Wednesday, March 18, 2009 – By Christian Moon
You have the ball on your right hand side and are approaching goal along the boards with goal the ever narrowing target on your left.
Did you think to change your lead, or even check it? What is a “lead”? What lead should you be on?So let’s check. The right hand foreleg of the horse is extended further then the other. You’re on the right lead but not on the correct one. Since the goal is off to your left, and it is where you are going, you should be on the left lead. “But, I’m hitting on the right side of my horse. My instructor always told me to have the horse on the same lead as the side I am hitting on.”
Whilst it is not a mistake to have the ball on the same side as your lead it is not always the best way to balance your horse, and with an unbalanced horse you are less likely to be able to hit well. I have found that on a rough field it is often far easier to have the horse on the opposite lead since it easier for the horse to move away from the ball if it is bouncing and in doing so you may get another chance to hit rather then the ball under you. You should also consider that with the goal on your left you will be moving that way even if it is on a gentle curve, and so your horse should be on the left lead. I also find that having the horse bent to the left helps me bring the ball left without crossing the line of the ball and having to take the ball on the near side. Bending the horse to the left and making each of your approach shots on goal a very shallow neck shot is far easier then making one hard neck shot on goal having taken the ball in to the corner.
Practice with a goal on your stick and ball ground. Approach the goal with your horse on the left lead and the ball on the right. With the horse on the left lead it is possible to lean out and have allot of weight in your right stirrup. Make sure the horse is bent left and that you have a firm neck rein in support of the movement opposite of your weight placement. You outside leg (the right.) should be behind the girth telling the horse to move left toward the goal. Keep the ball on your right as you cut across the field to goal. Never hit the ball under you horses neck rather hit it at the same angle as the bend your horse gives from the shoulder to the nose. You should make no more then three shots to get through the goal. As you improve start further away from the goal making your shots longer. Perfection is three shots from the right hand side of “your” back line through the opposing goal.
I think this approach to goal has many advantages. First you have the ball on your strong side, and in the arena you have protection from the wall. Second, the angle you make gives you the inside of the track so your horse moves deceptively fast away from you pursuer. If you really can do it this is a quick goal from a penalty.