1. Group Lessons- Changes of Rein
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2. Group Lessons- Changes of Rein Overview
Teach Change Rein across the Arena
Teach Change Rein down the Centreline
Teach Change Rein across the Long & Short Diagonals
This workbook serves as an introduction to semi-private and group lessons in regards to how to organise them and what to expect. Group lessons are more demanding on a coach’s management skills of the ride not only to ensure horse and rider safety but also to maintain the quality of the lesson. Further we look at three options to keep riders in group lessons organised, some advantages and disadvantages to ways of practicing exercises with group lessons and maintaining ride control.

3. Teach Change Rein across the Arena
Teaching groups to change rein across the arena will encourage the development of riding accurate corners and turns. Beginner riders will learn how to use the arena and co-ordinate the aids whilst for experienced riders changing rein across the arena presents the opportunity to develop further skills in influencing the horse through bend and flexion.
Cones and markers need to be set wide enough to accommodate the size of the horse and the rider’s level of ability. Because the number of markers used can become confusing it may be useful to use different colours or types to help guide the rider. Trot poles across the centreline are good for reminding and encouraging the horse and rider to travel straight as they move from the first corner to the second (purple lines in image).
This exercise is simple enough that the whole group can ride through it together but also can be ridden individually to refine skills.
The yellow dots in the above diagram represent cones or markers that should be used to guide riders through the exercise. It is important to make your warm-up relevant to the content of the lesson for example practicing the exercise in walk can be used to prepare horse and rider or accurately riding corners on the outside track to practice for accuracy in the corners and turns across the arena.
Beginner riders
To maintain control, safety and education this exercise is best introduced to a group of beginner riders in single file. Single file will keep the riders close together so that they are easy to monitor and horses accustomed to working in single file are likely to follow each other meaning that riders will be able to get a feel for the skills required for the exercise. The leading rider can be changed to simulate performing the exercise as an individual rather than just following the horse in front. The exercise can be practiced as a group in walk and trot. To promote the control of the rider in guiding the horse the exercise can also be practiced one at a time.

4. Teach Change Rein across the Arena
When horses and riders (represented by the brown ovals in the image above) practice one at a time the other riders should be lined up where they can still see but won’t interfere with the exercise. In the image above horses are lined up in a position to allow enough space for the practicing rider to safely pass beside and behind the other riders.
Intermediate riders
A similar approach can be taken to teaching intermediate riders to change rein or turn across the arena. Depending upon the riders the ride may be able to practice in open order but care should be taken to avoid collisions between riders practicing the exercise and those finding a new place in open order. Because of the change of rein canter would be difficult at this level as the riders would need to be able to return to trot at X after the first turn and then pick up the new canter lead before the next turn. Some useful ways of managing the ride for this exercise include:-
Organise the ride in single file and have the leading rider practice in trot (pink oval) whilst the remaining remain in walk (brown ovals), the trotting rider will keep trotting until they reach the end of the ride (orange x). If you wish to include canter in the lesson have them practice turning across the arena in canter with no change of direction; this way the canter exercise remains relevant to learning how to change rein across the arena.

5. Teach Change Rein across the Arena
(continued from previous page) It is not a good idea to have all riders cantering simultaneously through the exercise because it will make it much harder as a coach to give adequate feedback to every rider but also because you must be able to anticipate and correct any ride problems that could potentially arise (e.g., one horse canters too fast, a rider cannot guide the horse accurately enough).
Line the ride up in the centre of the arena and have the riders’ practice one or two at a time. Riders waiting for their turn can still be included in the lesson by asking questions or for feedback for the practicing riders.

6. Teach Change Rein across the Arena
Experienced riders
This exercise at first may seem a little simple for an experienced rider but there are ways in which you can make this lesson more challenging:-
Introduce downwards or upwards transitions at X (e.g., walk-trot, trot-walk), focusing on accuracy (track & aids), preparation of the horse and execution of the aids.
Work on obtaining and changing correct bend and flexion.
Work in canter with a change of canter leads through the trot at X.
Ride organisation for this exercise can be dependent on what skills are begin practiced (i.e., transitions, bend and flexion etc). If working on transitions it will be better have riders spaced further apart in open order. It may still be preferable to have riders work one at a time if working in canter, this will allow you to give full attention and feedback to the practicing rider. Another option is to let the riders work independently then call them through the exercise one at a time.

7. Teach Change Rein down the Centreline
This is another exercise or figure that will encourage the development of accuracy. For experienced riders it is an exercise where they can focus on improving straightness and for beginner they will continue to learn to apply their aids effectively, plan the use of their aids and use the arena.
Cones and markers need to be set wide enough to accommodate the size of the horse and the rider’s level of ability. Because the number of markers used can become confusing it may be useful to use different colours or types to help guide the rider. Trot poles can be used down either side of the centreline to guide riders.

8. Teach Change Rein down the Centreline
Beginner riders
For beginners single file may be the best way to introduce this exercise. It is important that every rider rides around the markers on the half ten metre circle when coming onto or off the centreline; this will help to maintain distances so that horses don’t get too close to the one in front, it is also important for rider accuracy and effectiveness in applying the aids. It is quite common for beginner riders to become passengers (whereby they give little or no direct to the horse allowing it to cut corners & miss cones) resulting in horses (especially seasoned schoolies) to plod along following and staying close to the horse in front. This is one of the disadvantages of single file however for riders whom are still mastering the strength and co-ordination required for horse riding it is one of the safest. Changing the leader of the single file ride is a good way to give all riders the chance to be a “rider” (i.e., giving aids and directing the horse) whilst maintaining group control.
Again the riders awaiting their turn will need to be lined up where the practicing rider can safely pass in front of and behind the line. The coach will need to be in a position where they can see all the riders at all times.

9. Teach Change Rein down the Centreline
Intermediate riders
This exercise can be managed in very similarly to how was explained in the previous chapter ‘Change rein across the arena’. Take care to avoid collisions when coaching the riders in open order, and canter would be difficult because the change of directions requires a prompt organisation of a change of lead.
Organisation of the ride in single file can allow you to have the leading rider practice in trot (pink oval) whilst the remaining remain in walk (brown ovals), the trotting rider will keep trotting until they reach the end of the ride (orange x). This method can also be used for beginner riders provided the walking riders are capable of keeping their horses in walk if the horse in front of them trots. If you wish to include canter in the lesson have them practice turning down the centreline in canter (with no change of direction); this way the canter exercise remains relevant to learning how to change rein down the centreline

10. Teach Change Rein down the Centreline
Alternatively line the ride up and have 2 practicing at a time. Keep riders waiting for their turn included in the lesson by asking questions or for feedback for the practicing riders.
Experienced riders
Some exercises which can make changing rein down the centreline more challenging for experienced riders include:-
Introduce downwards or upwards transitions at X (e.g., walk-trot, trot-walk, canter-trot), focusing on accuracy (track & aids), preparation of the horse and execution of the aids.
Work on obtaining and changing correct bend and flexion through the corners.
Work in canter with a change of canter leads through the trot at X.
Ride organisation for this exercise can be dependent on what skills are begin practiced (i.e., transitions, bend and flexion etc). If working on transitions it will be better have riders spaced further apart in open order. It may still be preferable to have riders work one at a time if working in canter, this will allow you to give full attention and feedback to the practicing rider. Another option is to let the riders work independently then call them through the exercise one at a time.

11. Teach Change Rein across the Long & Short Diagonals
Riding on the long and short diagonals has all the benefits of the previous exercises we have looked at; improving accuracy, improving horse flexibility and suppleness, improving the rider’s aid co-ordination and timing and further developing control. To ride accurate changes of rein across the diagonal lines the riders will have to ride accurate corners. Corners which are ridden too shallow will affect the quality of the line across the diagonal and it is also an indication that the rider is still developing the effectiveness and ability to recognise when they are riding the correct line. The riders trot diagonal can be changed at X or when they reach the outside track on the new rein.
Cones and markers need to be set wide enough to accommodate the size of the horse and the rider’s level of ability. Because the number of markers used can become confusing it may be useful to use different colours or types to help guide the rider.
Remember short diagonals are those that are ridden from a corner to half the arena (or vice versa). Short diagonals are H to B, M to E, K to B, F to E and B to H, E to M, K to B and E to F.

12. Teach Change Rein across the Long & Short Diagonals
Long diagonals are from one corner of the arena diagonally across to the opposite corner. Long diagonals are M to K, H to F, K to M and F to H.

13. Teach Change Rein across the Long & Short Diagonals
Beginner riders
Beginner riders will benefit from working in single file. This will allow them lots of practice and make maintaining safety easier. To maintain distances it is important that riders guide their horses around the markers in the corners (beginner riders will find it difficult to maintain trot and ride sufficiently into the corner). If the distance between horses gets too great try not to sacrifice the quality of the exercise in order to catch riders up to those in front.
If riders get too close they can alter the diagonal line so that they arrive to the outside track earlier. For example when changing rein from K to M if the third rider in single file is getting too close to the second instruct them to aim to arrive at the outside track earlier between R and M, this will put more distance between the second and third horse & riders. Beginners can also practice this exercise as one or two riders at a time, remember to line up the non-participating riders in a position where they will not interfere.

14. Teach Change Rein across the Long & Short Diagonals
Intermediate riders
Once again single file and open order can be used for intermediate riders, taking care to space riders so that they do not have collisions. Remember to remind riders of the arena rules. Riders which will pass each other from opposite ends on the diagonal line should pass with their ‘old outside shoulder’ to each other. For example the “old outside shoulder” of a rider changing rein from M to K is their left, for a rider changing rein from K to M their “old outside shoulder” is their left so when the riders pass each other at X they will pass left shoulder to left shoulder.
Canter could be difficult at this level because the change of direction requires a prompt organisation of a change of lead. However transitions from trot to canter could be practiced as the rider comes into the second corner on the new rein. The ability of the intermediate riders in the group will determine what paces they can safely work in and where they perform transitions.

15. Teach Change Rein across the Long & Short Diagonals
Experienced riders
Whilst this is a fairly simple exercise it can easily be made more interesting and challenging for experienced riders. One option is to have the riders work in pairs. Working in pairs will require the riders to adjust their horse’s stride to keep in time with each other. Through corners the rider on the outside will need to lengthen whilst the rider on the inside will need to shorten. The horses used for this exercise will need to be fairly tractable and familiar with each other so that there is no bickering between horses. Monitor the horse’s body language whilst they work in pairs so that you can correct any potential conflicts before they arise.
A good exercise for encouraging riders plan their line of travel and to look where they are going is to split the ride up in twos and have them ride on different reins, number the riders off from one to four, then they change rein across the diagonals and must pass over X in number sequence.
To illustrate you have a group of four riders, Mandy, Fred, Kelly and Lisa. You give them all numbers Mandy is 1, Fred is 2, Kelly is 3 and Lisa is 4. The riders with odd numbers will start on the left rein whilst the riders with even numbers will start on the right rein. In single file with 4 to 5 horse length between riders (4 to 5 horse lengths are used to ensure there will be enough room for riders to cross X between each other) they rider will move around the arena. It is important that rider 1 and 2 and rider 3 and 4 are directly opposite each other as they move around the arena (i.e., as rider 1 goes past C rider 2 should be going past A). Imagine riders 1 and 3 change rein from H to F whilst at the same time riders 2 and 4 change rein from K to M. The riders should pass over X in their number order 1 then 2 then 3 then 4 and continue on their line. Remember if the riders need to pass each other as they go large they will pass left shoulder to left shoulder.
Experienced riders should be capable of doing this exercise in canter with transitions to correct the lead through the trot at X. If practicing and teaching canter and downwards transitions it will be safer and easier to manage riders if they practice one at a time.
Lengthening strides across the diagonal is another good exercise for experienced riders (and intermediate riders too in some circumstances). Some important points to remember are that the stride short be shortened before reaching the outside track on the new rein and riders should refrain from changing their diagonal whilst in the lengthened strides to avoid upsetting the rhythm of the trot, their trot diagonal can be changed once they reach the outside track on the new rein.

16. For more information see your course workbook

17. For more information see your course workbook