Pre - Competition Essentials
It's the little things that can make a
BIG difference.
Perfect Practice helps create Perfect Partnerships
The HALT
The "HALT" (capital letters) is a requirement for many of the obstacles.
The judge will be looking for an established HALT able to show and hold immobility.
A poorly executed HALT will loose you valuable points.
To perfect an "ease of movement" HALT, try to form good habits in your everyday handling.
Bringing that essential "awareness of self" to your leading and stopping, will greatly help you in achieving your goal of a calm, easy and still HALT.
"Practice and Perfect" this one simple (but difficult to attain) thing and you will find it will make a huge difference to the rest of your training.
Don't forget to use your "audible breathwork" (it WILL make a huge difference)
Partnership
A good working partnership, like trust, is something that takes time to create.
Like a happy marriage, each partner should feel equal, seen and heard.
The same should also apply to your equine partner if you want a positive path to harmonious success.
The judge is looking for that harmonious partnership to be on display through out your competition round.
The constant "to-ing and fro-ing" of non verbal energetic communication should be something that is evident at all times.
Make creating a "perfect partnership" your main objective.
Treat your equine partner in the same way you would a family member or loved one, with empathy, consideration, respect and above all else compassion.
The delicate silk like threads of connection start here, but remember like silk they can easily be torn and broken.
Leading Position
The required Equine Agility UK leading position is easily defined.
The handler must remain behind, not in front of the equines nose and should not drop back behind the equines shoulder unless otherwise stated and required.
This displays to the judge that the partnership is working well together.
As always in EAUK the responsibility to maintain this leading position is with the handler.
An equine that is trusting, confident and understanding of the task ahead should happily remain by your side until asked to do differently.
Quietly and calmly work at maintaining your position, employ your breathwork technique and build your awareness of matching steps with your equine, thus creating the ultimate synchronicity of mind and body.
