I can't say enough positive about cross training and I must admit that I came very late to this epiphany.? I rode endurance rides for 17 years on half broke, barely under-control horses.? I loved them dearly and rode many wonderful, successful miles this way.? However, when I moved back to Wyoming I became friends with an eventer and dressage instructor.? She convinced me that I might want to be able to rate my endurance horses :)? or have them move laterally off my leg or be able to post on either diagonal or instantly pick up either lead.? I thought about Dave Nicholson making typically irreverent comments about how endurance riders have no equestrian skills.? As usual, he's often correct...even when we hate to hear it.? Anyhow, I very reluctantly let my new friend talk me into taking dressage lessons with my green broke endurance hopeful.? I HATE arenas.? So this was really hard for me.? Since then I take at least monthly lessons or clinics in either dressage or cavaletti.? I'm not very good, but I now know how much difference it has made in my horses.? It has also made it possible for me to continue some riding during a time when I have been struggling with several physical problems.? I don't believe I could have done this without my dressage lessons.
Continuing with the "cross training" thoughts, while I haven't been able to ride much, I loaned out my endurance gelding to both a friend who takes dressage lessons on him and to a real cowboy friend who have used the gelding to work cattle and ride fence line.? Because of all this, my gelding is going into March in better shape than he would be even if I were 100%.? Life is good.? BTW, both friends, the one who rides English and one who rides western, are excellent horsemen otherwise they wouldn't be on my horse.?
