Pattern 34, Advanced Novice

Findings:

1. The hardest part to this pattern is getting around cone 2 smoothly and in line with the judge when you make it to cone 3 for your 180.
2. Lets concentrate (for the moment) getting around cone 2, you need to do this without pivoting your horse and it all begins at cone 1. If you set up too close to cone 1, what's going to happen at cone 2? You either have to pivot to stay on course (wrong), or you have to do an arc wide and get back in line with the judge (again wrong)... set up with a little distance away from cone 1 so that you can back a smooth arc to the judge and be sure to look UP BEFORE you make that arc around cone 2 so that you KNOW where you are going.
3. NOW that you made that important arc around the cone, THINK...YOUR horses pivot foot (right hind) should be lined up with the JUDGES LEFT SHOULDER...so when you pivot your 180 at cone 3 you'll be straight on to the Judge.
4. Now since you backed, most horses tend to stay in the "back" mode, as you pivot, be extra sure you have a little forward momentum going and they are not pivoting on the incorrect foot or worse, pick up their pivot foot...
5. Trot off and slow to a walk at cone 4, make sure you SLOW TO A WALK and not halt and then walk on...you'll need to practice this to make it look smooth and seamless...
6. Walk to Judge, STOP AT AN ARM and a HALF LENGTH's AWAY from the judge and set up for inspection (you have 3 seconds...practice practice practice this at home, so many people are soooo busy practicing their spins, backs, etc. that a perfect set up could bump you up several placings even if you say botched the spin in the class...set ups are BASIC and should be done with the utmost ease and timeliness)
7. Upon dismissal perform a nice 90, give a courtesy look AS you walk away...don't make it a stare down, just a nice look back WITH A SMILE and walk away.