I haven't commented til now about your posts and
training methods, but I think you sound a bit
rigid....talking about "riding out" temper tantrums,
being sure not to let the horse have its own way,
etc. I agree with several other riders who have
found alternative methods to get their horses to
do the desired end result - *without* "riding out"
a temper tantrum...instead, avoiding the tantrum
altogether, which is what I do also, it makes a lot
more sense to me (and is much safer for me). Frankly,
I don't think I could "ride out" my mare's temper
tantrums, but neither would I consider taking her to
a trainer who would train in that fashion.
Jude Hall
in soggy Ohio
& Kentucky Redbud & Pride's Pure Angel (TWHs)
Lynette wrote:
>Linda,
>
>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.
>
>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.
>
>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
>
>Linda wrote:. 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.
>
>Now I have ridden 50's and a two day 100 and I had spent alot of hours
>riding my horse and conditioning him. When my horse was getting tired of
>a gait I could sense it and would change gaits. THE RIDER NEEDS TO
>DEVELOPE THE SENSE OF WHAT GAIT IS APPROPIATE FOR THE
>HORSE. I have spent enough time with my horse to know what his needs are
>and what he is capable of.
>
>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.
>
>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.
>
>Lynette Helgeson
>Rider of the most giving and best disiplined Arab I have ever ridden.
>
>
>
>helgeson@lansford.ndak.net
>