[RC] horsemanship & CTR - mkrumlawI think there are some folks confusing horsemanship with the skills needed to successfully compete in CTR and/or Endurance. I also came from a show background, even did some training. The show world can do wonderful things in teaching one about the proper handling, riding, and general husbandry of all equines. This is what I would consider good horsemanship. However, nowhere in my years of riding/training/showing did they teach me how to: * Know how fast I was going and how far I had traveled on a given trail. * Know that I CAN let my horse drink water when they are going at speed. * Know how to quickly and safely cool a horse that I've just ridden 20 miles at a 10 to 12 mph pace. * How to feed, shoe, and condition a horse for distance riding. * The importance of saddle fit and equipment. * Electrolytes, Beetpulp, Slurries???? This list can go on forever. My point is that when I left the show world I thought I had a pretty good grip on the horse world. It only took me a few CTR's to realise how clueless I really was. I'm not saying everyone *has* to start in CTR, but there are some very valuable lessons to be learned that can be carried into endurance. I also start my new/young horses in CTR before I start them in endurance. It gives me a slower environment to introduce them to all of the activity they're going to find in endurance. Mollie Krumlaw-Smith --------------------------------------------- This message was sent using MailMan provided by Good News Internet Services http://www.goodnews.net/ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by IntelliBlock MailScanner, www.intelliblock.net and is believed to be clean. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|