Re: RC: Top Ten Tips???

[Merryben@aol.com]

Have your horse clean and looking like a show horse. Overall impressions help.

Trot staight out.  STOP.  Turn your horse and STOP.  
Trot back.

When circling, make BIG round circles.  Go in the first direction and then STOP.  Turn the horse around.  STOP.  Then circle in the other direction.  

When you don't stop and the horse has to turn abruptly, he sometimes takes a step that makes him look lame, or he may really be off.  You don't need to emphasize that point.  

Run as fast as you can.  When trotting your horse out, don't look back at him.  This makes him hesitate.  If he is lame, he is lame.  Looking back at him does not make him sounder.

Watch people like Becky Hart and Heather Bergantz show for BC.  Another person who usually does a good job of showing for BC is Lari Shea.  They give their horse every opportunity to look good.  

Basically, you need to run fast.  Don't make fast changes of direction.

Every time you ride you horse, when you get home and untack, practice the trot out and circles.  The horse will learn what he is supposed to do.

These tips are good for vet checks too.

maryben