RC: Fw: a picture.....

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

----- Original Message -----
From: superpat <superpat@gateway.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2000 7:52 PM
Subject: a picture.....


>
> Funny you should bring up the importance of the walk. For the first time
> today in my dressage lesson, I actually felt Engelita release her back and
> start to "swing" nice and easy. All this time I had thought that she just
> had a  little short strided walk although she has a fantastic trot. Well,
> silly me. *I* have been impeding her ability to relax and walk out.
Thinking
> I was sitting still and getting her in front of my legs I had been pushing
> her sides as she strode. Well, the light finally went on today and when I
> relaxed and allowed my seat to go with her movement, she just relaxed and
> raised her back and reached forward with her rear legs and it was
FANTASTIC.
> So now we will be working on all of our gaits with a (hopefully) more
> relaxed and centered rider. But we will be doing a lot more
> walking....correctly.
> Pat Super
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Farafix@aol.com>
> To: <superpat@gateway.net>
> Cc: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2000 3:26 AM
> Subject: Was pic worth 1000 words: hills & pacing
>
>
> > Well said, Pat!
> > If I let my horse choose the gait, he'd be cantering thru the rocks in
the
> > first few miles of the Old Dominion.  Altho the horses do seem to figure
> out
> > after a few rides that they will have a long way to go & settle down at
> the
> > start, IMO it is the rider's resonsibility to pace the horse so there is
> > enough gas in the tank at the end & the horse isn't lame.  On a nice
level
> > stretch of trail with good footing I will let the horse canter, or
> encourage
> > it to canter later on in the ride.  But on rough footing, which we have
a
> lot
I've learned I have to watch the footing
> > carefully & make sure the horse is taking the appropriate gait (which
> could
> > be a careful jog, or a walk) --- the horse is often more concerned about
> > other horses & not the footing (maybe it's because I ride a stallion!)
> > With my former horse I always trotted, having heard all the reasons for
> that
> > gait being preferred.  She didn't have a great walk & her canter was
> stiff.
> > My dressage instructor (which refers to another RC point that a lousy
> rider
> > makes the horse work harder --- I was so bad that I actually noticed I
was
> > getting in my horse's way, so got some help!) at the time pointed out
that
> > all the trotting made the horse's back stiff.  To really move out at the
> > trot, the horse will direct all movement forward, which tends to hold
the
> > back stiff.  This mare had a naturally very forward extended trot --- it
> was
> > her preferred gait, and all the training I did reinforced it.  We did
more
> > walking to loosen up her back, dressage exercices (yuck, like doing
piano
> > scales, necessary but boring!), encouraged the canter.  Today she has a
> much
> > better canter, and is also much better downhill.  The stiff back did not
> help
> > her going downhill.  I had "saved" her in conditioning rides by always
> > walking downhill & surprise, surprise, she wasn't so good at it in
> > competition!  She needed some help at first, the rider had to collect
her
> &
> > encourage her to get her butt under her going downhill --- she's now
much
> > better having built up her collection muscles with the cantering &
correct
> > way of going downhill during conditioning rides.  She placed 4th in the
> point
> > standings with her new owner (brag, brag!) & has over 3000 miles, so
> there's
> > something to be said for proper pacing @ rides, and preparation at home.
> > My 2cents worth is: condition with moderation for hills at home, ride
with
> > caution at the rides (& be the best balanced rider you can be!).
> >
> > Nancy
> > Md
> >
>
>