ridecamp@endurance.net: Stretching or smelling?

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I've been experiencing some of the same with my young =
mare.....she's only been under saddle for about six months and all of =
that pretty easy riding. I don't get the sense that she's stretching her =
neck. She just walks or trots along with her nose almost to the ground, =
ears up and very relaxed. It's not constant, but happens for about =
thirty percent of the ride.... and, since she seems to be relaxed and =
happy in this position I've let her just go along. As I said, she's =
still learning and I don't want to pull on her mouth and correct her =
unless I feel it's necessary. (I guess I'd rather have that head down =
than up and tensed.) I thought maybe she'd "outgrow" this but now I =
don't know after reading the other posts... and I wonder whether this =
habit might cause any problems when I start her on long distance rides =
or if I should continue to ignore it.......? Linda

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I've been experiencing some of the same = with my young=20 mare.....she's only been under saddle for about six months and all of = that=20 pretty easy riding. I don't get the sense that she's stretching her = neck. She=20 just walks or trots along with her nose almost to the ground, ears up = and very=20 relaxed. It's not constant, but happens for about thirty percent = of the=20 ride.... and, since she seems to be relaxed and happy in this position = I've let=20 her just go along. As I said, she's still learning and I don't want to = pull on=20 her mouth and correct her unless I feel it's necessary. (I guess I'd = rather have=20 that head down than up and tensed.) I thought maybe she'd = "outgrow"=20 this but now I don't know after reading the other posts... and I = wonder=20 whether this habit might cause any problems when I start her on long = distance=20 rides or if I should continue to ignore it.......? =20 Linda