I have never attended a Gordyville Shootout and had a student qualify for this fun class. So I thought today I would put up the shootout pattern. It was set up similar to a trail pattern and while I don't think this is a new "trend", it was great to think outside (errr, inside) the box and was really fun to watch all the shootout qualifiers. I'm glad I didn't have to judge it, because it was one great pattern after another.
Findings:
- When trotting into the box, (it was about 20' by the way) make sure you give yourself plenty of room when you stop so that you can make that 1 3/4 turn.
- Upon finishing the 1 3/4 turn, let your horse settle a moment before performing the pull turn.
- Walk into L, stopping with your horse's nose at the end of the pole, back a smooth L (ie. don't pivot).
- Back until your horse's hip is even with cone 2, perform a pull turn, walk to cone 2, leaving yourself enough room to perform a 90 pivot.
- Trot off and make your circles even around each cone.
- Look up and around cone 3 as this is a blind turn.
Stop with enough distance between you and the judge so that you may perform a 180 without coming close to hitting the judge with your body. - Set your horse up for inspection and watch those crossovers carefully.
- Trot away, as you round cone 4, pour on the speed, however not so much that your horse starts loping.
- Stop with a nice even stop.
There really wasn't any "tricks" to this pattern, speed, accuracy and poise are what won...fantastic pattern and one I think we'll practice sometime this week with the broker horses. Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment