Elem 49 Tips

[rosiesowner]

Hey everyone! If all goes as planned Chilli and I will be heading to do our first Elem tests at the start of May. I'm looking for a few pointers on the following movements:

49:
-The rein back at C. It asks for one horse's length. How many steps would this generally be considered to be?
-The half circles at B and then later at E with a change of leg over X. Are these generally ridden in an 'S' shape with the change of leg through trot through the straight line. Or, is it more of a relaxed S shape, almost a half of an 8 shape?
-Circle right 20m in working canter and allow horse to stretch. Does this mean lengthening the rein a little?

Just curios of these few things that I feel that through watching videos I have a good idea of, but want to make sure we're accurate to get better marks.
Pic of my girl to brighten boring post:

 

[Fanatical]

Rein Back would be 2-5 steps.

There would be no straight lines in 2 half circles! ;-)

Allowing the horse to stretch would indeed require a longer rein, but the horse should draw the contact and nose forward and down, rather than the rider just offering a loose rein.

Hope that helps. Good Luck!

 

[ihatework]

Rein back, aim for 4
Half circles transition over X as you are facing A/C (presume these are 2 x half 10?)
Canter stretch, yes let the rein out, nose should follow forwards & down

 

[rosiesowner]

Rein Back would be 2-5 steps.

There would be no straight lines in 2 half circles! ;-)

Allowing the horse to stretch would indeed require a longer rein, but the horse should draw the contact and nose forward and down, rather than the rider just offering a loose rein.

Hope that helps. Good Luck!

Rein back, aim for 4
Half circles transition over X as you are facing A/C (presume these are 2 x half 10?)
Canter stretch, yes let the rein out, nose should follow forwards & down

Both confirming my beliefs on the half circles. And thanks for the number of steps, don't want to accidentally do one limousine length instead of a horse