Tips from John, a grid, and flying changes

Today we started with a few questions.
First - riding 30-45 minutes 4x a week is ok, so long as we're working hard in that time.  But I should include about 20 minutes of walking (warm up and cool down).  John says 60 minutes of work is too long - to think about being a runner and how there are few benefits to just running for more than 60 minutes. 
Second - all horses break down eventually, and I can't do anything to prevent it.  But they more frequently break down from not enough conditioning (not being in shape, then going to an event) than from too much work (being ridden six days a week in the months leading up to an event).  John says not to worry, that I am not going to wear Charlie out riding him too much.
Third - Yes, Charlie can go to John's for two weeks of training in February, but he isn't sure he'll be able to teach him that lead change either.  (But see below for today's progress!)
Fourth - Yes, I should try to go to the Rebecca three day for Training this year.  It isn't too much to go two years in a row.
Fifth - I start conditioning and doing speed work as soon as the footing allows.  John says for the California shows, they have to just do tiny little gallops in the indoor arena because our footing doesn't get good soon enough.

Then, because we were chatting, John worked me all the way through the warm up.  At the trot, he had me bend Charlie a bit more to the inside than I normally do, and then a bit more contact on the outside rein to get him round.  Then a bit more of both legs for forward.

After that, we started working on the lead changes.  They were kind of brutal.  Charlie was half rearing - leaping up into the air with his front legs (and flailing, apparently) and then when I'd whip him, kicking out in a buck behind.  I was breathing hard by the time we got one.  BUT - we got them!  Charlie was really, really confused about what I wanted, but as we got through his thick skull, it took less time. 
Here's how:  canter on right lead.  Cut across the diagonal and change direction.  Bend Charlie's neck to the left.  Half halt.  Ask for the change of lead with a lot of emphasis on the outside leg.  Ride a few leaps and bucks.  Half halt again, get the bend there, and then ask again. 
Charlie would change in the front, but not the back, and then it is just the half halt on the outside hand to get the rest of the change.
What John said to work on by myself was to keep doing the simple changes, but get him supple to the inside (the new lead) and half halt and make sure he is bent, and then do my trot steps and change leads.  That will help him to recognize that when he bends to the inside, he is going to do a lead change and not be able to brace and avoid it (which is what his m.o. is).  He said if it takes a couple of circles, fine, but make sure Charlie knows he is going to have to work hard and eventually supple and bend and do the change.  I was really pleased that we got them at all - and going both directions.

We also did a grid that was a cross rail, ground pole, vertical, oxer.  The oxer ended about 3'6" and I did a way better job keeping my heels down and in front of me than last time.  I also, a couple of times, got my line a little straighter and corrected it on the way through.  When Charlie would land on the wrong lead, (the right lead, when I wanted left), we would circle at the end until he got the lead change.
Twice John had me do laps (one, then two) in a two point at the trot in between.

John is the best.