Timing
Gaitshifting
Understanding screen delay is the key to learning and understanding dressage. As previously mentioned, this delay plagues dressage, hence our method to gaps, alignment and timing, and now gait shifting.
Gaitshifting is the timing and management of how and when to change your gait for moves and arena shapes.
Understanding how to position yourself for gait-shifting moves is a skill that you need to learn, despite the many gos a commander may call, they cannot be sure that you will fully understand and fall into the right count and time.
Gait Transition timing
When doing moves such as Bee Curl or Triple Curl, there are multiple gaits within the same move, but there are not multiple gos.
You always transition to your next gait once you are completely straight.
In the past, you have had to transition on the slant lines prior to ending your curl due to SSO gait changing delay, but as of recently, you can gait shift at the appropriate time.
If you are to go on the improper count for our gait change, the line will be out of sync in the gait category. Riders may start the curl off all together, but will finish at different times due to some transitioning late vs early.
MOVE EXAMPLE
You are in line and a Triple Curl is called. You begin to do your first walk curl, then once you are completely straight, you move into a trot curl, and finally, after finishing your trot curl, and you are completely straight, marked by hitting your original axis, you transition to a canter curl.
Direction Transition timing
When changing directions in any move (mostly curls and curl-overs) you want to manage your timing by your straightness.
You always should be transitioning to the next part of a move going a different direction a full two steps after you are completely straight (count two beats of walk, trot, or canter steps).
You can shift your camera down and count '1, 2'...
Using two steps gives the neatest results throughout your transition
The change in direction (if done incorrectly) can put your line out of sync and count, so using the two-step best method is the best way to maintain our line.
MOVE EXAMPLE
You are in line and a fate is called, you begin by doing your curl left, the one you are straight, and have counted 2 hoof beats from your horse, you then transition to the other direction by changing which key you hold.
Combined timing : Gaitshifting & Direction changing
When combining the two you get a beautiful and interesting result.
You should change your gait and THEN your direction.
You would transition to the next gait once you are straight, and to the next direction after two steps.
Think of it like stacking the two, one after another.
MOVE EXAMPLE
For an I Fate, you would start by walking in the direction called, then when you are straight transition to a trot, and then finslly, two steps later, you may transition into your next direction.
AT Meet : Move specific
When changing directions in any move (mostly curls and curl-overs) you want to manage your timing by your straightness.
At meet timing is most relevant in partner moves and revolves.
As opposed to your commander calling a go for the line, and risking ruing the previous timing and alignment, you must manage your own 'at meet timing'.
At meet timing should be done when you come saddle to saddle with your 'partner'.
MOVE EXAMPLE
For a half revolve, you would have two lines in a comb headed towards each other from other directions.
When you come saddle to saddle with the person on your left, you would then do a curl over towards them. This results in Nose to Tail looking spacing on your commanders screen.