Re: [RC] Training new horse----don't get too cocky!!! - sharp pennyI never ment to suggest that training a youngster exclusively on the trails dosn't work....I tend to be very cautious and am a bit of a horse control freak. For ME it is safer and saner to do all my prep work in the field (I don't have a formal arena either). When I get my youngster out on the trail I want to know that I am 98% sure that my horse understands the basics and will respond correctly to that cue. Flat work developes and trains the thinking side of the brain..if a horse isn't used to ignoring the reactive side while engaging the thinking side when asked then I, personally, feel very unsafe heading out on the trail and just hopin' for the best. Just a little more excitement than what I really want in my life...lol Once my horse has his lessons firmly in place then I head out on the trail to continue training. Yes, it can still get exciting but atleast I know I have some tools in my training tool box that I can pull out and successfully use to get us through those exciting moments. Without a doubt, flat work ad nauseum bores both horse and rider and can be detrimental in the long run. As Rae said..ideally a good mix of both field (ring) work and trail work makes for a well rounded horse no matter what your horses career will be. Basically whatever works for you and your horse and you feel safe and comfortable with is the right thing to do for you. This is true with just about anything involving a horse ;) Regards, Penny --- Joan Ruprecht <jruprecht@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: We have never had rings etc. Just trails and beaches if you like them. But we have allways had experienced horses of our own to ride the babies with. It does work. Joan __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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