Interesting, I post something about hackamores and the thread starts talking
about things not said but imagined, the same with horses and anything else
related to them.
If you people really want to become GOOD SUCCESSFUL endurance riders then I
have a bit of advice>
BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING Don't fret about special feeding programs, special
tack, saddle fitting, particular breeding of your horse, conditioning
programs. Begin at the beginning and learn first HOW TO HAVE FUN. Make
friends, party, relax, get to really know your horse. LEARN TO RIDE, I mean
really ride not be a passenger, how to help your horse in his job. Really he
could do much better if you stayed out of his way. While doing this HAVE FUN
After you have learned something from your horse (I hope you can) then think
about a bit of upgrade (you do not learn to drive in a Ferarri) say in the
training program. Put on a bit of speed, but not until your partner has some
condition (I'm talking the second year here) When that is coming along well
you will start to get complicated because then the feeding program must be
upgraded. (the Firebird needs high octane) By now you should be riding a lot
better but are you having FUN?? If not drop back a notch and re think your
whole program.
If you are still having FUN then it is time to think about all those bells
and whistles, feed additives, saddles, riding on the edge, shoes, tack hey
riding is your life at this point, but only if YOU ARE HAVING FUN.
So you are not having fun? Why???? Drop back a notch to where you were. But
hey some of you are, so then perhaps an up grade to the afore-mentioned
racing machine. This is a big step and you had better be careful. Why???
Because you are getting serious and the FUN is gone.
You wonder why I am writing this??? We, my wife and I, have done in excess
of 22,000 miles of endurance competition and figure that we have ridden
close to four times that in training and conditioning over the past 20 years
. Thats better than 5k a year on our bodies. And the only way we could do
that was that IT WAS FUN. When we got serious about it we always ran into
trouble.
Look back over the past months postings and how many times have you seen any
one mention having FUN WHILE RIDING???? Lighten up folks and have a good
time with your horse. Accept your best friend for what he is not what you
want to make him into. You will go further, faster if you don't make it a
project.
Bob Morris
Morris endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID