PATTERN MASTER

Ace your IEA horsemanship pattern with advice from a coach.

- ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY HEIDI NYLAND MELOCCO

Make sure to note if you should start on the right or left side of the cone.

Competing in the pattern portion of your Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) horsemanship class calls for preparation and precision. After completing rail work with a horse you drew to ride, you'll line up and be called on one by one to perform a simple (but not necessarily easy) pattern that shows off your ability to plan ahead and ride your horse at a walk, trot, or canter at exactly the right location.

IEA coach Ariel Hug says it's important to study the pattern before your class time (the pattern will be available for you to see before you enter the arena). Often, the patterns only have one cone as a starting mark. Ariel describes a typical pattern: Trot at cone A, continue to trot 15 feet, then circle in the middle of the arena, return to the straight line where you began, continue for a few strides, then stop and back.

“The less you have to do in a pattern, the harder it actually is,” says Ariel. “There’s just so little to judge on. When you have lots of turns and straight lines and extensions, you can mess up half of it and still earn some points. But when it’s that simple, you have to plan to do your best.”

PATTERN PREP

When you're practicing on your own school horses before a show, Ariel suggests memorizing short patterns to perform and making sure you know what the judges are looking for when you show. Make sure to note if you should start on the right or left side of the cone; it can change depending on the pattern.