Before you even ask your horse to do a flying change, there are a number of requirements that should come easily to you and your horse.

1. Can the horse do collected, medium and extended canter?

2. Can the horse do a clean canter walk canter transition? (no trot steps)

3. Can the horse do a clean canter walk counter canter transition? ( no trot steps)

4. Are the walk to canter / canter to walk transitions easy in both directions?

5. Is the counter canter simple and balanced off of your aids?

6. Can you canter in true canter and be in true bend , then straight and then in counter bend?

7. Can you canter in counter canter and be in true bend, then straight and then in counter bend?

If the answer to any of these questions is no… then you have homework.

Ruth Hogan Poulsen