FLYING CHANGES OF LEAD

These sequences show ordinary canter and canter with a single flying lead change.

The key moment in the flying change sequence is what happens between frames 4 and 5, when the horse accelerates the right hind leg so that it grounds sooner than the left hind. Compare this to frames 6 and 7 in the ordinary canter, where the horse does not switch hind legs because he intends to simply continue cantering on the same lead.

This comparison highlights the fact that, in order to change leads in this manner, the horse must carry enough weight upon the hindquarter to enable it to produce significant suspension, so that it has time to switch the hind feet. “Non-flying” but useful changes of canter lead are often seen in Western Riding and Hunter-Hack competition; these are produced by throwing the horse’s balance over from one side to the other, exploiting the laterality that is inherent in both the walk and the canter.

Flying changes at every stride (changes “a tempi”) were invented by François Baucher. In this contemporary engraving, we see the characteristic appearance of dancing or skipping that this gait produces. I say “this gait” advisedly, because changes a tempi are in fact a seventh gait based on the footfall sequence of the canter being doubled, i.e. left hind, left fore and right hind together; right fore, right hind, right fore and left hind together; left fore. (The other six gaits commonly produced by horses are walk, trot, canter, galop/galope, amble and pace).