Pattern 49: Breed Show Amateur/Youth

I had heard "rumors" this year about how "hot" the coneless patterns were going to be. This is the first time our barn has run into them. My clients enjoyed them, but found them quite challenging. So here's my take and the difficulties we encountered.

Findings:

• A few of my students had a difficult time figuring out where to break to the walk from the trot, most were about 2 steps too far (you should be even with the judge). Also make sure you are transitioning that trot to walk and NOT trot stop walk...
• Make sure you walk far enough "north" before you start turning on your circle, if not, you'll encounter backing problems later in your pattern.
• You should begin your trot as you cross your walk path.
• Stop with your hip at the judge and pivot 1 3/4's.
• Now depending on how close you are to the judge you'll need to back...but save yourself some room to perform the 180 and the set up... which proved to be problematic in the class too many...

Have fun practicing...

This years show findings...

...Ok, so you're missing the patterns and I just quite frankly, am out of time to computer draw them...sorry... busy barn, busy judging schedule...and I haven't had a day off in a least 3 + Weeks...LOL...so...no pattern THIS time, BUT since we're on the road I'll give you a taste in what we are finding...

Lots of Trot to Walk transitions this year...so start practicing those.
Spins and lots of them...more than 360's...last weeks pattern required 3 spins.

These are the "in" things apparently this year...

Ok, back to business...happy practicing!

Basics: YOUR Body Positioning for Walk/Trot

Unsure where your body needs to be when walking/trotting your horse? Answer your shoulder should be even with your horse's throat latch.

Below the exhibitor is too far behind her horse...
Below the exhibitor is too far in front of her horse...

Below the exhibitor is just right (sounds like the 3 bears doesn't it? LOL). Although I can tell her horse is starting to lag behind because she's using the pull/release method of getting her horse to speed up just a bit by where her hand is next to his nose (waaay in front).

Thank you to the 2 Janet's and Elaine for being our demo's!

Pattern 48 : Breed Show Amateur/Youth

Findings
Don't let this pattern fool you either, straight lines are difficult!

• START directly in line with the judge, trot quickly and be mindful of your stop at cone 2, a popped hip will spell disaster for your back.
• Back at least 4 or 5 steps, you want to be sure you're going to clear BOTH cones 1 and cone 2 on your spin
• Perform your 360, possibly pulling your horse forward. Be sure not to over or under spin
• Walk briskly to the judge and stop 1 1/2 arms length away
• Setup for inspection, since no instructions are given, upon dismissal perform a 90 and walk away.

Pattern 47: Breed Show Novice

Findings
Don't be fooled by first glances, this pattern is challenging. Straight lines are VERY difficult! Our judge made it extra challenging by placing cone 2 VERY close to the pivot line, you had to be almost on top of the cone to make your hip inline with the judge.

• Be ready at cone 1, walk briskly to cone 2
• Stop with your horse's hip at cone 2 (this is something to really practice ... this is a make/break part of your pattern). TIP, count how many steps YOU take when you pass the judge until you need to stop...this will help in the showpen
• Stop and perform your 90, do not over or under pivot
• Trot to cone 2, stop at your horse's nose. Be mindful of your stop, you do NOT want a kicked out hip because when you back it needs to be PER.FECTLY straight...
• Back at LEAST 4 steps
• Walk to judge and stop with 1 1/2 arms length away
• Set up for inspection
• Upon dismissal perform a 90 and walk away
  

Basics: YOUR Body Position, BACKING

You thought you had a nice pattern, but didn't even place, here could be the reason.

Standing directly in front of your horse to back will disqualify you on most judges cards. This is a dangerous position to put yourself in, IF your horse spooks you could be run over, or if your horse rears you could be pummelled.
Below our exhibitor is in a much better position safety wise, she's slightly in front of her horse so that she can see where to guide her horse and she's off to the side so if something should spook her horse she can quickly move off to the right.

Pattern 45: Advanced

Findings:

• Begin at cone 1 with the same distance you'll end up at cone 3
• Trot a serpentine, you'll probably need to cut close to cone 2 to make the distance to cone 3 (the shorter the distance between the cones, the more difficult this will become)
• Stop at the nose and perform a 360, do not over or under pivot as your back will be crooked
• Back until your hip is even with the judge and perform a 270, making sure that your horse is pivoting on the correct foot (you may have to pull your horse slightly forward)
• Walk to judge, stop with 1 1/2 arms length away and set up for inspection
• Upon dismissal perform a 90 and walk away