What is a simple lead change and when do you use it?

A simple lead change is a change of canter lead accomplished by transitioning down to trot or walk for a few strides and then departing on the new lead — as opposed to a flying change in which the horse changes lead in the air during the moment of suspension without breaking to a slower gait. Simple lead changes are used in situations where a flying change is not available — either because the horse has not yet been trained to do flying changes, because the specific moment on course does not give the horse and rider the conditions needed for a reliable flying change, or because the rider prefers the security of a simple change in a high-pressure competitive moment to the risk of a late or missed flying change. In hunter competition, simple lead changes are acceptable and sometimes strategically preferable to flying changes — a clean simple change through a step or two of trot looks neater than a late or counter-cantered flying change, and some hunter judges specifically note the quality of lead changes as part of their overall assessment of the horse's way of going. In jumper competition, simple lead changes are used whenever flying changes are not available and the course's turns require a specific lead — a horse on the wrong lead through a tight turn risks the outside leg taking the turn rather than the inside leg, which reduces balance and potentially affects the approach to the next fence. The practical application of simple lead changes in course riding requires the rider to identify lead changes needed before the class, plan the specific moments in the course where they will be executed, and ride them decisively and cleanly rather than allowing the horse to swap impulsively or riding through turns on the wrong lead without acknowledging the lead change need.