Re: k.S. Swigart's training her horses to stay off of her while she walks or
runs downhill
in front of them. I would not feel safe no matter how well "trained" I felt
my horse was -
there is always the possibility of a stumble or fall (me or the horse) that
would make it
impossible for the horse to avoid trampling me. Sounds too unsafe for me to
even
consider it.
Most rides I have attended I see people trotting up hills, walking or
ttrotting slowly downhills
if they are not steep. I ride a TWH, so my observations may not mean much
to the rest
of you, but my horses do tend to go up a hill pretty fast - but it is a big
gliding rear-end
propelled walk - but equal in speed to a pretty good trot. They have a
harder time with
the hill if I make them "walk" slowly, as that rear end doesn't get up under
them as much
(big overstride when they go up a hill the way they naturally want to).
If the terrain is rolling, up and down little hills/dips, I just maintain my
speed.
Coming downhill,
I'm pretty much of a chicken, usually walk - a lot of our hills are steep
sit-down type of
hills anyway. If it is gradual, I will let them do their singlefoot rack -
also equal in speed
to a trot.
I've not seen anyone *really* trotting fast downhill, or cantering. But,
I'm new at this...
Jude Hall
& Pride's Pure Angel (TWH)
& Kentucky Redbud (Racking Horse)