[drivingpairs] Cones (was Rachel in BC)

Visit our our FORUM at http://drivingpairs.activeboard.com/
and our WEBSITE at www.drivingpairs.com


When giving clinics on driving Cones, I do not recommend trying to set up and 
drive "courses".  What needs to be done is practice precision driving.  You 
need 
to be able to put the wheels of your vehicle with a few inches of any given 
target, from any given angle.  Of course, the responsiveness of your animal, 
developed through practicing the elements of dressage is a vital factor in this 
effort.


I personally use a pattern of markers in a "star" pattern.

          O

O       O      o O

          O

The markers are set 10 meters apart.  This allows me to practice precision 
driving with no pressure.  I DO use cones as markers which makes passing cone 
sets at close clearances no big deal for the animal.  I will often add a sixth 
cone on the inside of one of the outer markers set at advanced clearance for 
the 
vehicle I am driving.  Again, this allows me to work through cones gates with 
no 
stress or excitement for the animal.  It just becomes a regular part of the 
driving day.  The rush of adrenalin only comes on competition day!  That 
creates 
enough excitement to pick up our speed on course.

Remembering a cones course is a different topic, and is best approached from 
the 
driver's learning capability and the techniques for committing a set of 
elements 
to memory.  I find that repetitive trips around the course on foot work best 
for 
me.

As an occasional course designer, unless separate courses are built for 
different 
levels (rare), the angles and arcs used by the designer seldom reflect anything 
other than the highest level being competed at the event.  With the current 
emphasis on speed and the development of more "technical" courses, rather than 
the more flowing courses many of us are used to, developing your ability to 
position your vehicle and animals with precision is extremely important.

FWIW

Jay E Hubert
Coffing Oaks Welsh Ponies
Galt, CA

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and taste good 
with ketchup.

And I STILL drive too fast to worry about cholesterol!

_________________________________________________________
To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: 
http://www.drivingpairs.com/dpmem.shtml
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Other related posts: