Re: Newbies and Oldies

[Connie Hoge <connieh@etalco.com>]

Ramey,

A "Newbie" can be new to endurance, but not necessarily "new" to horses - I
think we sometimes forget that.  Horsemanship is horsemanship.  Though my
grandfather never rode a lick of endurance, he taught me to never overwork a
horse, & closely monitor both health, & condition.

I think many Newbie's come from a "horse" background.  Fewer decide they
want to do endurance & find a first time horse?

Connie H.

Ramey Peticolas-Stroud wrote:

> I agree with Heidi's statement that there is no substitute for "good
> old-fashioned horse sense, intuition, ability to 'read' their body
> language, etc."  But the problem for many new riders is how to get it
> and what do you do in the meantime?  I'll probably get flammed big time
> for this but here goes...
>
> This is an ethical as well as an educational issue.  When we start
> riding our enthusiam is high and our understanding low.  Often the horse
> pays the price.  A suspensory or tendon problem here, a colic or maybe
> even exhausted horse sydrome there.  The clues were obvious but somehow
> missed.
>
> So while you are learning the ropes, don't be afraid to use heart
> monitors, temp monitors, or any other "technology" that gives you
> insight as to how your equine buddy is doing.  Someday you might be so
> totally in tune with your horse that you don't need anything but a hat.
> But until you reach that point, get all the  info you can, anyway you
> can, and then use it wisely.
>
> The new National Rider Development Program sponsored by the AERC
> International Committee to be introduced next year will initially focus
> on this level of learning and understanding.  Stay tuned...
>
> Ramey