P19 - allow the horse to stretch in trot

[Hornby]

I am comtemplating doing P19 - but what is expected in this movement please? V - circle left 20m diameter and allow the horse to stretch. Do you loosen the reins, or move your hands forward or both please? Also, how far does a 20m circle at V go, does it touch A and X? Never ridden in a 60m before and don't have one to practise in so trying to picture it unsuccessfully...

Thanks

 

[xspiralx]

I did this one recently and got a 7 for it - I basically loosened the reins quite a bit so he could stretch but still kept a contact.

 

[kerilli]

a 20m circle at V will miss X by 2m, and miss A by 8m (there's 12m from V to E, and 18m from V to the exact corner of the arena, if that makes sense, i.e. 6m from K to corner, 12m from K to V)
allow hands forward but keep contact, try to keep the horse's rhythm and balance the same as you allow the stretch, remember you can do small 1/2 halts in stretch, which should help. to practise, i give slightly with alternate hands to give the horse the idea at first of stretching downwards.
hope that helps a bit!

 

[Hornby]

Thanks for the detailed reply both, these long arena tests are complicated!

 

[Ludi-doodi]

Thank you for that explanation from me too! I'm doing this one Saturday.