Lead changes and stuff

It sure is easier for me to change one with my hands than my legs- oh, I can change one with my legs but usually I have to poke him too hard and he gets scared. or he misses. I'm going to try using my hands more in conjunction with my feet and see how that works.

Dell Hendricks said something that sticks in my mind- If I have to ask 100 times and he doesnt change I'm just gonna let the fence stop me and try again. Gotta remember that.

When Sally Montana was 3 she used to flop out of lead behind and I got so frustrated trying to keep her from doing that that when she did I'd just take a holt of her and kick with my spur until she took the correct lead again and yeah, at first she thriew her head up in the air a lot especially at first and I never got her to where she wouldnt flop out of lead on a circle to the left if I asked for any speed. But in the end I will have to say that she got really good at changing leads to the left- because when she flopped out I'd bang on her till she flopped back in.

So that kind of goes against the golden rules of flying lead change training

1) Don't Panic
2) dont scare them
3) Or hurt them

they are all of equal importance

another thing I'm figuring out is that you cant be amiguous an any of your training especially so as your horses get futher along in training. You have to take a holt of them and show them exactly what you want- sometimes you really do have to help them a lot so they know what you want- giving them enough rope to hang themselves with doesnt always work- you have to make it clear to them sometimes by not letting them screw up- or they will- so if his head gets out of position in the turn around you may have to put their head where you want it and hold it there for a second or two so he knows exactly what you want before you release it or soften your hands a little- be part of the equation is what Mike Helson told me- it makes sense, or if he raises his head and stiffens his jaw and neck in a roll back- help him stay soft in the roll back and show him what you want- dont let him screw up and then punish him-

Yes in the turn around if he gets out of whack you can put him in a circle and show him the proper position to be in before returning to the turn around and yes you do have to leave them alone so you can see what happens and what they do on a loose rein- but dont let them develop bad habits- release them for a second or two and see what you got or show them what you want then release to see if their picking it up- youve got to go back and forth untill the correct position becomes habit.