Lope-over dos and don’ts

Do

• Practice developing an even, cadenced lope away from the poles.
• Make sure your cues are clear and your horse is listening before working on lope-overs.
• Practice over poles and away from them.
• Keep an even, motivated pace throughout the course.
• Keep your focus ahead on where you want to go next.
• Walk the course beforehand whenever the show allows.

Don’t

• Don’t allow yourself to get thrown forward in the saddle over elevated poles.
• Don’t get too slow—momentum is necessary for the horse to make the distance between poles.
• Don’t look down at the ground.
• Don’t look at the poles themselves as you’re negotiating the lope-over.
• Don’t speed up or slow down as you approach a lope-over.