Riding a serpentine help - please

[SHAYTAY]

When riding a three loop serpentine in trot, are you meant to change your diagonal at every bend or should you not.....
thanks x

 

[j1ffy]

I was always told to change diagonal (important to keep the horse balanced) but that you don't have to change your whip hand if you're carrying one. Obviously if it's a test you wouldn't carry one anyway!

 

[SHAYTAY]

[ QUOTE ]
I was always told to change diagonal (important to keep the horse balanced) but that you don't have to change your whip hand if you're carrying one. Obviously if it's a test you wouldn't carry one anyway!

[/ QUOTE ]

OOOHHH Blimee! I always carry a whip in my test!

....and i never change hands!!!

But thanks for that - i was unsure if it was necessary to change.
x

 

[DuckToller]

Agree with above - you definitely should change diagonal, as you should be changing the horse's bend, so correct diagonal helps horse's bend. I aim for on or just after centre line.

And I never change whip as it's not a requirement, it's too fiddly to keep changing, and it only adds something else that could go wrong!

 

[Perfect_Pirouette]

I didn't change my diagonal when doing serpentines, but i will now

glad you made this post lol.

 

[diggerbez]

you can carry a whip usually for BD- but not regionals/nationals and BE you can't but otherwise you can....but you shouldn't swap it over as it looks very messy.... in answer to OP question yes change diagonal as keeps horse balanced...

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I was taught to change my diagonal as you cross the centre line when riding a serpentine - helps keep the horse balanced.