Page 74 - ST November 2013

education

I’ve often heard Pat’s advice to use rhythm in your
send, so if you get to the phase of having to lift your

stick, you should spank with it three times. This is

the reason I say the Circling Game requires so much
savvy - you may not always need to spank three

times, or maybe with each spank you decrease the

energy but keep the rhythm. You may need to aim
your spanks at the shoulder, and not the hindquar-

ters, to prevent your horse from disengaging. It all

depends on what works and what is efective for you.
The most important things are: you are consistent,

you use phases, and you get efective.

A possible technique for downward transitions is: 2. Phase 2- Lift your stick and aim it at Zone 1.

1. Phase 1- While you are in neutral, during your

Allow, wait for the horse to cross in front of
you, passing your second shoulder, then turn

against him on the circle, adding opposition to

the low of their energy (like swimming against
the current in a swimming pool).

3. Phase 3- Wiggle your stick.

72 | Savvy Times November 2013