Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

No, you're not a bad man. BUT it really is not good for a newbie horse to this sport to start out racing. You want to start the horse slowly and bring it up to the fitness level mentally and physically where it could win. If you start out racing from the get go, you will burn your horse out mentally or physically or both.

 

So don't hold off on competing until you think you can win. Start now. Use your first year or two of rides as part of your conditioning program. It will take your horse and you some time to learn the game and the best way to learn it is by playing the game.

 

If you bring your horse along slowly, you'll have the same friend for many years on the trail.

 

Just a word of caution. I've seen it happen too many times.

 

chris

Robert R <boxrnr@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Thank you to Chris and to everyone who has responded.  I have gotten some great tips.  I am taking lessons since this English saddle is new to me.  My whopping second one is in the morning, I'm just impatient.  He handles posting fine in the arena or round pin.  My problem occurs going down the road when he is gawking around rather than moving forward powerfully.  I think it is probably a practice thing but I'd like to start taking some longer rides and don't want to beat him to death either.

 

That is very encouraging about the pace.  I am not planning on entering anything until next year and I hope to up that pace significantly between now and then.  I have a severe personality shortcoming in that I will only play if I am playing to win.  Finishing is great, I'm sure.  But not nearly as great as finishing first would be!!  I know.  I'm a bad, bad man.

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