Pattern 1, Difficult

Pattern Instructions

1. Trot from cone 1 to cone 2
2. Stop at cone 2 and back a serpentine to cone 4
3. Perform a 180 turn
4. Walk to judge and set up for inspection

Here's my findings for this pattern

1. Starting with my horse's front feet at cone 1, I trotted until my horse's hip was even with cone 2. This allowed me enough room to make a smooth first arc.
2. As you begin your back at cone 2, make a mental note of cone 3, because it becomes a blind spot. Do the same thing with the next cone.
3. At cone 4 (and this is the hard part) you need to make sure that your PIVOT FOOT is in-line with the JUDGES LEFT SHOULDER, because when you do your 180 pivot you want to be right in front of him/her.
4. Also note at cone 4, that you MAY have to urge your horse slightly forward for his/her spin because the horse might spin on the incorrect foot after all of the backing.