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Re: [RC] Thinkin' about trail training - Chris PausSo true! I started ponying my young mare as a 2YO. She got ponied with a saddle and full endurance gear. She really developed a great "whoa" from being ponied and learning her verbal commands that way. i also think it teaches them that it's Ok for the human to be up above them so it's not so frightening we we do mount up for the first time. chris Ponying is great becuase you can teach verbal commands for the different gaits; they have the security of a buddy horse to teach them the ropes; you can have them saddled with weird stuff hanging...etc. But this does not teach them where to put their feet I am a huge advocate of letting them follow loose (provided you have one bonded that will not run off, no traffic or wire or other riders). My young horse learned how to negotiate hills, rocks, mud, creeks, etc, and had to make her own decisions and mistakes. I felt she was pretty surefooted until she tripped yesterday at a trot and went down to the knees several strides, fortunately regained her footing. Now I have to figure out why! There is so much you can do with a young, unrideable horse by taking them out in the world. Karen ============================================================ Just because someone tells you that your horse isn't "fit" for endurance...doesn't mean it isn't, it just means your horse isn't fit to be "their" endurance horse! Go for it, you never know what you'll accomplish with that "saddle horse" or "trail horse" of YOURS! ~ Darlene Anderson - DPD Endurance ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================ ===== "A good horse makes short miles," George Eliot Chris and Star BayRab Acres http://pages.prodigy.net/paus ============================================================ By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. ~ Confucius ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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