Amy's Question...

Amy left me a nice comment from yesterdays post (pattern 34) and had the following questions:

• With the look back portion: you would look over your left shoulder, correct?

To answer your first question Amy, YES you would look over your left shoulder...you want to make it EASY for yourself to see the judge without having to twist your body around...you basically just want to move your head...

• Would you ever have to look over your right shoulder/across the horse ever? Or is that a big no-no?

To answer your second question, it really depends on the Judge and your pattern. Some judges don't care if you look back and others really do...so I always tell my clients to err on the side of caution...and here are a few manuevers where you would look over your RIGHT shoulder to the Judge:

1. In this first manuever, you complete your 180, look back at Judge hesitate 1/2 a breath and then walk away...
2. In the second manuever, you will look over your right shoulder AFTER your done walking AROUND the judge and think you are back in line with him/her (usually this is more a courtesy look than actual help for YOU...LOL).
3. In the third manuever you have complete your 270, look over your right shoulder at the judge (over the horse's back) and then continue on with the rest of the pattern.

Now remember this is what I'd tell MY clients and there are other trainers/judges that MIGHT tell you differently... so keep that in the back of your head...

Amy, I will try to address the rest of your questions in another post at another time...this is going to take some drawing and/or picture taking on my part...

Happy Practicing!