The first rule: KNOW THE PATTERN. More than 60% of the riders failed to
negotiate a simple figure 8 around cones in the directions specified by
the judges. And at a 3-day, where the riders were trotting out AM AND
PM, they had a minimum of 6 opportunities to repeat the exact same pattern!
Dr. Hooten was going to make completion contingent on successfully
trotting the pattern!
Rule #2: Make your circles large and true circles (no ovals, no
rhombohedrals). Hint from a dressage rider/judge: don't look at the
horse, focus softly on a point about 1/4 of the way around the circle,
leading with your inside shoulder and elbow resting comfortably at your
side. "Ride/jog" only 1/4 of the circle at a time, then refocus on the
next 1/4 section. This is how you learn to do 20 meter circles in dressage.
Rule #3: At the cross-over point (at "X") you have 2 choices--stay on
the outside of the circle or change to the inside. Barbara Madill
recommends staying on the outside because it causes less interruption of
the flow. If you opt for that route, you must compensate by jogging
faster yourself without increasing the speed of the horse. Hint: lead
with your outside shoulder, inside arm/elbow slightly back and give tiny
tugs as "half halts", and of course focus on the 1/4 circle concept as
you proceed. This WILL require practice. Use a buggy whip, carried in
the same hand as the lead rope, and if the horse bears out, give a quick
tap to the flank ("leg"). The key is to lead with the outside
shoulder--the horse will follow your body posture.
If you choose to change to the inside you also have several options. If
you must stop the horse at "X", then do it as if it were a "halt at X" in
the dressage ring. As you approach X, square your shoulders and your own
body posture, becoming very upright and slow your jog. A couple tugs on
the halter and make a smooth transition to a halt. If it is nice and
square, calmly walk to the other side, a couple light tugs, "trot, trot",
and proceed smoothly. DON'T JERK FORWARD--it makes the horse look
"off". As you approach the first "bend", start leading with the inside
shoulder as above. You may also start from X through the walk.
Dr. Hooten had the riders complete only 3/4 of the circle, then head
straight back to the starting cone. As you aim for the straightaway,
square your shoulders, upright body posture, half halts and slow smoothly
into the vet's area.
If you complete the second circle, you are now confronted with what to do
to get yourself and the horse aimed back to the judge. You could "halt
at X", turn correctly, square yourself and come straight back. Or you
could proceed past X, away from the judge and do a smooth roll-back on a
1/2 circle, never breaking the rhythm, and come straight back.
Unless you do a truly square halt and a collected take-off, you risk
having the horse look off. If you do something other than a geometric
circle, you can make the horse look uneven. If your body is not square
as you do the straightaway, the horse can wander, wiggle and look uneven.
Rider hints: Never do anything quickly--it will always work against
you. If you have halted, wait until YOU are ready to proceed and do so
under control!
How to jog: Try to avoid short, mincing steps. To make the horse look
more elevated (good at the end), try "bouncing" your stride, i.e. get
more elevation in your own stride. NEVER look back, never keep the lead
rope too tight or too loose. VISUALIZE the circle and focus on only
small pieces of it at a time. Keep the horse at your shoulder and
focused on YOU, not the distant horizon. You practice this at home-use a
buggy whip, chain over the nose, etc.
RULE: YOU may touch the horse, the horse may not touch you! If you
practice this at home, the horse will respect your space and follow your
cues during the trot-out.
Horses that may have been perfectly sound did not look so because they
lugged in, jerked to a halt or were uneven in their rhythm due to rider
error.
The trot-out is a simple dressage test "in-hand". If you use the
equivalent cues, and address the process with that mind-set, you will
present a more pleasant appearance and can assure yourself of a more
accurate assessment of your horses condition.
Questions? Email safehavn@fast.net
Good trotting....
Diane @ Safe Haven