Re: RC: Re: Re: Re: Fwd: RC: I made a decision w. all your help -THANK YOU

["superpat" <superpat@gateway.net>]

Heidi,
I am glad that you are willing to risk the ire of many people by stating
what really is obvious to anyone who will be willing to offer an honest
assessment of what they observe at rides. I am relatively new to this
sport...to horses and riding for that matter but it is of utmost importance
to me to learn to enjoy my horses and to keep them safe (as safe as I can
manage without their contribution). The more I seek to learn, the more fun I
have with my horses. It's that old truth about the joy being the journey. I
will say unequivocally that I have so much to learn. I definitely do not
think I have even touched the tip of the iceberg that is horses. But in all
honesty, I am saddened that so many people do not even appear to *want* to
learn or to improve their training and riding skills. Some really do seem to
think that if they can manage to hoist themselves into the saddle and remain
upright most of the day until they cross the finish line, they have
accomplished much. No matter that they bounce around on the poor horse like
a sack of potatoes. (poor horse). It is a testament to the strength and
patience of the horse that they manage to remain healthy and sound, for the
most part, and some of these riders even manage to come up with a "best
condition" award now and then. Amazing! Imagine what these horses could
accomplish if only their owners would learn to ride.
But then, there are all of the wonderful horse people to whom I look for
guidance, suggestions, and inspiration. And I think that they are the ones
who contribute to making this sport the great one that it is. I watch for
them at rides and try to immulate them. And surprisingly, they are the ones
in general, who are so willing and generous in their support and
encouragement. Just want to thank you again for your candor.
Pat

----- Original Message -----
From: <CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com>
To: <superpat@gateway.net>; <greymare@jps.net>; <michrowe@frontier.net>;
<Dbeverly4@aol.com>; <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2000 11:51 PM
Subject: Re: RC: Re: Re: Re: Fwd: RC: I made a decision w. all your
help -THANK YOU


> In a message dated 3/27/00 11:30:18 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> superpat@gateway.net writes:
>
> << Why do I get the feeling from most of the posts on this subject that
>  training the horse to step calmly into the trailer and wait patiently
while
>  the dividers are closed and doors closed is such a big deal? Of all the
>  groups of horse people, I would think that endurance riders would have
the
>  proper training of their horses to travel safely would be a major
priority.
> >>
>
> Actually, Pat, it is not my "regulars" that worry me (because they HAVE
been
> trained)--it's the youngsters, the strangers, etc.  I haul a lot of horses
> for other people, and don't have the luxury of training them prior to
travel,
> so have to do things in the safest possible way.  (See my previous post on
> "training" and the fact that the horses we load on a regular basis will go
in
> or out in whatever manner I ask, no questions asked!)
>
> As for training--on the whole, I find endurance horses in general to be a
> patient but poorly trained lot.  Well-conditioned, yes, but often very
> lacking in training until one starts looking at folks who are serious
> competitors at higher levels.  I do think that this is changing as people
are
> realizing more and more what an important role the education part plays in
> the performance.  The experienced and successful riders have horses that
are
> well trained under saddle (most folks at the FEI level could take their
> horses right into a first-level class at a dressage show or better and do
a
> presentable job--and some of them do!) as well as to what to expect around
> camp.  But a great many rank-and-file riders have horses that know nothing
> under saddle except get on and go-go-go, and never think to train horses
at
> home to things that they will have to tolerate in a ride camp or a vet
line.
> Come watch the vet line sometime and see how many horses do NOT know how
to
> trot out in hand, for instance!  And even at the FEI level--I can still
> remember being utterly incredulous when short-listed riders told me that
they
> were concerned about their horses having to be stalled at a competition
> because they had "never" been stalled, yada, yada, yada...  I just wanted
to
> shake a couple of them and ask them WHOSE fault it was that these horses
had
> not been introduced to overnighting in a stall, when they have known for
> MONTHS prior to the competition what the stabling would be.  I personally
do
> not have a barn with stalls, but you had better believe that if I had a
> short-listed horse, we would be making trips to friends' barns to LEARN to
> overnight in a stall, long before competition time!
>
> Yes, Pat, training IS the operative word here--but it is sadly neglected
far
> too often for some very basic things.
>
> Heidi
>