Prelim 10 canter to trot transition

[augermoon]

Am doing Prelim 10 next weekend and I 've always hated this test as we struggle with the canter to trot transition. Its the one where you canter across the long diagonal with a downwards transition as you reach the track. Although Arnie is progressing well, he still struggles with balance and so finds this transition particularly difficult.

What is the best way to prepare for the transition (if I lose impulsion too early, we tend to break canter early and fall round the corner in a rushed trot) and to get a smooth one ready for walk at the next marker? I know its a case of lots of half halts but is there any way of setting it up so it is easier for him. I tend to find that if I ask too late, the trot is then rushed and it takes me all the way to the next marker to sort us both out. So would it be better to ask for the transition slightly earlier - this would make for a neater transition but would it be worthwhile if we're gonna get penalised for breaking early???

Any help much appreciated. Thanks heaps.

[MeMe]

We have the same prob with Zak in P10.

We have found that the judges seem to mark better if you break slightly early therefor, having a nicer trot round and after the corner and hitting the walk marker correctly and going into freewalk.

If we aim for the trot transition to be spot on he tends to fall around the corner, overshoot C and be joggy for freewalk, so we have messed up 3 movements, better to break early and mess up one than 3, and continue to practice at home.

Also find not over riding the turn to go across the diagonal, I know everyone screams look up and ahead and ride to the next corner, but sometimes on some horses, your increasing the power ie Zak, and its harder to get balanced and make a good transition at the marker.

We ride Zak inch by inch across the diagonal, look across to set up the line as you come off the corner, but instead of riding and aiming dead set for the next corner, ride a few foot infront of you as you go along.

Helps Zak no end, might not work for you but its worth a try, its almost as if he realises that we are simply cantering then, instead of aiming for the corner.

[augermoon]

Thanks for that Meme. I had thought the same thing about breaking early and then setting up properly for the trot rather than ruining 3 sets of marks. Will try the inch by inch thing this week. I totally see what you're saying and I definitely normally do the whole looking up urging us both all the way across thing, so maybe focusing on smaller sections will help us both.

Thanks a lot.

[MeMe]

Its worth a try, it may not work and may mess up the marks more, but if you dont try you dont know!lol

And it was actually my instructor that advised us to try it in the first place, when all else was failing with Amy getting the transitions on him (I wont ride 10 yet!) but it seems to be working, as she is concentrating on riding the canter like she normally wood and setting up points to ride to at a time instead of marking the corner. :D

Good luck :D

[augermoon]

Meme,

Don't suppose the writing that you're doing is for Prelim 10 is it? If so, would be great if you could watch how everyone does it and how they are scored :D :D

[MeMe]

lol funny you should say that it is :D

Thats why Im not competing there that day, dont want to ride 10 yet! ;)

[augermoon]

Really? That's a coincidence. Well, will be too late for this comp as its next weekend and your writing is on the 18th isn't it? But will no doubt come across it again before too long so any feedback would be much appreciated.

[DITZ]

i've also had the same problem, try to transition on the marker, overshoot it, rush round to A in fast trot, overshoot that too.

My instructor at the time also told me to prepare the downward at about x (i think x I never remember - the middle anyway) in order to break about 1-2 metres before the marker.

I hate P10. P18's much nicer!

[augermoon]

Yep I prefer 18 too. As they are running both classes 10 and 18, I have decided to enter both - will be really pooped off if I spend all that time getting ready only to mess up. Doing 2 classes will at least give me a second chance.

Showjumper has kindly offered to come and get some good piccies for me so will provide evidence (good or bad) after next weekend.

[Willingbe]

Whilst agreeing with what's already been said, also check how you are sequencing the change. If you are asking for counter bend to get round the from the diagonal onto the track at the same time as asking the horse to transition down it's going to cause him a lot of confusion and unbalance him.
So you can either ask for the transition down before you get to the marker without asking for counterbend or you can start to counter bend him between x and f, so he's balanced for the curve back onto the track, then ask for the transition down. The latter will help you with preparing for counter canter when you up to the novice tests.

[augermoon]

Willingbe,

Thanks for that. Makes perfect sense and thinking about it, I'm pretty sure I do ask for the counter bend at the same time as the transition which may be the problem. Will have a play in the school this week with the 2 options you have suggested and see what works for us.

Thanks again to everyone.