keyhole 50 best arena exercises and patterns ... - horse and rider … best selected exercise… ·...
TRANSCRIPT
50 Best Arena Exercises
and Patternsby Ann KAtrin QuerbAch
Trafalgar Square Books ∙ 800.423.4525 ∙ www.HorseandRiderBooks.com ∙ [email protected]
KeyholeWith this exercise, you improve the horse’s gaits with diagonal movement. You achieve better balance and more willing cooperation. The keyhole is a component of a trail course. This exercise is ridden backward.
What Do I Need? 3–6 cones.
Setting Up Position the cones along the centerline at a dis-tance of about 3–6 feet (1–2 m) apart, starting out. More advanced riders can try at 3 feet (1 m) and “experts” can decrease the distance to 1.5 feet (.5 m). Position the cones as shown in the diagram.
How Does This Exercise Work?Ride backward through the keyhole. The lines that you are riding backward should not touch one another. The horse should learn to respond to the weight aids (also see Exercises 3.7 and 4.2).
Aids: If you wish your horse to turn to the right, you must position the horse to the left, weight the left side, and apply your leg aids as you would for backing up.
What Is the Horse Learning? Trust. To yield to the rider’s weight and reins.
What Is the Rider Learning? Trust. Correct application of the aids. The rider is practicing body awareness.
Heads Up! Take lots of breaks, praise your horse, make sure that motivation is maintained and the horse does not become stressed.
Tip: Only look around the pattern when the horse is standing still—not when he is backing up.
Trafalgar Square Books ∙ 800.423.4525 ∙ www.HorseandRiderBooks.com ∙ [email protected]
Nena trusts her rider and backs up willingly.