You wrote:
> This brings up a subject that has been troubling me ever since
> I started to read this list. That is letting the horse choose the gait.
> I have seen this memtioned in several posts. I have also seen as
> many post talking about their horses not walking when the rider
> wants and the horse wasting energy, fighting the rider and the rider
> giving up and letting the horse CHOOSE his own gait! The fight will
> consist of prancing, jigging, rearing, and dancing sideways till the
> horse gets his way. I firmly beleive that there is a definite connection
> between the two.
I did mention that discipline problems like this are not to be
tolerated. Allowing the horse to choose the gait during the race is
appropriate. He will know when a muscle group is becoming fatigued
long before a change in attitude or way of going becomes obvious even
to the most experienced rider.
> If you are allowing the horse to choose the gait he wants to ride in,
> how is the horse to understand all of a sudden that he can't choose
> the gait and NOW he has to let you choose the gait! Of course he
> is going to throw a fit.
Yes, you are right! Most folks (me included) ride a fair number of
"training miles" that are no where as intense as a race. That is the
place to have the rider encourage discipline and for the rider to
choose a pace. If you can train w/ a group or saddle club, so much
the better! When you get to the race, the horse will rate, & he will
be thrilled to have a little freedom! There are a number of
techniques (different for each horse) that will keep his attention on
the business at hand & listening to the rider while still allowing
him a degree of freedom!
> Horses are a creature of habit. If you allow the horse to choose his
> own gait, he will want to do it all the time. Then when you want to
> walk and the horse wants to run, he is going to fight you
My horses do NOT fight me. Besides hours & miles training for the
race, we do ring work w/ heavy emphasis on dressage. Horses are
creatures of habit! I want them to have established good habits
before we ever leave the farm. The horse is the best judge of how tired he is
& what gait is appropriate to the terrain. We need to encourage the horse to
develop the sense to choose appropriately.
> That all sounds very nice but I have seen many horses get excited about
> the race and another horse passing him and forget all about how tired
> he is and the difficultly of the terrain. I've noticed horses throwing shoes
> because they want to go too fast on rough terrian. I am sorry, but WE are
> the best judge of what is best for our horse. A HORSE DOES NOT HAVE
> ENOUGH SENSE TO CHOOSE WHAT IS BEST FOR HIM. The rider
> should have the sense to know what is best for him or herself and her horse.
> You don't leave such important decisions up to the horse.
I choose sane horses! We compete as a team. I respect my horse's
observations on his condition, my riding (he tells me if I get sloppy
when I'm tired at the end), and whether the trail is safe. Yes,
horses can do stupid things & can work themselves beyond their
capacity. On the other hand, I've seen riders ask their horses to do
stupid things as well. I suspect that our philosophy of riding is
not so far apart, but we have different means of getting there.
> None of the trainers I know of or any of the books I have read would agree with
> letting the horse choose his own gait when he is being ridden. That is dangerous
> to start letting a horse have his own way.
Were these books written w/ the long distance horse & rider in mind?
Our sport is quite different than some other horse disciplines!
Remember that endurance riding has contributed enormously to equine
training & physiology in the last 15 years!
> It just does not make sense to me to let a horse choose his own gait. I would
> like to hear from all endurance riders. I would bet that the top endurance
> riders choose what is best for their horses. If I am wrong I would like to hear
> from you.
I'd like to hear too! How about it?! I'm always interested in
differing view points. I learn something, whether I agree w/ all of
it or not.
Linda Flemmer
ABF Challenger ("Rocket") & Eternal Point ("Major")
Blue Wolf Equestrian Supplies/ Blue Wolf Ranch
Chesapeake, VA
"In case of emergency - Fur side up, steel side down!"