Re: RC: High stepping horses-why?

[Bette Lamore <woa@stormnet.com>]

Hi Lynnette
In order for a horse to step high (and Saddlebreds are bred for that),
they have to have a VERY strong rear end--- enough power to set back on
their haunches and put their weight there so that they can be light on
their front end. If they have that (and many horses do not) THEN they
can be TAUGHT to step high. I had the privilege of working with one of
the greatest Driving/English trainers of all times--- Bob Rice who had a
huge training center in Rancho Sante Fe. He had over 250 horses there at
one time and his wife also taught equitation. Although Bob was primarily
known for Saddlebreds, he held 5 judges cards--- from hackneys to Arabs.
He is an old timer (in his late 80's now)--- does not rush horses. He
took pity on me when we literally "dove" into the horse business and,
although I had ridden since I could walk, I knew nothing about training.
I was his charity project.
We would long line first, then "gee and haw" until the horse would
respond to the bit without pressure and learn to get back on his hind
end and move "into the bit and collect"--- not just as many trainers
do--- e.g.. pull their heads in until they touch their chests, stick
side reins or draw reins on them and pray they kept their heads on the
vertical for 5 minutes of class.
When the horse was light on his mouth, light on the forehand--- using
his back muscles-- only then would we look at the step in front. We
would put bungies attached to 2 fleece lined "bracelets" on the front
fetlocks. The horses would play with these--- it became a game with them
to stretch and pull. Never did the ears back--- they enjoyed it. At the
shows there were no bungies, but by that time they were just naturally
picking up their feet (not in the natural, as in the wild natural--- but
rather naturally, as a ballerina after years of practice would naturally
dance). Our horses were happy, well adjusted, and LOVED to perform.
Fireworks just threw out his chest when he beat EVERYONE at PAso--
including Chauncy, Varian, Hearst, etc. (had to brag on the boy a
little). Although he won in Country English (which was as far as we
wanted to take him given the insane standards for English Pleasure in
the Arabian shows these days) Fireworks actually PARKED around the arena
in his victory run and got an ovation from the crowd!!
So far as natural high steeping--- a horse who does that MAY OR MAY NOT
have that ability under saddle-- you won't know till then and it is far
more important that he have incredible rear end action than that he
picks up his feet when trotting free. That is why many US NAtional
English Pleasure horses did VERY WELL on the track (and that is where
Gene LaCroix picked them from in Poland).
How does this translate into endurance? You want an endurance horse to
have a powerful hind end AND long reach in front. An English horse MAY
OR MAY NOT have the reach in front. The only thing you can bet on with
an English horse is that they have powerful hind ends--- have to to get
their weight off the front end (some of the Park horses today look like
circus horses to me--- barely touching their front feet to the ground.
Either freaks of nature or.... could there have been a little hackney in
the woodpile???
Bette

LynOlds@aol.com wrote:
> 
> After reading the posts on high stepping horses, I was wondering what would
> make a horse be a high stepper versus a horse that barely gets his feet off
> the ground? I am very curious because I recently saw a picture of my horse's
> sire (Promotion, page 72 of the June issue) in the Arabian Horse World
> magazine that a friend lent me. This horse really has his feet up off the
> ground. My horse doesn't pick up his feet at all, just kind of skims the
> ground. So my question is why wouldn't my horse be more like his sire and
> pick up his feet more? Are there specific conformation qualities or training
> or what? I am not saying that I would want my horse to be a high stepper, but
> I am just curious as to why he is such a daisy clipper and his sire isn't.
> BTW, his dame was a Saddlebred and he is registered as a NSH as well as a
> Half Arab. He looks just like the picture of Promotion, except for the high
> stepping. Also, the magazine said Promotion is a Polish Arabian. Is this a
> good type for long distance or just good for the show ring? Any input would
> be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Lynette and Chance in Ohio.
> 
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-- 
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians, Home of 16.2hh TLA Halynov
(yes, REALLY!)
http://www.arabiansporthorse.com