Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

Re: [RC] Speed of Gaited Horses/Mules - heidi

It took me some time to discover that my arab gelding
(Polish, track-retired)has a lateral gait, a saddle
pace or rack or something.  I have a difficult time
trying to figure out how to ride it, smoother than a
trot, but so fast that it's hard to sit.
<snip>
Odd?

No, not odd at all.  A fair number of Arabs are quite capable of doing a
four-beat lateral gait.  Many particularly manifest it when going
downhill, and often that is the first place that one will see it.  Once
they become relaxed and proficient at it, they will do it with increasing
frequency and dexterity.

The secret to "sitting" it is to completely relax through the lower back
and pelvis, and let one's hips just "roll" with the gait--I've always
joked about how it uses the "universal joint" in one's lower back.  Just
let the legs and hips "go" with the horse, let the back swivel, and let
your upper body remain fairly still.

Heidi



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


Replies
[RC] Speed of Gaited Horses/Mules, Sharlene Roberts-Caudle