Fall 2019 / 57might plan to approach
the first cone at a walk,
then trot when you
reach the first cone, walk
again at the second,
lope at the third, and
stop at the fourth.
Your goal is for the
transition to be complete
when your horse’s shoul-
der comes level with the
cone (see diagrams). To
achieve this, be thinking
about the transition at
least a horse’s length away
from the cone. Apply your
cues when your horse’s
nose reaches the cone,
so that he can respond
by the time his shoulder
reaches the cone.
Depending on your
and your horse’s level of
profi ciency, in the begin-
ning, you may need to
adjust the point at which
you apply your cues in
order to allow more reac-
tion time.The Turn Patterns
For the square and
zigzag patterns, your
goal is the same —plan so
that your horse executes
the transition when his
shoulder reaches the
cone. Only now you’ll beturning after the transi-
tion to head towards the
next cone.
Be sure to incorpo-
rate a variety of transi-
tions—up and down in
speed, changing gaits,
even stopping. If there’s
a specifi c transition you
struggle with, practice it
more often.
When you get good
with the square pattern,
you can mix it up by cut-
ting diagonally across the
square to create new and
more challenging clover-
leaf patterns.
Let creativity—and
fun!—be your guide. see “Do the Hula-Hoop Lope”
at HorseandRider.com.For more from Michelle Chapman...
PHOTO BY NICHOLE CHIRICO
Plan your cues so that your horse completes the transition you're asking for when his shoulder comes level
with the cone. Then continue to the next cone.
Michelle Chapman coaches
amateurs and youth in rein-
ing and all-around events.
Winner of a National Rein-
ing Horse Association North
American Affi liate Cham-
pionship, she attributes
her success to humane
training methods based on
natural horsemanship and
“patience over pressure.”
Her Chapman Performance
Horses is located in Eaton,
Colorado (cphreiners.com).
BI
O^PHOTO^BYJULIEP
REBLE