December 13, 2002, Newsletter Issue #103: Games On Horseback
Tip of the Week
For The Third Week, we will discuss Formation Drills.
You need your horse, and team of riders, of an even number; of at least 6 Riders on Horseback.
Formation Drills are an excellent form of entertainment for the families and friends of Horsemen at Christmas, and other family and time off Holidays.
The success to formations, is the practise time spent before hand, with every member present.
You can do formation Circles, Diagonals through "X", and On the Arena Track Sequences. The SKY is your limit on preparing formation patterns.
The SECOND KEY TO SUCCESS in Formation Drills, is timing and unity. Each Rider must have a partner that is equal in speed and in size.
Often a Formation Drill will have the group start side by side facing "A" (where your audience will sit for the Presentation Night). You can have your Lead Riders either start from the center of the line (seated side by side) and moving off towards each outside rider. OR, starting from the outside and moving into the center.
Riders always move into patterns in pairs...that can be on either side of the arena on track, or coming down the center line.
To begin formation of your pattern, it is usually beneficial to pick your music first. Then write your pattern while listening to your music. Keep in mind when choosing your music, does the Tempo suit Walk-Trot-Canter; then time how long the tempo stays at that beat to incorporate the gait to the duration of that Tempo.
REMEMBER.....Only Practice Makes Perfection in Formation Drills; and Timing and Unity of Pairs.
HAVE A LOT OF FUN~!~!
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