Same thing here......my boy has the body, but was a
backyard ornament for so long, he hasn't a clue about so many things.....like
balance, carrying his rider (safely) picking UP the
pace, using his hindquarters to climb, NOT
shaking me off when he gets sweaty...really....when
this guy shakes all four feet come off the ground, it is all I can do to stay
on....There is hope.........I have "restarted" him and he is learning....he
still looks at me like "why are we doing this,
hanging out was fine with me"...in fact he tries to
go into every ranch we ride by, hoping there will be a little social gathering,
including food and beverage, going on ...
Best example and poor clue.......he used to trip
and stumble a lot.....I had several farriers shoe him several ways......I
adjusted my tack (even sent my OF saddle out to have 3 inches cut off, thinking
it was too long for his short back)
Tried special cues, clicks, stepovers, logs,
jumping rails, anything to get him to pick up his feet......He did it all on cue
and then out of nowhere, would drop to his nose.....until I "restarted" him and
taught him to balance himself and me
under all circumstances....... hasn't tripped or
stumbled in 3 months...
There have been a lot of very good
posts mostly on the physical aspects of preparing a horse for endurance but
one needs to also consider the mental state of the horse as I am finding out:(
My new 9 year old Arab mare is physically ready to do a 50 but no way
mentally. So I am going to forget endurance for a while, sob, sob and
start her on competitive trail rides and do more pleasure rides with groups
for as long as it takes.
