A simple change is a transition in which a horse changes its canter lead by passing through trot or walk — a deliberate, controlled sequence of canter to trot (or walk), then trot (or walk) to canter on the new lead. It contrasts with the flying change, in which the lead changes in a single stride of canter with no intervening gait. The simple change is a foundational school movement assessed in dressage tests from Novice level upwards, and it is an essential building block toward more advanced work including counter canter and flying changes.
How a Simple Change is Ridden
The sequence is: strike-off to canter on, say, the right rein → balanced transition to trot (or walk at higher levels) → strike-off to canter on the left rein. The quality of the simple change depends entirely on the quality of each transition within it.
A good downward transition to trot should be prompt, balanced, and straight. The horse should not fall forward onto the forehand or become hurried in the trot steps. The new canter transition should be equally prompt, with the horse striking off on the correct lead immediately from a balanced, energised trot or walk. The number of trot or walk steps between the leads varies by test level — lower level tests allow more steps; at Prix St Georges level, the simple change through walk requires just a few steps and must be extremely precise.
Why It Matters in Training
The simple change teaches the horse — and the rider — to control the canter. It demands that the horse can decelerate from canter to trot without losing rhythm, balance, or forward impulse, and then accelerate back into canter in response to a light aid. These are the same skills required in all transitions, but the canter-to-trot-to-canter sequence tests them in a specific, rhythmic context.
A horse that falls heavily onto its forehand in the downward transition, or that takes three or four unbalanced trot strides before striking off, needs further work on canter balance, acceptance of the half-halt, and engagement of the hindquarters. The simple change is a reliable diagnostic for these training gaps.
Training exercises that support simple changes include lengthening and shortening within canter (see our entry on reinback for how hindquarter engagement transfers across movements), and working on quality transitions in and out of canter on straight lines before attempting them across the diagonal or at letter markers.
Simple Change in Test Requirements
In British Dressage tests, simple changes are introduced through trot from Preliminary level and through walk at higher levels. The movement is typically ridden across the diagonal — for example, changing rein from K to M and performing the change at or before X. The judge assesses the quality of both transitions, the straightness of the horse through the diagonal, and whether the correct number of steps was observed between the leads.
The FEI dressage tests include simple changes through walk as a precursor to flying changes at medium and advanced medium level. A horse with well-established simple changes understands the concept of a lead change and is physically and mentally prepared for the flying change when training advances.
Common Faults
Loss of straightness on the diagonal is the most frequent fault — the horse drifts quarters or falls through a shoulder during the transition. This is usually a suppleness issue combined with insufficient attention to straightness in the rider’s aids. Counter canter work helps establish the horse’s ability to hold a straight line regardless of lead.
A horse that anticipates the simple change — beginning to break to trot before asked — has learned the test pattern rather than listening to the aids. Varying where simple changes are ridden in training, and including canter work that does not involve a lead change, helps address this.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a simple change and a flying change?
A simple change passes through a slower gait (trot or walk) between the two canter leads. A flying change happens within the canter — the lead changes mid-stride with no break in gait. Flying changes are a more advanced skill that builds on the foundations established through simple changes.
How many walk or trot steps are allowed in a simple change?
This varies by test. At Novice level, several trot steps are acceptable. At Elementaryand Medium level, fewer steps are expected. At Prix St Georges, simple changes through walk may require as few as three to five walk steps. Always check the specific test sheet and judge’s guidance for the level you are competing at.
My horse consistently strikes off on the wrong lead after the simple change. What should I do?
Wrong lead departures usually come from insufficient preparation, crookedness, or the horse being on the forehand as it strikes off. Spend time on in-hand canter transitions on a straight line, and ensure the horse is truly balanced and light in the trot before asking for the canter. Consider whether the horse has a lateral stiffness that makes departing on one lead more difficult than the other — this is worth addressing with a physiotherapist.