'Prelim level' outline?

[ash]

Sorry for the weird title, I'm not really sure how to phrase it.

Could someone show me a piccy of what a correctly trained horse should look like when it is working at 'prelim level'?

Merci beaucoup in advance. 

[ParisDiamond]

It shouldn't look like anything    At Prelim they're looking for balance, rhythm and accuracy of test (shapes and changes of pace in the right places).  Outline is not something they are expecting at this level, just a nice even rein contact and a willing partnership.

 

[ash]

Cool, thanks for that.

[Gixer]

although a consistant shape of anything must be something as every test I've done I've had "Outline Varying" as a comment lol

[ash]

Hmmm, have found the same as Gixer. I'm only doing walk and trot tests at the mo' and there does seem to be an implicit emphasis on outline. Often at the expense of what I would call relaxation or softness.

[lmevans]

I would aim for relaxed and calm, just in front of the vertical but soft and supple to the contact.

Changing shape implies an inconsistent contact or a variation in acceptance of the contact, that's why they comment on it. However, it can be caused by the horse misunderstanding the contact, being uncertain of what you want, or the rider's hands being unsteady in themselves.

Noosa's favourite evasion is to overbend behind the contact, but she will take it forward eventually