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Re: [RC] Weight on the forehand (was: Gaited horses downhll) - heidiThanks, kat, for a more detailed explanation of weight distribution in the moving horse. And Joe is right on with his post as well, explaining how helping the horse to get more weight on the hindquarters by properly training and conditioning actually makes him a safer mount, less apt to trip and fall, and better able to carry himself and stay sound, not just downhill, but everywhere. Even the stationary horse can get 100% of his weight on the hindquarters in some instances--one of the classical dressage exercises performed by the Lippizans (is it the levade? I get the names mixed up) has the horse crouching on his hindquarters with his forehand completely off the ground and remaining in that position. I remember a story about one of the stallions there several years ago who would get mad and pout, and get into this position and refuse to budge out of it. He reportedly could hold the position for half an hour or better. Wow, what hindquarters and balance! Heidi The problem with this oft repeated "65% of a horse's weight being on the front end" refrain is that this number (which varies from about 60% to 70% depending on who is saying...and, obviously varies from horse to horse) is strictly a STATIC number (i.e. it is ONLY true when the horse is standing still--and, BTW, when unmounted, just having a rider on its back will shift the total load as will either "standing under" or "parking out"). How much weight a horse carries on its forehand while it is moving can vary from 0% to 100% depending on its way of going and the phase of its stride, and even the average amount of weight a horse carries on its forehand while moving can vary from about 30% to 75%. And yes, horses can be taught (and different horses do by differing amounts naturally) to shift their loads from their forehands to their hindquarters. I have one that is SO naturally inclined to do this that at the slightest provocation he will shift ALL his weight from his forehand to his hindquarters. :) Since, as a general rule, the hindquarters do mostly pushing and the forehand does mostly braking, if you want to get the most speed for the least amount of work, you want to lighten the forehand as much as possible (obviously not entirely) to minimize the braking as much as you can. Believe it or not, it is mostly the muscles of the back and the underline that are used to do this. If you want your horse to stay sound for running down hill (or for anything else for that matter) it is a good back that a horse needs most. :) kat =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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