Re: bringing up baby

[Susan Evans Garlinghouse <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

susan wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
>     Well, after lurking on this list for nearly three years I finally
> have something to ask.
> I was absolutely stunned last winter when my husband told me to go pick
> up my birthday present. After twenty three years of marriage I had given
> up on the idea of him ever buying me a horse - especially since after
> eighteen years of marriage I bought my own!  I had not even been looking
> for another horse, but he's heard me talk about endurance, and how I'd
> really like to try it someday.......but my gelding is too lazy for it.
>     Anyway, he bought me an arab filly.  She's now a yearling (though
> her birthdate is not until late MAY)  I want to bring her along slowly -
> I do not plan to even ride her until she is a solid three.  I am
> experienced with horse training - but I would like to hear some tips on
> how others have 'raised' their own LD mounts.  Do you begin the
> conditioning even before you ride?  I have lovely access to miles of
> trails that I could pony her on and my older gelding would allow me to
> do that, but is there a benefit to doing so?  Any other things you do
> differently with endurance prospects?
> 
> Thanks, Susan


Susan, just one suggestion you might consider (I'm sure plenty of people
much more experienced than me in conditioning will help you out as well)
is taking your baby out to see lots of nice sights.  When you start
going to endurance rides, there are going to be a ton of distractions,
scary things, etc.  If your horse is already ho-hum about those sorts of
things, your recoveries and enjoyment will just be that much better.  I
take my "kids" (two, count'em, two whole homebred babies) over to the
equestrian center during shows and just walk them around and let them
stare.  Walk them past every scarey thing you can find, especially
blowing tarps, clanking buckets, galloping horses, whatever. 
Telliongton methods are very helpful to keep them moving and keep
walking back and forth until they do so calmly.  It made a really big
difference in Katy's behavior when she finally grew up, it's something
you can do with a baby right now and while she's growing up, and it puts
no strain on young legs.

Good luck and see you out there in a few years.  Let us all know how
you're doing.

Susan Garlinghouse