Dow - love ya! Now, take a look at Dragon-Slayer. Look at the movement, no jerking. With lateral gaited horses, the back does not move under the rider. The back is steady. When in the ring, the judge looks at the knees of the rider, IF the knees are jigging then the horse is not 'smooth' and will not get a ribbon. Riders 'try' to cover their knees for the judge... In the PP show ring, we wear ponchos, classical Peruvian dress code. So of course, it is quite easy to pull the poncho over the knees - but, the judge 'can' ask for the knees to be uncovered. It can get quite funny. At one show, one of the top chalans (trainers) was making a HUGE deal of covering his knees. The judge asked him to uncover, not a jiggle in sight. He'd been making a deal out of covering so that the judge would give him more notice - and push out the opposition. Yep. He got his 'smooth' gaited ribbon. <LOL>
Also have to check out the top line, check for movement as well. That's when the champagne class comes into its own. Ride holding a glass full of champagne. The judge gives 'gaiting' orders: turn, gait, paso-llano, sobreandando, walk, turn, etc etc. Rider with the most champagne left, gets the ribbon. Fun class. Think it was a fourth place I got in that one.
DD was always in the ribbons. Champion breeding mare; champion of champion performance horse; ribbon for gait etc etc. She was a whizz. Sigh. But, was soooo lucky to have known her AND to have owned her. WOW. Wonderful memories
Thanks Dow. Lovely to 'see' my gal there - even though she *is 'bouncing'...<VBG>
