with all due consideration, the only suitable place to kick up dust and agitate perhaps OTHER horses would be about a 1/2 a mile outside of basecamp. Having had a neighbor more than once who did take the energy out of their horse within about 100 feet of mine (who were edgy but polite up until they saw ANOTHER horse getting to trot about), personally I do not want MY first 10 minutes on an otherwise workable mount to be not much fun to accommodate another horse. While we DO lunge our horses at times and for other reasons than to take an edge off, we don't do it at rides, because we don't like to have to park outside of BC,and frankly, that is the only polite place to do that - downwind. I understand a hotter, edgy horse can be difficult. It still is not polite nor fair to subject others to the effects of a good lunge at an event. When our now-elderly stallion was young and in his first season, he had a "pogo stick" start; nothing to do with being a fella, just LOVED the event! The first half a dozen rides I started on foot, loping alongside him until he settled a bit - I got fit in that first couple of miles:). Then at Tar Springs, the start was an UPHILL and I thought "OH GOODIE!" I got to start on his back for the first time, and he finally got it that when he didn't pogo stick, he would get to trot right out. Never had to start on foot again - and he never saw a lunge line.
JMHO
On Feb 16, 2009, at 3:22 AM, Kathy Klenk wrote:
My horses are both SO fidgety, not obnoxious but just full of energy. If I lunge for just 5 minutes pre ride they are gentlemen to tack up and get on. If I don't lunge the first 10 minutes are not much fun. So not necessary to lunge but it makes it easier for me especially after work when I'm not at my most patient.
Angie Fura wrote:
/If they're hyper or not paying attention, I'm somewhat of a wuss and would rather do this stuff while my feet are still firmly on the ground. =)/
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/~ Crysta
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I don't consider this being a wuss. I consider it good horsemanship. Getting on an out of control horse at the beginning of a ride (or any time really), puts you and all the other riders at risk of an accident.
