Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Wow, Truman!  So great to see it put into words. I hate to do a "me 
too" reply, but feel this is key for happy trotting on a TWH/MFT.

I started on the TWH side of distance conditioning, and even after 
switching to Arabs conditioned and rode a TWH that belonged to a 
friend--your analysis is dead on.

If you haven't tried it, you don't know--you do post a TWH's trot 
*completely* differently than diagonally gaited horses, like he said, 
barely clearing the saddle.  You can "post" a hard pace the same way.  
Stirrup length is the key, and leathers that hang right underneath, 
otherwise low back ache for sure at endurance distances.

Lynne

On Jun 13, 2004, at 1:33 PM, Truman Prevatt wrote:

>  A walker's trot can be difficult to learn to ride. In most cases it's 
> so smooth that if you are ued to posting you'll have a difficult time 
> posting it. If you post it needs to be subtle. However, it can be 
> difficult to sit - especially if the horse has a long - hard thrust 
> off its hind end. I've been there - I know the problem.
>
>  You also need your stirrups hung under you so if you stand up and the 
> horse disappears - you will land standing up balanced on the balls of 
> your feet. I'm not sure where the Tucker hangs has its stirrups hung. 
> In the case of your horse if your stirrups are too short you will not 
> be able to post at all. If they are too long your lower back takes the 
> brunt of the walkers considerable thrust. Start by moving your 
> stirrups up by small amounts. Get them to where if you stand up you 
> are about 1/2 to 1 inche above the seat. Try this first by trotting 
> and standing and "hovoring above the saddle" - are you balanced? Then 
> try posting some. If you are thrown to high - raise the stirrups a 
> little. If you have to work to post, lower them 1/4 of an inch. Keep 
> fine tuing this till you get the comfortable lenght. With my walker 
> and endurance if the stirrups are too long my back hurt. If they were 
> too short - my knees hurt. If they were just right - I could ride 
> forever and nothing hurt.
>
>  Truman

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I can tell you after sleeping in a tent, then in my truck, then in the back
of a trailer, then in a gneck trailer w/no LQ, and now in the new-to-me LQ
one, you don't sleep any better the night before in nicer digs - you're
just more comfortable while you're lying there obsessing :)
~  Tina Hicks

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