Re: RC: Jim's list

[Truman Prevatt <tprevatt@mindspring.com>]

Or on an endurance ride!

Truman

Jim Holland wrote:

> ...Or I could have said it another way with an old Paris Island wall
> sign:
>
> "The more your train and sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war"
>
> Jim, Sun of Dimanche, and Mahada magic.
>
> Truman Prevatt wrote:
> >
> > Jim is the Marine through an through. Never go to battle till properly
> > trained - be it human on patrol or horse on an endurance ride. Expect
> > the best, demand the best, train for the best and you will get the
> > best.
> >
> > Truman
> >
> > Kathy Mayeda wrote:
> >
> > > Jim sez:
> > > If you want a horse that is not "out of control" at the beginning of
> > > the ride, you need to ask yourself if your horse can do AT LEAST the
> > > following:
> > >
> > >   1. You and another rider are walking along beside each other. If
> > >      the other rider suddenly canters off, will your horse continue
> > >      to walk with nothing more than a pick up of the reins or just
> > >      an "aaann't"?
> > >   2. If you're walking along in a group of say, 8-10 riders, can you
> > >      stop your horse and have him stand quietly while they all walk
> > >      off?
> > >   3.  Riding by yourself on the trail or in an arena, can you go
> > >      from a walk to a trot to a canter to a trot to a walk with
> > >      nothing more than a verbal or "body english" cue on a slack
> > >      rein?
> > >   4. Does your horse respond readily to leg cues? That is, can you
> > >      turn on hind, turn on fore, sidepass, and back with little or
> > >      no rein pressure. You need this as part of his training to
> > >      provide "work" when he isn't listening.
> > >   5. Will your horse, at a walk, stop on a verbal "Whoa", then
> > >      resume on a "kiss" with no rein action?
> > >   6. Will your horse drop his head with poll pressure? Will he also
> > >      do it with a rein cue at a trot, canter, and even at a gallop?
> > >
> > >
> > > There are a zillion other things that go into "conditioning" a horse
> > > to be under control at all times. IMHO, all those mechanical things
> > > like Martingales, special bits, etc. are just a way of attempting to
> > > overcome a lack of training. Just depends on how much time and
> > > effort you're willing to put into it. Pay me now, or pay me later.
> > > How much is your body worth? Personally, I'm chicken! <grin> Jim,
> > > Sun of Dimanche, and Mahada Magic
> > >
> > >
> > > I’m just cracking up because I could pretty much say yes to all of
> > > the above except for that poll pressure thing because I can’t do it
> > > with the snaffle and his neck is too long to reach it without
> > > climbing onto his neck.  Everything is nice and dandy in theory
> > > above.  I agree with it (except for your stupid poll thing).
> > >
> > > I’ve done some PNH training and know all about disengaging
> > > hindquarters, zones, etc. but have seen some Level 3 PNH trainers
> > > having runaway horses, too!
> > >
> > > But Beau is not a green horse.  He is very quiet and a dream to ride
> > > under most situations – including group training rides.  I let my
> > > inexperienced niece ride him on the trail while I’m riding my
> > > greenie Drako, because he’s pretty pushbutton.  Just a different
> > > animal on race day.
> > >
> > > K.
> > >
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>
> --
> Richard T. "Jim" Holland
> Three Creeks Farm
> 175 Hells Hollow Drive
> Blue Ridge, GA 30513
> (706) 258-2830
> FAX (706) 632-1271