I have ridden on the arab system and in the eventing world... In the arab
"world", nearly everyone uses polos on just the front, and if the horses have
pads, bell boots are put on. I've seen more incorrectly applied polos at the
arab shows than anywhere else. what really makes me frustrated is the fact
that the horses with pads on usually can't be turned out in case they lose
a shoe. So, here people are wondering why their English and Park horses are so
'hot'... gee, it can't be because they're stuck in a box 23 hours a day, could
it? Sheeshes! In the dressage world, a lot of the dumbbloods, I mean
warmbloods (sorry!!!) have all four legs wrapped in polos when ridden, and
have stable bandages on the rest of time.
-Kelsey Corey
AHA Region 5 Youth Director
(Also... I have nothing against warmbloods, so please don't attack me for
it)
>>>I don't think that one can make a fair
comparison regarding what a dressage rider is attempting to do (and the need
for a perfectly groomed ring) and what an endurance rider may do. It's like a
gymnast and a long distance runner. Can an Marylou do what she did on
>>an uneven surface etc...What the 2 equestrian disciplines have in
common is horses not >>>the goals of training. Thus, one is comparing
apples and oranges.
I'm not condemning them. I'm just wondering if
their horses would be more sound if they were out running the hills when not
in the arena. I read a dressage list for awhile once and remember a woman
putting a post on urging everyone to *always* wrap their horses and put
bellboots on *every* time they gave them turnout in the ring to keep them
safe. Sounded like us talking about helmets. Then she went on to explain how
her horse had just been injured playing in the ring. Then I remember...who was
it...Alydar? who kicked the wall of his stall until he broke his leg? Just
seems that if those horses had constant turnout their legs would be stronger
and they wouldn't build up all that steam that has to be blown off in a
dramatic manner.
I really admire my dressage rider friend and
haul 45 minutes to her place just to get a few tips on how to make my horse
carry himself better. I believe both of us could learn from each other. Funny,
she's had a bad trail experience and cannot bring herself to get on a horse
outside a ring any more. Me...I'd be afraid to ride that beast she rides in
the ring!
