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One thing we do not discuss very much on this list is the mental
training required for the horse. I believe this is as important as the
physical training. Now I know, many arabs out there just want to go,
go, go and are able to. They pick up their competitiveness naturally,
and as they improve physically and can compete, their mental attitude
results in being positive and the horse enjoys its work.
SOOO, this is geared toward the middle to the end of the pack rider,
like me. We are a big part of endurance and I believe my horse and I
are just as important as the top ten horses. Should I ever have a top
ten horse, I will still believe this.
Mystery is physically fit and only just starting to learn he can
compete. He is a morab and a big one. This means he takes more time to
warm up, I have to watch how warm he gets, he is a mellow fellow (always
B+ or A- at the checks for attitude), and he doesn' have the sprinting
speed or monster trot of many of the arabs we train with. Part of his
training is that sometimes he may lead, sometimes he must follow,
sometimes he must let those arabs disappear around the bends..he accepts
this and runs his own pace. But if we are out training with one other
rider, maybe one whose horse insists on being in front and the rider is
competitive and wants to be in front, he becomes mentally discouraged
and pouts.
How do others handle this? Many of the people I train with will allow
him to pass and lead during parts of the ride and this works on his
mental training and gives him the initiative to try harder. I'm not
gonna force him to race from a walking transition to a trot to get into
first place, I wouldn't even know how too. Once in a while, we ride
with people as discribed above, who allow their horses to insist on
leading, period, and who jocky for first place within the first 15
paces. Do I stop riding with them? Is there a better way to keep his
mental incentive up? What are some of the other ways in training people
work on mental attitude?
It reminds me of a Fresian stallion I saw shown last year in front of
the Dutch judges. He was well behaved, perfect conformations, etc, etc
but the judges insisted he be cut because his attitude wasn't stallion
enough! The owners had over trained him and he was too behaved!!!!
Well, maybe I've overtrained Mystery to not worry so much when horses
pass. Now what?!
Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions. If not appropriate for the
list please email privately. I'm on digest so cc: me if replying to
ridecamp.
Kimberly (&Mystery the "mellow fellow" Morab)
Pt.Reyes, CA
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