In this article, the last in our series on communicating with your aids, I give you an exercise to practice that uses both the turning and bending aids. The pattern for this exercise is what I call a "training figure 8." It is important to understand the difference between this training pattern and what could be called a "show ring" or "competition figure 8" pattern.

   The best way I can describe the training figure 8 pattern is that it simulates the form of how the number "8" is written. When doing this pattern, the rider tracks across the diagonal to a half circle. After completing the half circle, she tracks across the opposite diagonal to complete the second half circle, and that brings the rider back to the point where he/she started. This exercise requires the rider to use her aids from a bending turn to a straight line, and then from a straight line to a bending turn in the opposite direction.

   Contrast this to a true show ring or competition figure 8 pattern where the rider follows a vertical line to a half circle, completes the half circle and returns to the vertical line. The rider follows the vertical line to the second half circle and completes that in the opposite direction. This pattern is a turn to a straight line to a turn and back to a straight line.