Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

On my Aaaaaaaayrab, if I go out for a nice easy 10 mile or so trail ride
on Friday - he is calm on Saturday at the start. If I don't he turns into
a snarling, snorting monster. On the mare I used to compete if I took her
on a nice trail ride on Friday she turned into a snarling, snorting monster
on the Friday trail ride and that carried right on through to the Saturday
start. 

If I just walked her around camp on Friday and let her graze while I socialized,
she was much better at the start. 

Different horses will require different approaches. 

Truman

Vchorsegal@xxxxxxx wrote:
> A few things that have worked for
> me: 
>       1. Camp away from the start/finish area 
>       2. Start with a calm horse or 2, not a huge group 
>       3. Leave a few minutes after the start 
>       4. Sandwich your horse between 2 sane horses that walk (get their  
>              blessing first ! ) 
>       5. Lead your horse out on foot for a bit.  I did this a couple of years
> ago to   
>                show my top 10 gelding that we had a different game plan. 
>       6. I lead both my seasoned horse and ponied a friend on foot with the 
>   
>                other hand for the first mile or so, then we got down to business 
>   
>                and lived to finish and tell about it ! She was on her dancing
> QH ! 
>       7. Cardboard & water diet & lead bell boots !!!!!   
> Happy Trails !  - Heidi Helly