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Many years ago, I was "trail training" a 5 year-old gelding for my husband. 
There is one particular hill I like to use for downhill training...steep in 
a couple of spots, not so steep in others, and lots of shale plates to 
negotiate.  This horse was a disaster on downhills.  He'd come to the edge 
of a steep spot and "throw himself headfirst over the edge", as I used to 
describe it, and go down on his forehand.  This particular horse was very 
goosey when we first got him and would tuck his butt under himself if we so 
much as started to brush him or even reach out to touch him.  I started 
using this habit to train him to get under himself going downhill.  I would 
reach back and either tap him on the hip with my fingers or just rest my 
hand on him.  He tucked!  Gradually, he figured it out and became one of our 
best downhill horses.  He also got over being goosey.

Barbara

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diane Trefethen" <tref@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <Ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] Question re Running up//Conditioning Down Hills


> Beverley H. Kane, MD wrote:
> > Diane - Could you explain -exactly- how you "teach most horses to [use 
> > their
> > hind ends downhill]"?  Thanks. - Beverley
> >
> > On 12/23/05 7:22 AM, "heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> > > (In fact, some "maintenance conditioning"
> > > downhill is needed to keep those muscles in tip-top shape even in a
> > > good downhiller, or they will get sore on a ride with a lot of down.)
> > > It is indeed possible to teach most horses to do this, even if they
> > > don't accomplish it naturally.  And if they do it right, then the
> > > theory that they only have so many downhill miles is no longer
> > > relevant.
> Er..  that was Heidi who said that :)
>
> The best I've been able to do is get my horses to jog downhill correctly. 
> Perhaps it's my electricity that causes them to lose form at higher speeds 
> :)
>
> I start on the flat, sit trotting and asking my horse to trot slower and 
> slower but at the same time keeping a strong leg on my horse which asks 
> for MORE forward motion. The result I reward with praise and pats is when 
> they reach their hind legs under themselves.  From the saddle this feels 
> like their trot has developed a bit more spring and has become EASIER to 
> sit to.  After a while, they get the idea.  When Mom starts sitting the 
> trot, shortens my reins and squeezes, I'm supposed to slow down and prance 
> a little.  Then out on the trail on a down hill I give the same set of 
> cues.
>
> What techniques do others use?
>
>
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