safe start at a race

[terre <tobytrot@bigfoot.com>]

	Many (most) of us use a circling technique while training the horse at
home--in other words, when they start to get too 'hot' and disobedient you
try to ride them (smoothly, same rhythm, etc) into a circle to break the
"charging cycle"--are you OK with that concept?  When your horse has
learned that refusing to half-halt and obey 'slow down signs' results in
being circle:
	At rides, get up real early so you can saddle, etc without 'hurrying' and
further upsetting the horse.  Begin to warm up early.  Ride in circles and
straight lines around camp, trying to keep a rhythm, frame, etc, just like
in a lesson at home.  Then, a few minutes before the start of the race,
ride away from the start line, still doing the odd circle.  Be on the
opposite side of camp when the race starts and everybody else 'takes off'.
Continue to ride (same rhythm, same frame) back towards the start line,
throwing in the odd circle and right out on the trail with no transition.
See what I mean?  The idea is to eliminate that moment of "They're off!"
and make the start of the race just a continuation of the warm-up.  Your
horse won't be totally fooled, but this method works for me.

Terre