Ridecamp: RE: [RC] new topic re green horses

At 07:23 PM 5/23/2002 -0700, Mike Sofen wrote:
> I
> think if more horses destined for endurance started this way, they might
> start out more sensible, might learn to eat and drink better, etc. 
> I also liked Karen's idea of starting a moderately green (but
> appropriately conditioned) horse at a multi-day - there is nothing that
> breeds sensibility like having to work, and no one is racing at
> multi-days (theoretically).
>  

Yeah, speaking of the appropriately conditioned part.......I wouldn't
recommend somebody taking a green horse that hasn't had an appropriate
amount of legging up to a multiday ride (or any ride, for that
matter).  The horse I took to Mt. Carmel I've had for nearly a year
and a half, and he's been getting regular work for most of that time (he
did miss a couple of months last summer tho).  Before I started
riding him, I had ponied him quite often (and still continued to after
that), in addition to regular (very regular) arena lessons and gradually
increasing conditioning rides several times (and I mean several, like 5)
per week.     

It was a really great experience for the horse.  Yeah, we did fall
and I got hurt. But I got back on and rode him to camp.  He wasn't
hurt and came thru in great condition.  The ride taught him a lot.
He's a very calm and laid back type of horse (more like Weaver), and very
smart. Of course, the idiot horses like Rocky who get excited for no
reason other than to stimulate their own adrenalin, *really* benefit from
the work of a multiday ride.  It truly was the turning point in
Rocky's career -- when he turned into a real endurance horse and learned
how to take care of himself.  The new horse, is already at that
level with only one ride completed (well, 2 rides).  I don't think
anybody will hold the Father Option pull against him on day 3.
<bg>

k