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Re: [RC] Thinkin' about trail training - Chris Paus

So    true! I started ponying my young mare as a 2YO.
She got ponied with a saddle and full endurance gear.
She really developed a great "whoa" from being ponied
and learning her verbal commands that way. i also
think it teaches them that it's Ok for the human to be
up above them so it's not so frightening we we do
mount up for the first time.

chris


Ponying is great becuase you can teach verbal
commands for the different
gaits;
they have the security of a buddy horse to teach
them the ropes; you can
have
them saddled with weird stuff hanging...etc.  But
this does not teach them
where to
put their  feet  I am a huge advocate of letting
them follow loose (provided
you have one
bonded that will not run off, no traffic or wire or
other riders).  My young
horse learned
how to negotiate hills, rocks, mud, creeks, etc, and
had to make her own
decisions and mistakes.

I felt she was pretty surefooted until she tripped
yesterday at a trot and
went down to the
knees several strides, fortunately regained her
footing.  Now I have to
figure out why!

There is so much you can do with a young, unrideable
horse by taking them
out in the world.
Karen




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Just because someone tells you that your horse isn't
"fit" for
endurance...doesn't mean it isn't, it just means
your horse isn't fit to be
"their" endurance horse! Go for it, you never know
what you'll accomplish
with that "saddle horse" or "trail horse" of YOURS!
~ Darlene Anderson - DPD Endurance

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http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/


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"A good horse makes short miles," George Eliot

Chris and Star

BayRab Acres
http://pages.prodigy.net/paus
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By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is
noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience,
which is the bitterest.
~  Confucius

ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/

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Replies
Re: [RC] Thinkin' about trail training, Karen Sullivan