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Re: [RC] Can you teach a horse to walk faster? - Barbara McCraryI have over the years trained several of our horses to walk faster. I don't know whether it's a coincidence or good training :-)) Here's what I have done: I took a familiar loop trail, 7 miles around and started at the one end that offered a steep climb. First 1/2 mile - downhill at a walk. Second section, about 1 mile, walk and trot slowly. Next section, steep uphill - climb strongly, working up to some trotting as the horse conditions. Next section - more uphill, not so steep - walk/trot. Reach the summit of the mountain - turn toward home - 2-1/2 miles approx. - urge faster walk than the horse normally does. When he breaks into a trot, check him up and ask again for faster walk. I use leg squeezes and voice commands. Check him up anytime he breaks. Ask again for faster walk. Repeat, repeat, repeat all the way home. My experience is that eventually they get the point. One of the faster walkers we ever had was 14.2 with shorter legs in proportion to his body length than normal. Had the legs matched his body length, I think he would have been 15 hands.Two factors that aided me in the teaching program...the trail was downhill (and good footing) and it was headed toward home. It's worth a try. Don't quit too soon, be persistent but kind, repeat, repeat, repeat. I don't remember how long it took until I noticed a difference. Months, probably. Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: <michelle@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 12:45 PM Subject: [RC] Can you teach a horse to walk faster? I have a nice mare that I am conditioning for endurance. She's an 8 yr Arab, 14hh with short legs. She's been undersaddle for 2 and a half years. She can do a great, big strided trot, and a nice smooth canter. But her walk is SLOW!. My husband just got a horse who has a fast walk. I'd like my horse to have a faster walk. Is this just in her genes or can I teach her to walk faster? I've tried a bit but she almost always just breaks into a trot. I've rarely, if ever gotten her to walk fast, big strided and I've owned her for 2.5 years? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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