Performing free walk that changes direction at X?

[Vesper Sparrow]

The Canadian Intro test B has a free walk that does not cross the entire diagonal, but changes direction at X to head back to the same long side:

"H X K Free walk on loose rein"

How is one supposed to ride this? It is not specified as a loop, yet the directives I read for a similar test talked about the quality of the bend.

I have been letting the reins go loose, riding a straight line and then steering my horse with my legs and body to change direction at X. Should I be riding it more as a loop? Should I be establishing a bend when I leave H and before I let the reins go loose?

The horse I am currently riding has a really nice walk and I've gotten an 8 on the free walk straight across the diagonal, but I need to change things up to achieve the same thing in this test.

[AlterBy]

If you've got 8's on your free walk, DON'T change anything!!!! :D

Start your diagonal as usual, go straight and do a corner at X and go straight to the end of that new diagonal and finish as you would usually do.

Just to add that this movement is called a counter change of hand. That is why it is not supposed to be looped.

[CFFarm]

In the US tests if you read the directives it seems to be more concerned with the lengthening, lowering and straightness of the diagonals. No mention of change of bend over X so I wouldn't ride it as so much a loop if your test reads the same. Concentrate on keeping the forward march and long frame.

http://nj4h.rutgers.edu/horses/horseshow/2011-horseshow-introtestb.pdf

[Janet]

Not so much a loop, as make sure that when you make your turn at X, the horse is bent in the direction of the turn.

[Vesper Sparrow]

So you wouldn't touch your reins at any point until you were making the transition to the medium walk?

[Rhiannonjk]

Well, you hold on to the reins, just in case :)

[Alagirl]

Well, you hold on to the reins, just in case :)

:lol::lol::lol:

[Alagirl]

So you wouldn't touch your reins at any point until you were making the transition to the medium walk?


seems to be the general idea behind this exercise...change directions relatively independent from the reins.

[Vesper Sparrow]

Sometimes, I do need that reminder!:D

[Janet]

So you wouldn't touch your reins at any point until you were making the transition to the medium walk? The free walk can be on a "long rein" or a "loose rein". Whichever you choose (and some judges definitely prefer a loose rein), use the same one for the turn at X.

[Petstorejunkie]

think of X as a corner that your horse's body moves through

[Vesper Sparrow]

That is a good thought! I think I have been making the turn too abruptly so the mare loses a bit of the momentum of the walk and doesn't stretch as much in the second part. I will think of it more as a corner and turn her a bit more gradually.

Who knew free walk could be so complicated? :lol:

[Sandy M]

I ride it as straight line to X, straight line after. I do it "long rein" (too many spooks on a youngster) and start to shorten the reins back up between the quarter line and the letter at which we are supposed to resume "medium walk," so that he is on the bit and doing medium walk as we pass the letter.

[Vesper Sparrow]

Thanks for the help! I think I will make a point of watching some pros do this figure the next time I'm at a national show...

Sandy, I, too, start shortening the reins just past the quarter line.

The mare, although young, a TB and still very green, is not spooky at all, so I don't worry about giving her all the rein she wants.