ridecamp@endurance.net: training

training

Kathy (KC85124@UAFSYSB.UARK.EDU)
Wed, 13 Aug 1997 02:17:22 -0700 (PDT)

Darn, now I find out I need a trained horse for endurance. One of things that
first appealed to me about endurance riding is that I didn't have to do ring
work or worry about leads, head set, etc. Had Traveler been really well
trained I never would have won a ride. He always wanted to go faster than
I did. After risking life and limb trying to do "arena work" when I first
started him we just hit the trails. The narrower and steeper the better I
had control. We started the first year when he was 5 and started behind
everyone. His first ride was a 30 mile ld ride and when he ran around the
trailer all afternoon after the ride I decided his 2nd ride and all others
after that would be at least 50 miles. About halfway through the ride I
rode him with a halter since he didn't want to wait on me to put the bit in
his mouth since his buddy was heading down the trail. The next year we
started with the group and no way could I ride in just a halter. He is still
going strong at age 16 and over 2400 miles. Now I'm taking his 10 yr. old
brother to dressage lessons having decided a trained horse would be nice
but it is hard to find time to train and condition. I can work on a
lot of things while trail riding but our trails are too narrow for the circle
work he needs. Need to sell my 4 yr. old since I certainly don't have time
to train more than one horse and Fox is doing well on 50 mile rides. so
those of you with your calm, easy going, trained horses don't be too hard
on those of us with a less than "trained" horse after all we do pay our
ride entry and if only perfectly trained horses were allowed on endurance
rides I doubt if the sport could afford to continue. We all are striving
to better ourselves and our horses but some have a harder time with it than
others due to our nature or the nature of our horses. Don't tell us
the kind of tack or bits to use either save that for the show ring. Oh
by the way, I did train a perfecly behaved arab stallion, sire of the above
horses, to show and he was a real gentleman on trails but was glad when his
sons were old enough to start as he just didn't like the fast endurance pace
and was much more suited to competative trail.
Enjoyed the discussion on bits, etc. just had to add my 2 cents worth.
Kathy Crothers & Rebels Travler "Whats ringwork?" Rebels Foxfire "Do I have
to do ring work today. Can't we trail ride"

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