ALEX’S TIPS FOR RIDING ACCURATE LOOPS
The corner before the loop is key. Riding a good corner as deep as you can — using a half-halt to prepare and balance your horse before starting your loop — will help to set you up for the rest of the movement. Ensure your horse is straight for one horse’s length on the two occasions where you ask for a change in bend. Show a clear and supple change of bend for the judge to see as the curvature of the loop changes. Be accurate — a 10m loop touches the centre line at X. Keep looking where you’re going, riding your horse forwards with a good length of stride and ensuring his hind legs are following the front ones. Return to the track slightly before the marker so that you’re exactly straight and on the outer track as you pass it. Half-halt to rebalance your horse and then ride into the corner to complete your loop.