I
heard a news piece today about migratory birds - they will actually follow roads
when they migrate over repeat routes, going so far as to follow the
cloverleafs on freeway overpasses, looping around before they continue in the
right direction. Really makes me wonder if some horses don't learn to follow
ribbons... I swear that mine do sometimes.
Steph
-----Original Message----- From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
smuncy Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 6:58 PM To:
ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] horse
sense
I have to respond to query about
- 'horses sense of direction' with a definite - YES. I have one such
horse that I have taken out a 'few' times to trails I was not really
familair with and rode for miles, and in the end, after wondering
around, decided to give him his head and he will get us back to the trailer
every time. Also,I had trails I used to ride that I had to give up for
conditioning and speed work because seemed he know ways back better that me,
not that we ever parted company -I just got tired of argueing with him
there. Now before anyone goes 'off' about riding in unfamilair areas,
dangers, etc...relax. At no time time were we in danger of being "lost for
days", etc,. Just horses and other animals have an amazing directional
capabilities, that we humans will never figure out. However,as was said, they
may not pick the way you would prefer to go. I especially have
to be attentive when doing rides we have done before, even if a couple
of years have elapsed between attending the ride, as it seems he
remembers all to well where the trail was, and if the trail has changed and
I 'm not especially paying close attention; ie, being
a passenger, instead of riding, he will take the old trail. More that
once I have had to yell at the time, that ,,, "yes, I know this
isn't the right way!, but he insist it is........... I'll be right
back." Also, I found out the hard way, years ago, that when I can't
"find"the trail.. lack of markers, fatigue, poor marking, vandalism...
as long as am not a front runner, I can more often as not allow him
to find the trail......I'm sure they do this by scent, as when you ride along
and think your horse is following ribbons; probably following
the scent of other horses. Now after saying that I have to admit
that I have another horse that I have not tested with the 'finding his way
home theory' and sometime wonder about his "smarts", hmm, interesting
test if weather ever breaks.
For anyone looking for colored
buckets........... do search .... Fortex Buckets, they have most colors
( yellow. pink, purple and standard red, black, teal etc.) and can refer to
dealer near you. or have you considered painting the buckets?
Stephanie
