Pattern 12, Intermediate

Findings:

1. Start so that your horse is dead on with the judge.
2. Trot briskly and stop square, you'll have problems with your pull turn if you horse is not square when it stops. Most individuals I watched needed to pull their horse slightly forward or their horse would pivot on the incorrect foot (should be the horse's left rear foot as the pivot foot in a pull turn).
3. After set up, take a good look where the judge is standing...is the judge standing at your horse's hip (they should be), make sure you are in the correct quarter for inspection, many exhibitors did not cross over to present their horse and their placings fell significantly.
4. Backing should be easy and not a drawn out, excruitiating watch, as you round cone 2, be sure to move yourself to the right of your horse, so that you give your horse enough room to move it's head, which it turn gives your horse the room to move it's hip around that corner smoothly and quickly.
5. Back far enough past cone 2 so that you can do your pivot without running into cone 2.
6. Trot away and have a nice stop, turn and look at judge after the stop for dismissal.