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RE: [RC] Tips for a smooth start. - paulI have been lucky to have horses that don't go crazy at the start...However, I decide what pace we are going to leave camp at and make him stay at that pace regardless if we are being passed by every horse, or if we are passing the other horses. We do this when training, and if we are doing an LD or a 100. We try to be consistent with this. The first couple of rides I did with Piper, he wanted to break into a canter. I would just pull him off trail and let other horses go by, then we would walk off and then I would ask him for the trot. If he tried to canter again, I would bring him back to the trot, and if he kept fighting me, we would pull off trail again. (he can't trot with the big dogs, so wants to canter to keep up) He quickly learned that this was not much fun, so settled in. After a couple of years, I let another rider use him, and they raced him (two firsts and a second.in three rides). When I got him back, we had to re-learn the take it easy at the start lesson. It seems to me that too many horses use up way too much energy in that first few miles fighting their rider. The rider needs to clearly tell the horse what speed they are to go at and hold them to this. If you want to walk out the first mile of trail, then by golly the horse needs to listen to you and walk. I agree with the post that the rider needs to relax and send calm signals to the horse instead of tenseness. If you train with any other riders, you might practice going with them for a short while, and then let them pull away from you. Then catch up to them..at your chosen speed, not running though, and let them go off ahead again. Get your horse used to listening to you, rather than trying to run with the herd. Hope some of this helps Paul N. Sidio Spokane MO =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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