Re: RC: Training a uncoordinated 6year old on downhills

["Truman Prevatt, PhD" <truman.prevatt@netsrq.com>]

First some horse are better built to go down hills than others. Some are natural and get it right away and others take more time. First you need to determine which your horse is.

The issue with hills is how well he uses his hind end. A horse that naturally uses its hind end well, will have less problems with hills than one that falls on his front end, "falling down the hill."

So the key is to start in the dressage ring getting the horse off  his front end and balanced. After that start with little hills, getting him to collect going down them. Increase the incline of the hills until he is better balnced. As he gets better balanced on hills and gets more confidence he will relax.

Good Luck
Truman

"guest@endurance.net" wrote:

> Vicky Rhein partlypainted1@aol.com
> Hello,
> I am just an avid trail rider with the hopes of CTR, until then, I have a 6 year old gelding, that was mostly a ring horse, very good yields, leg,hand,etc., however going down hills at a walk are near to impossible for him.  I am in his mouth, to slow him down, I have tried one rein, one leg,(his) I sit back, I have used leg, to try to collect, I have taken off leg, and sit back.  Unfortunately, the trails that I have are very hilly, and usually muddy he acts as though he doesnt know where each leg is.  I feel very unsecure, and rather dangerous as he shows no promise in getting us down safely.  He is to the point he is getting the loose squirts as we approach the downhill point.  It takes only 2 or 3 hills to get him going.  Does anyone out there have any ideas how to train him to relax and pussyfoot down??  Or at least where his legs are?
>
> Vicky
>

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