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Re: [RC] Trail and saddle question - rdcarrie<<During your conditioning rides, get off and walk a little, again stopping at good spots to graze and just hang out, eat a granola bar and get a drink for you,>>
ROFL!!! *Eat* a granola bar...what a concept!!! My husband and I carry granola bars along with us...at the first crinkle of a wrapper, our horses are all over us like white on rice...if we manage to eat one small bite of the bars, we're lucky...and are faced with sad, accusing looks from our horses for having denied them that small morsel even though we doled out the rest to them! <VBG> Dawn in East Texas (and the junk food junkie horses...)
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From: Jim Holland <lanconn@xxxxxxx> To: equuswolf@xxxxxxxxx; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thu, 2 Mar 2006 12:56:35 -0500 Subject: RE: [RC] Trail and saddle question Jennifer, spend some time with your horse just "loafing" around. At home, once in a while put on a halter, grab a brush and walk around the barn/yard, looking for grassy "sweet" spots. "Park" there for a while and let her eat while you brush her and rub her legs. This will encourage her to relax and eventually create the "going for a walk" conditioned response, which prepares her for what she will experience at rides. At Endurance rides, it is good practice to take your horse for little walks after the ride to keep her from stiffening up. Some rides have grassy spots along the roads and around camp that you can visit. It will also encourage them to pee and poop. Nothing is better for the inside of a horse than nice green grass.high moisture content, good roughage, and their favorite thing. It's important to monitor your horse's condition frequently, even if you're only doing LD.
During your conditioning rides, get off and walk a little, again stopping at good spots to graze and just hang out, eat a granola bar and get a drink for you, loosen the girth, and scratch the itchy/sweaty spots. With a green horse, initially I try to "time" my conditioning rides to arrive periodically at "grazing spots". After a while, he will learn the trails and when he figures out the "route for the day" will enthusiastically move out, anticipating the "food stop". It gives him something to look forward to and improves his attitude. Then I start doing mini-stops frequently when I ride. Eventually, I don't have to get off.just point them at the grass and give permission with a "head down" cue. They will become so conditioned to doing this that you can cue them and they will slam on the brakes, get a mouthful, and take off again, even when riding in a group. Sunny will sometimes grab so much in his mouth he looks like a moving hay bale!
Horses have lots of intestines but small stomachs..they need to eat frequently to reduce gastric distress and "keep the pipe moving". Carry a bag of broken up carrots. Again, good roughage and high moisture. On long training rides, I carry a small canvas feed bag (Wad'r Bucket) and a plastic bag of soaked beet pulp/Omolene with a little Perform 'n Win mixed in. I know my horses are going to see this in vet checks, so again I'm creating a "conditioned response" to get a "feeding" every couple of hours somewhere other than in the barn. Horses are very strongly motivated by "routines" and have phenomenal memories. As Pat Parelli says, "They are experts at figuring out what comes after what comes after". Be aware that you can create undesirable conditioned responses, too! J The more familiar you can make your horse with ride conditions and the more you prepare her in advance, the more relaxed and comfortable she will be at rides.
Now about the splashing.. Ahem..it is considered bad manners to allow your horse to splash in water sources. It muddies up the creeks, causes other horses to quit drinking, and generally will not endear you to other riders. J If you insist that she stand quietly, she will be much more likely to drink. I suggest you take along a small riding crop and vigorously discourage your horse from splashing in the drinking water. While I am on the subject, courtesy demands that when you arrive at a water source and other horses are drinking you wait until they stop drinking and not just barge into the group. (Especially if it's a tank or bucket) Conversely, they should wait for your horse to drink before leaving or ask if it's OK to leave.and then leave at a walk.
Good luck to you and Shelby.
Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic
Richard T. "Jim" Holland
Three Creeks Farm
(706) 258-2830
Callsign KI4BEN -----Original Message----- From: Equus Wolf <equuswolf@xxxxxxxxx> To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wed, 1 Mar 2006 20:43:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: [RC] Trail and saddle question Hi everyone, I understand the importance of eating/drinking well on the trail. What is the best way to encourage a horse to eat while on the trail? My food monger is all business on the trail and doesn't even seem to think about eating. I think if she realized it was "OK", she would. So what would be the best way to go about this? Also, what about drinking water, rather than splashing in it? Thanks ahead of time for your time! Jennifer (and
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