Re: steep hills and cantering.
MS LOUISE D BURTON (XXDU78A@prodigy.com)
Tue, 29 Oct 1996 23:52:16, -0500
I have found it depends on the horse. My stallion has real problems
downhill (we think it is hock) and will sometimes trip. I found (on the
Old Dominion around 3am) that for us, I RIDE uphill and LEAD downhills. He
walks too fast for me to lead uphill and tailing is out of the question.
He was all too happy with this situation. (BTW I'm a featherweight which
makes a BIG difference!) I often train galloping uphills, but never more
than a jog downhills.
But...the horse I am riding now is a real athlete. He can trot really fast
downhill, completely balanced, and with perfect legs the next day, so I let
him!
Consider three things..your weight, your competitivenss, and the individual
horse.
Either way, for the sake of the legs, I NEVER canter downhill! (But then I
go for the miles, not the win)
Louise Burton
Fa Al Badi+
MS Beret