Lead Change Clinic (Continued)

Was going to take this lead change thing around the track step by step and then noticed the Rachel Alexandra video showing lead changing, and, would we expect less than what shows from the horse of the year? Enlarged version on YouTube. Notice, particularly what occurs when Rachel gets the wrong lead down the stretch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7za5GH86Jik&feature=related

Instead of walking onto track by herself and commencing trot on correct diagonal to get left lead into Clubhouse turn, Rachel does this off the pony. Notice the rider with his A+ skill set, and the obvious emphasis this jock has for the correct lead change into the Clubhouse turn, and then again down the stretch. Compare the work in this vid with the oblivious Europeans endangering their horses coming down the stretch on the wrong lead in the recent stakes at Woodbine, Canadian International and E.P. Taylor stakes. You have two different sets of jocks--one understanding, obviously, the crucial nature of the correct lead, the other two--out to lunch. Which do u want on your horse?

And, to be sure, although Rachel's entire work is very decent, there's also a lot to criticize in that video. Get to the criticism part eventually. Keep this in mind that we want maximum "acquisition" for our horse in this workout in terms of performance, and, we want to actually get our horse to the race by also avoiding injury. The vid shows expert training and riding in terms of leads.. Nuts and bolts in the next posts.
Training:
Sun 10/23: Pasture romp. Unable to catch 'em.
Mon. 10/24: Horse and rider very in tune this night. Saying a lot for our difficult horse. However, despite best efforts, sun again drops like a rock and prior to heat #4 nearly dark with 15 deer flittering around at the bottom of the track. Decided to avoid the risk and called it after 3 heats. Went well and aiming for :14s this eve.