ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] re:warm-ups

[endurance] re:warm-ups

Greenall (greenall@vermontel.com)
Sun, 30 Jun 1996 18:35:38 +0000

When I referred to being on the bit, I had to ride my horse every
stride, hardly had a moment when I could allow him to streach out or
relax. Whether he was behind the bit at times, such as when the
horse in front stopped rather short, I cannot be sure, but chances
are he was not"balanced" as you would a dressage horse. Remember
here that the terrain is twisty turny and up and down and there are
rocks and streams and hills. Riding a horse "on the bit" in dressage
terms was never meant for terrain like that, a point that Podhajsky
makes. Although he advocated riding his horses cross country, he did
not advocate riding them in the same way one does in the ring. Mute
point, what we are after is a way to warm up those muscles so that
should the horse find himself in the bridle (better term?) for a long
period of time, that he does not get sore. For those of you that can
ride with the reins thrown away in such circumstances, what is it
like?
John and Sue Greenall
greenall@vermontel.com