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[RC] traveling wide - rides2farI'm very interested in someone explaining the pros and cons of a horse going wide behind.> However, both dressage trainers that have worked with him have said > that> horses that go wide like this do so because their backs aren't strong enough> to lift their front ends off correctly. That it is a sign of the horse> still being on the forehand, Both our horses go wide behind, but Kaboot is more extreme. Kaboot drops and lowers and kind of gives the impression of a horse swimming taking these long strokes with his hind legs. He is bowlegged and his hocks get very wide at the trot too. Ben is more parky, kind of squats and looks like a football player running through the tire drill. He spreads his feet, but the hocks don't seem to go that wide. Neither ever interfere. Pros: Kaboot has round feet and needs a size 2 easyboot in front. The heel of it sticks out a good inch behind his foot and he's never touched one even though he's worn them a fair amount. Nobody who sees them sticking out like that can imagine that he doesn't pull them off. Neither of these horses ever pulls a front shoe by stepping on it, etc. Con: If I'm working him on a really great hill that happens to be the shoulder of the road with a good slope, it seems to me that the extra width makes the slope more extreme so one rear foot is hitting about 5" lower. I can slow down and bring the rear end in some or canter where he can sort of line everything up. Pro: Even though he's a little horse he's passed many a big guy because he's got a tremendous power trot. I think the traveling wide gives him more scope. Con: He does not hit level in the rear. There's no way he can be shod level because "level" depends on his speed. He completely wears though the outside of his shoes, and his hooves try to grow back under the center of his body by almost turning under on the outside and developing a flair on the inside. This is Kaboot, not Ben. The bow legs may contribute to this. As to the claim from the dressage riders that it means they don't carry themselves well using their back and are on the forehand. Kaboot travels as wide as they come. They even put the notation "base wide" on his card at the PAC. Nina Barnett said, "Nobody's gonna pull that horse because when he's trotting away all you can think of is how wide he trots and when he's coming back you just want to get the hell out of the way". I will admit Kaboot's a bit heavy on the forehand. He's a puller with a low head. He has a long back but a strong loin. He's never had back trouble. He's a bit rump high but levels out when he drops for the big trot. He's been competing 10 years, 2,950 miles...7 100's hills & flat, lots of top 10's, two jackets, one win, one BC so I don't think traveling wide has hurt him any. I'd love to see my next prospect travel wide. Ben, who also travels wide is a bit hollow when he trots, avoids the bit (feather touch) and a tad parky. He is a higher RPM horse, trots as fast as Kaboot though. He does get a sore back at times. He's 21, been competing 11 years, around 2500 miles with many top 5 finishes and 2 BC's. As far as I'm concerned, I think traveling wide is a plus. Angie ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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