Melanie, I'm conditioning a 6 1/2 year old
Arab right now. He was a virtual flat-lander in his previous home.
Young horses have trouble coming downhill, because it takes a lot of strength in
the hindquarters to make a smooth and relaxed descent. It takes months,
perhaps years if the horse is started on the trail at, say, 4 years old.
As I remember from trail training several young Arabs over the years that a
horse is nearly 7 before he is a GOOD downhill horse (unless, I suppose, he was
raised on hills). And be sure to check things like saddle pressure on the
shoulders or girth pinching behind the elbow. I had saddle issues until I
found just the right saddle for my current young horse, then on Sunday we did a
lot of steep downhill and I could tell he was uncomfortable on downhills
near the end of the ride. I checked behind his elbows and found the hair
worn off. He looked like he might have had rubbed skin. He's a
chestnut, and they have more sensitive skin than a bay or grey with black
skin. I'm going to try either a cinch cover of fleece or a neoprene girth,
instead of the string girth I was using.
Stagg I am really enjoying the posts you are sending to
ridecamp. I am getting a 6 yo Morgan mare ready for her first 25 miler. We are
doing great 'cept for downhills. She does a pacy shuffle that is real bouncy
and I can't help but wonder if it is hard on her front legs. I am able to get
her on her hind but she still sort of "dances" in front on downhills too
light. Is she too much on her hind? How can a downhill walk be flatter instead
of the footfall being 1-2-3-4 they come down like 1-2 3-4 if that
makes any sense. (BTW she does a singlefoot on the flat.) I'm posting this
question to ridecamp.
