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It all depends on the experience level of the horse. For my experienced 
horses, all I need to do is drop a seat bone to get a lead change. With 
those horses my legs automatically go to the correct positions. The 
experienced horses will also "read the trail" and switch leads according 
to the twist and turns in the trail. For a less experienced horse, I 
will use both me seat bones and legs - one leg slightly behind he girth, 
the other at the girth and a little more weight on that seat bone. If 
the horse doesn't have the experience to understand this or strength and 
balance to execute it he needs some work on the trail and in the ring.

To switch diagonals I normally stay up in the post a half beat longer. 
After awhile the "being on the correct diagonal to ask for a canter" 
will become second nature for you and your horse.

Truman

Beverley H. Kane, MD wrote:

> The canter lead I ask for is independent of which trot diagonal I am 
> on, especially as the path changes curves.
> Rather, I have a diagonal-neutral split second interlude when I ask 
> for canter.
> I will either ask from having sat or stood the trot for an extra beat 
> or from 2-point.
> What aids/signals are you using for the canter transition?
>
> And yes, I have worked w/ vets at many rides when they tell riders w/ 
> borderline-pull sore-backed horses to switch diagonals.
>
> On 1/1/06 8:05 PM, "ekiddco" <ekiddco@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>            
>       I have been riding a very short time compared to many of you,
>     but I have been watching you ride.  I have a couple questions and
>     hopefully this will start a great discussion.  How can you give
>     your horse the correct cue to go into a right lead if you're not
>     on the left diagonal, and vice versa?  I see so many riders ride
>     mile after mile on the right diagonal, and I can see the horse
>     fatiguing.  It's all about footwork, isn't it?  
>             
>            <http://www.incredimail.com/index.asp?id=996917>


--

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our 
humanity."

- Albert Einstein




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