Re: Keeping horse on the bit

[Laurel Hickey <lhickey@bestweb.net>]

Hi, 

For those of you still trying to get their horses into a nice, roundish
frame on the trail, I wanted to agree with what Sue Brown said here that
it does take _time_.  I also ride a Standardbred with a huge, ground
covering trot (well that's what they're bred for after all).  We have
been schooling basic dressage consistently for 18 months and are just
now able to do some basic lateral work at the trot (shoulder-in,
haunches-in, leg yield).  For some horses, like most Standardbreds who
are just not built for collection, it can be very painful to ask them
for more than they are physically able to give you.  And we all know
they will try and try for us!   

As Sue suggested, look at the horse's shape, the muscular development of
the top line, and you'll get some idea how the horse travels habitually
either through training or lack of it.  My mare used to have the typical
"upside down" shaped neck and was the high headed, pull on your hands
and look like I'm on the bit-type.  Now she's physically and mentally
able to move longer and lower, although her body type will never really
allow her to be comfortable at even moderate levels of collection.  Her
frame on the trail has improved as her gymnastic training has
progressed, but it has been a slow process.  So hang in there, this
stuff works...

Laurel Hickey (and Lori in NY)


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=