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 Expert
Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | Me and my friend have a friendly debate going. She is the kind of person who always looks up when she's running the pattern. I'm the type of person who looks where I want my horses feet to go. I'm not saying either of these styles are wrong but what do you prefer and why?
Edited by cecollins0811 2018-04-17 11:20 AM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| In the past year, I’ve attended two clinics with NFR riders. One said look up, the other said look down.
I’ve always felt more comfortable looking down..... |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Looking up or down can mean a lot of different things.
To me looking down means looking at your hands, the horses shoulder, or the barrel as you’re coming into it (i know some who do look at the barrel and make it work...). You’re issue isn’t where you’re training your eyes, it’s that your head has to physically pivoted down. From a technical riding standpoint looking down tips your head down, pulls your shoulders down, weakens your entire position and makes it more likely that you’ll lean and pre signal your horse for the turn.
Looking up to me is keeping your chin up, shoulders, upper body, and hips square. The actual spot you’re looking at can and will vary by rider and horse, and it’s the eyes moving, using your peripheral vision not your head. Some might actual look at a spot on the fence, some might keep their eyes more focused down towards a spot maybe 6’ in front of their horse - or 10’ if that’s what works for them. |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | I was taught "look up" to the next barrel...
These days I mainly look where I want my horse's feet to go because I find it allows me to react better.
For example, if I'm too close to a barrel and looking ahead, I may drag it over. If I'm looking in front of me/down, I can see that and ask my horse to move around the barrel. |
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Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Wyoming | I look to my spot where I sit as I approach the barrel. From there on I am looking at the next step my horse is going to be taking with it's inside front leg. Finishing the barrel I look up to the next. |
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Member
Posts: 9
| Look at your horse outside ear of barrel 3/4 way around barrel and then,look up to where your going! Never look down! |
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Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | Just bringing this up, I never said anything about looking down. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Man when I am making a run I'm just trying to get across the pen, I never consciously think about where I am looking. In action shots, my eyes are looking at the barrel, but my head is not turned down. So I guess subconsciously I'm looking to where I am going next. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| When we say look up we mean look up to where you want to go. Seems a lot easier than hollaring. Look where you want your horse to go. |
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