Fear? Trepidation?

Anger? Frustration?

It is the one defining movement that separates the grain from the chaff (so to speak).

So, until you and your horse can do a flying change (clean, balanced, and smooth) you are limited in your ability to climb up the levels.

But what if your horse can do a flying change, it’s... just… not very good?

Because, in Dressage it isn’t just about DOING it any old way, it is about doing it well.
 

It is about QUALITY, so in a correct flying change we expect to see that the horse remains on the aids, that the change is “clean” and “through” meaning the front legs and hind legs change in the same stride (not on their own schedule, not late behind, and not late in front), that the horse is STRAIGHT (and doesn’t swing around like a flopping fish out of water), and that the horse stays balanced and “through” (he doesn’t invert or hollow).

So, if you have any of these problems, the next question is...

HOW have you been trying to fix them?

I bet you did not know that there are 12 different methods (or roads, as we refer to them) to the flying changes. REALLY!

What works for ONE HORSE does not necessarily work for another.

That is why it is so important to have many possible ways  you can approach the training of the flying change with your horse, so you can find the one(s) that work best for your individual horse (because your horse is not a machine. He is a living, breathing animal who needs to be treated as such).

In fact, with this system, you can lead the horse gently down the path toward the flying change so that it actually becomes the horse’s idea to do the change.

Yes, you can set it up so that the horse WANTS to do it, so that it feels good, and he thinks it is HIS idea (meaning it becomes a good experience for him, not stressful or traumatic).

THIS approach lays the very BEST foundation for the future training of the horse. You cannot train tempo and tempi changes (changes every 4, 3, 2, and single stride) if you still have tension and anxiety from how the flying changes were introduced in the beginning.

There is this myth out there that *some* Dressage trainers like to perpetuate.  And I want to put a stop to it right now.

They will tell you that you cannot train your own horse to do the Flying Changes.

That you are not good enough or capable of learning what they know.

That you need a professional to do it for you.

I say Bull 💩!

Wait... Let me explain who we are and why this matters.

We have seen it time and time again in our own students both in one-on-one lessons in clinics all over the United States, Canada, and Europe and in our online courses and coaching programs (students from all over the world!).

It is completely doable. This stuff is figureoutable!

This is where you figure it all out (but not on your own)...

BIOMECHANICS THEORY

Biomechanically-based theory components which explain the biomechanics of the canter and flying changes, as well as how both affect the horse's body and the entirety of the dressage training. The theory is designed to give you the understanding so that when you ride the exercises, you know what each one is supposed to accomplish and why. Each theory lesson builds upon the previous module, but they can also be used as a reference library.

GYMNASTIC EXERCISES

Each module has several biomechanically-based gymnastic horse exercises which correspond to the theory instruction, so you are are able to immediately apply the theoretical lessons into your riding, and experience first-hand how they work. Each exercise comes with a PDF with complete instructions outlining what to do, why to do it, and how to do it.

INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS AND RIDING DEMONSTRATIONS

Each horse riding exercise is accompanied by an instructional video in which we expand upon the material in the exercise PDF, showing you where the problem spots are in the exercise and how to address the various problems that can come up while riding it.

RIDER DEMO VIDEOS

Footage of the Ritter Assistant Instructors riding the exercises with Thomas' commentary. This is one of the most important parts of the course because we know so many riders learn best by SEEING the exercise being ridden, and also because there is no better way to understand the gymnastic influence on the horse than to see it in action. You can learn through watching what to do, what not to do, and how to correct the mistakes that commonly occur.

FELDENKRAIS LESSONS

Throughout the course, you will be given the opportunity to supplement your horse riding education with Feldenkrais lessons which help you, as the rider, to learn better body awareness, coordination, flexibility, and control. Taught by Feldenkrais Practitioner, Catherine McCrum, you are in for a treat. These will be a mixture of pre-recorded and live lessons held online.

A+ COMMUNITY

One of the most REWARDING parts of this course is the incredible community. The community that has built around this course is most enthusiastic, supportive, diverse in experiences and viewpoints. As a member of the course, you are granted a lifetime VISA into the community. It spans many continents, several languages, includes riders of all levels and types, and is your new homeland. Welcome home!

Q&A COACHING SESSIONS

You have questions and we actually encourage that!!! You can ask your questions at any time (even after the course has ended) in the Facebook Group but there is just nothing like getting your questions answered LIVE where we can ask follow-up questions and so can you. You will get access to the 11 Bi-Weekly LIVE Q&A Coaching sessions. If you can't make it live, no worries - they are all recorded so you can watch at your convenience. Not only that, you will be able to attend future Q&A coaching sessions when we re-run the course again in the future.

LIFETIME ACCESS

Your access to the course materials never expires! You never lose access to your course materials, as long as we are alive and able to support the course platform (and we hope that is a very, very long time). That means that you can work as fast or as slow through the materials as you wish. That means that if you get sick, tired, injured - you can pause at anytime and come back to it whenever you and your horse are ready for more. It will always be there for you, and so will we.

ALUMNI UPGRADES

As a Flying Changes Course Alumni, you will receive the opportunity to join the course again as many times as you like. Future upgrades to the course itself will always be included for no extra charge. When we offer Hot Seats (we don't do them for every run of the course), you can add them on for an additional fee. This way you can retake the course with the same horse for further refinement, or take the course with a different horse.

COURSE COMPLETION CERTIFICATE

When you complete the 2026 Flying Changes course, this is something to celebrate and deserves recognition. When you finish the completion process including the assessments at the end of the course, we will send you a personalized Completion Certificate, signed by Thomas and Shana.

FLYING CHANGES EXERCISES EBOOK

Exclusive eBook only available to Flying Changes course members. In this PDF eBook, you get a compilation of all of the exercises contained in the Flying Changes course with graphics and brief explanations. You can download this onto your phone so that you can take this with you into the arena in order to reference any exercise whenever you need it. Not available for separate purchase. Released partway through the course.

BONUS MODULE: TRAINING THE TEMPO CHANGES

Bonus Module on how to introduce, ride, and train the tempo changes including strategy, problem-solving, and specific techniques utilising the biomechanics building blocks introduced in the course.

BONUS MODULE: TRAINING THE FLYING CHANGES AT THE LONGREIN

Bonus Module on How to train your horse to do the flying changes while at the longrein, including strategy, problem-solving, and specific techniques applicable to training the horse at the longrein.

BONUS: INTRODUCTION TO STIRRUP-STEPPING MINI-COURSE

In this mini course, you get a comprehensive introduction to the subtle art of stirrup stepping as an incredibly effective and helpful training tool. 23 videos, 5 introductory patterns, PDFs, audio files. €100 value

BONUS: COUNTER-CANTER MINI-COURSE

For Flying Changes, we must first develop the quality of the horse’s canter. One of the most effective tools for improving the quality of the horse’s canter is the Counter Canter. In this course you learn when is the right time to introduce it to your horse. You learn all the pitfalls and problems that occur in the counter canter. And you learn 11 exercises that help you introduce it, develop it, and polish it. You will also learn how to use your seat and how to use your aids in the counter canter. €65 value

BONUS: SUPPLE RIBS MINI-COURSE

Includes a Masterclass on Ribcage Suppleness for Horse and Rider, a Riding Exercise for Suppling the Horse’s Ribs, and a Feldenkrais Lesson for Suppling the Rider’s Ribs. For many riders, the horse and rider’s ribcages are not on the training radar at all aside from some consideration about bending. In fact, ribcage suppleness for both horse AND rider is vital for pretty much everything we do in the training, particularly when we are talking about keeping ourselves and our horses sound over the long term. This is a whole mini-course that is sure to enrich your understanding and application of ribcage suppleness into every sphere of your riding. €100 Value

BONUS: THE PATH TO SIMPLE AND FLYING CHANGES WORKSHOP RECORDINGS

This workshop shows you why the quality of your flying changes is inseparable from the quality of your simple changes - and how improving the latter directly transforms the former. You’ll learn how simple changes help you develop the core prerequisites you and your horse need for flying changes, how they improve the overall quality of the flying change, and how they can be used to fix common problems that show up in the movement. In addition, you’ll explore the mechanics of the flying change itself and learn two targeted exercises: one designed to develop your simple changes, and one designed to develop your flying changes, giving you a clear and practical bridge between the two. €27 Value

It's FAQ time!