Exercise with Options

Nancy Schanda says:

Thank you for your quick responses. Luckily I still have this exercise set up and was able to go back and try some things. Regarding the “creating the turn” via a quick halt. I did try this….several times. Each time Flash Man turned to the left instead of the right; thus my reason for using the strong shoulder pull. Getting closer to the jump and then stopping is problematic because he is so fast. But I tried leading out well ahead of him and did the stop and it worked like a charm. When I released him earlier, assuming I was in a place in the run where I couldn’t get that close, when I stopped he again turned the wrong way. So, I had to assume I’m stopping too late. So I tried stopping much earlier….and it worked. I guess his speed requires me to halt much earlier. So, I think I am on the right track with these turns. I actually tried this in a run last weekend and it worked nicely for us, so I will be doing more.

On the part where I was doing the rear cross on the landing side. I tried this again also. It put me so far behind that he worried about where I am and will spin. He did that just a bit ago. But I tried again adding a “go go go” and he went ahead and took the next jump. I think that both of us just need more practice with this. In trials I often abort RCs that early because I’m afraid he is going to pull off (like he did today). But I will work more with him and hopefully he will get the idea!

In reality I would have done a blind cross there which seems very natural, but I understand that I am supposed to be learning these moves. I will look for some courses where I can practice.

Thanks again for your comments. I appreciate it.