So Frankie has been a regular superstar. Everyday. He is ready for work and giving me 110% consistently.

We have been working on getting a really condensed, springy, energetic canter. Primarily working on the canter most of the ride. Of course, for fun, I like to throw in our super fancy tempi changes. These are not dressage correct by any means and probably aren’t that pretty. But they sure are fun.

The only “problem” I have been having with Frankie is on our lead changes across the diagonal. Through our riding partnership that is going on 9 years the right to left lead change has always been challenging. Not when we are going around a course or anything, those are on auto. It’s when I go across the diagonal, he just never gets it. He eventually does, but it takes 3-9 strides before his hind end changes.

I have gotten so mad at him. Sometimes he anticipates and gets so crooked that there is no way to actually get the change. Even when he is straight he can’t seem to get it. Weird, though, how when we do our “tempi” changes there is no problem.

The left to right change is textbook. It’s not like I really care since when we are going around a course there isn’t a problem. However I still like to get everything ironed out. There is something not right if he can’t do that change!

Grrrr.

It was my mission this week to figure it out.

First I worked on our counter canter. He definitely struggles with going left in the counter canter than right. Not terribly, it’s just more work for me to keep him going and keep him from changing.

By the third day our counter canter was great, we were able to do nice 20 meter circles both directions.

Still, the change wasn’t any better. Frankie seemed just plain over it. I was frustrated with him, I know he can do it, so why isn’t he?

Dun, dun, duuuun. Because I am retarded. Yes. It’s true. So I figured this out while totally analyzing each change. I am stronger on my right side and always have been. When we go left to right, we have a slight right bend into the change….boom….perfect change. Then going right to left, we have a, yep, a slight right bend…boom…not so perfect change.

Oh man. What an idiot!

So I test my theory. Starting with the left to right change. Perfect. Then go for the tough one, so tough we have NEVER gotten it! I verbalize out loud while going across the diagonal “LEFT, LEFT, LEFT” yelling at myself. Guess what? Perfect change. OMG!

I do one more just to make sure it isn’t a fluke. Yep, perfect change. I could feel Frankie saying “uh, yeah, that’s way easier!”

Duh!! Awfully arrogant of me to assume all this time that it was him. In my defense I have taken plenty of lessons, with plenty of different people, (dressage, hunter/jumper, eventing), all of whom had seen our lead changes and NO ONE SAID A THING ABOUT ME! The only thing ever screamed from across the ring would be “kick em”. Which always worked with a buck.

I just always wanted the perfect change. I got it and have tested it over several days and it’s no fluke. Stupid stronger right arm.

Frankie should have said something sooner!!

Awe, Frankie’s such a good boy!