Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

[RC] Faster walk - Randy or Cheryl Winter

Hi Dave,
Good luck with your young horse.  I think that any healthy, able bodied,
good minded horse can do the sport, the question will be to what level.
That time and conditioning will tell you.

As for the walk, I think that they can be taught to walk faster.  Some of it
will come as they get stronger,  some have it more by nature, but some of it
is a taught response.  If they learn to walk slow and then trot to catch up,
that is what they have learned to do.  Another way to teach them, IMO, is to
ask them to step up the speed at the walk with you legs until you get the
response, then stop with the legs and reward them. The reward can be a pat
on the neck "good boy" and stop with the legs. As SOON AS THEY BACK OFF THAT
PACE DO IT AGAIN>  Just keep telling them that "this is the pace I want".
It will take much persistence on your part and being very clear, that the
legs mean to go forward at any spend when asked. Eventually, you should not
have to ask much anymore, they will learn that is what is wanted. The
problem that most people get into is "nagging" the horse with busy legs and
yet not getting the response they want and the horse gets dead in the sides.
I can be guilty of that myself, and have to be careful. NOT GOOD.  If I have
a horse that I think is starting to tune out my legs, then I will put on a
pair of the blunt English spurs and asked them with my legs once, then back
it up with a spur nudge to be sure that they respond. Could use a dressage
whip also to reinforce the signal.  Does not take long for them to figure
out what you want, but again, you have to be clear and consistent in asking,
receiving, and releasing the signal. I think early on with inexperienced
horses, don't rush them through bad footing just to walk fast.  I would want
them to learn to place their feet well and think it out rather than rush
through tripping. Once they learn how to walk out and that is what you want,
it can be a great way to make good time in bad terrain.

Cheryl Winter



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=