I've asked that question alot and read alot of opinions and they say to go straight down.So if the horse needs too they can literally sit down for balance if they had too.If you zig, zag they may lose their balance and fall sideways, plus a rider could throw their balance off that way. I believe that is what CTR teaches too. Rascal and I follow the trail, some of them do slant here somewhat. But he is alot more stable going straight, and I sure can balance better.Seems if he ankles , we get more sideways slippage, especially in muddy conditions. Laurie and Rascal
----- Original Message -----
From: Heidi Smith
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 6:00 PM
To: Howard Bramhall; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC] Trouble going down hills
You're talking about two different things here, Howard. The zig-zagging downhill that you've heard is a "good thing" refers to making switchbacks instead of just doing a Man From Snowy River number straight off the side. The horse's body should still be straight with himself, but the PATH that he takes is a zig-zag.
What folks are worried about here is that the horse is bending his back into a zig-zag (side to side) when going downhill--and folks are right who are saying that horses who do this are avoiding pain somewhere. It may well be an ill-fitting saddle that pinches, but it can also be due to the fact that the horse has inadequate back strength due to poor conformation of his back and loin, making it painful or impossible for him to round to carry weight, so going downhill he literally has nowhere he can put his rear end that doesn't hurt, except off to one side or the other. The third problem can be hind leg (particularly hock) pathology--but that usually arises from poor back conformation and inability to properly engage as well.
Heidi
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 6:43 PM
Subject: Re: [RC] Trouble going down hills
I would love for those mountain riders to chime in on this one, because I was told at Leatherwood that this is a good thing for the horse to do when going down a steep incline. Kind of like a snow skier zig-zaggin his way down the mountain.
Since I've lived in Florida for over 20 years now, my knowledge of mountains is about as vast as my knowledge on political correctness. Phil, you still on Ridecamp? Didn't you tell me this was a good thing for the horse to do as we went down the side of that cliff together? Lisa, you seemed to spend forever going up and down those mountains, what do you think?
