I have trouble understanding the trail pattern. What are some tricks to help me remember and understand?
When trying to remember a trail pattern, you need to have the pattern in your hands. Either obtain a copy from the show office or copy it exactly as drawn off on the posted pattern. Take a different color highlighter for each gait and color the path. That way the pattern won’t look like a bunch of black and white lines to confuse you. If you are doing more than one pattern, learn the first one and then wait till you are through with that one to learn the next. Know it by heart before you ever see it laid out in the arena. If you have a chance to warm up on a practice pattern, that really helps. I find it helpful when I am showing in a pattern to actually talk my way through the course. It’s slows your mind down and makes you think ahead.
