It's all downhill...
Roberta Lieberman (rlieberman@phillips.com)
Wed, 30 Oct 1996 15:17:00 -0500
In all the posts I've read debating up and down hill riding, I haven't
seen a mention of HOW the horse goes up and down hills. If a horse is
plunging downhill on his forehand, out of balance, of course he is
going to eventually do some damage. What Matthew Mackay-Smith taught
me some years ago is to gently collect the horse as you crest the hill
and trot down softly, sitting lightly in the saddle. The horse travels
downhill off his hindquarters and isn't pounding his forelegs. You
won't lose your momentum this way and you can progressively transition
back into an extended trot as the slope levels off. You can teach your
horse to drop into this gait on cue as s/he crests the hill or simply
with a touch on the rein. It's fun, you won't lose time, and you won't
be hurting your horse.
Bobbie Lieberman