 2 years ago
Running in the pasture, horses cane leads as naturally as the breathe. Put a rider on them though, and the task is more challenging. Once you have that control, you'll find that your horse will turn around better, stop better, back up better. He will become more responsive to your hands and legs. A horse on a wrong lead expecially the hind lead will easily become off ballance and somtimes even fall...
COWGIRLTUFF26 2 years ago
well it's about balance. when you're on the correct lead, it may not matter as much when you're at a slower pace, but when cantering, you want you're horse to have to correct lead so that you can turn it better.. easier. and it won't trip or be unsure of it's footing. like my horse has troubles with her right lead and when we're cantering that way.. like trying to make a right turn toward a jump or around a barrel, se trips and breaks stride.. i hope that helped..?(:
RealityIsVertical 2 years ago
Lead changes occur in the canter/lope or in gallop. Walk and trot/jog do not have a lead, but this video shows the body contoll needed at the more controllable speed of a walk and trot/jog.
jmdnarri 2 years ago
@itsamj007 Because horses "lead" each stride (set of 4 hooves hitting the ground) causes its balance to lean in on a correct lead. The lead change is a swap in balance that allows a horse to move naturally. Otherwise, they are completely off balanced and cannot canter on like they began with.
It's like running in tight circles. If you just wrench around to go the other way, you're not gonna be balanced, you need a moment to change the balance of your feet.
LitleDusk 2 years ago
@itsamj007 Also, when you skip, you're actually doing little lead changes.
LitleDusk 2 years ago 2
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I'm thinking about taking a class at my horse university....anyone ever taken a class from there? Was it fun/informative? I've seen their youtube videos, but I want to make sure their classes are just as interesting.
zavalael 2 years ago
good thats it. not my favorite though
cosmicrider66 2 years ago
i love this guy! He actually knows what hes talking about
HickChik7 2 years ago
Very very informational! I have been struggling with lead changes for months. My current trainer told me HOW to cue for a lead change(lift the inside rein and press th outside spur) but never told me the WHY's behind the cues. I totally understand the mechanics of a lead change now. It was like a lightbulb! Awesome! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
michell2003 2 years ago
Really a wonderful skill to be able to explain things so well. I gotta have these videos.
klarehart 3 years ago 3
This is the way it's done. No holding back. If you can't win following Les Vogt's program maybe you'd be better off with a bicycle.
SmokinPRanch 4 years ago 14
I just received his Independent Study Program. I am not a beginner but I have some bad habits and WOW what a eye opener. WHY and more WHY did I not get this program before. I LOVE this guy. I got the program through pay pal and pay 50.00 a month. I got an email from them that said if I have any questions just email. I am not rich but I CAN afford this program. I would highly recommend it to anyone whom wants to win on a budget!
okeefilly 4 years ago 2
thanks, les! once again, i've learned something new from you! keep it coming!
johnbob03 4 years ago 6