[cherazam]

Originally Posted by Doll-Face

Thanks SOO much guys! All this has been great help.

Here's a copy of the pattern so yall have a better idea. Dont I just ROCK at paint?? lol


SO! Im glad yall told me the cone thing, I will def keep those on my right.

I am a bit confused about where to start transitions tho. Ive heard when my horses feet hit it, my shoulder, the horses shoulder...??

LOL reiner girl, nothin like jumping in with both feet!

Thanks again guys!

Your going to want to your horse to transitions when between your horses shoulder and your body. But keep in mind if your horse isnt one that does a immediate resonponse when asking to transition then your going to want to ask for it alittle before the cone.

[belle4]

I am of the same thinking as John, the transition should happen as your leg/stirrup is at the cone. If the transition happens after the cone, you are off pattern/breaking gate/point deduction.

When you pass B, the horse should be trotting. If you are walking past B, that is considered a break of gait. You need to be trotting at B. If your horse is slow to pick up the jog, ask before you get to B. It looks smoother if you are trotting before B than if you can't get your horse to trot until after B. I'm talking only a few steps here. It will still be a point deduction, but the over all appearance of the patter will be smoother

You can practice at home to see how many steps it will take you to engage your horse.

Same thing at the end of the pattern when you stop and back. You need to be stopped with your leg at the cone. That may require that you start asking to stop several strides before the cone. Again, it looks smoother/better if your horse is completely stopped 2 strides before the cone than if your horse blows by the cone and stops after the cone. STill the same point deduction, but the overall appearanace of the pattern looks better. It's the last thing the judge sees/remembers, make the cone be there.

As for riding the circle, here's what I have my students do. Put a marker in the middle and pretend to be holding a long string that is attached to the marker. Ride the circle. You can't let the string go and the string can not break. Look at the marker. Turn your head and eyes. This will set up your whole body to be in the right position. Stay in the middle of the saddle.

In the class, if the circle is small, stay in the middle of your saddle and use the outside leg to push your horse around. You may even need to get to the outside of your saddle to further help your horse get around a tight circle.

[BlackFilly]

now that you have got all this amazing advice form everyone wich i agree on 100% go relax do something fun trail ride something relaxing fro you both