Re: RideCamp: Spooky Arabs (long)

["Linda B. Merims" <lbm@ici.net>]

Leigh331@aol.com wrote:
> 
>...If anything, arabs tend to need training on how to "calm themselves",
> this cannot occur with rough handling.  Also, rough handling to an arab is
> different than rough handling to a QH or other stock type breed.  A yell may
> be rough to an arab, where it may take a stick for a QH to think it's rough.
> Calm, confident riders make calm, confident horses.

I worked as a groom at Hollywood Park one year.  As low man on the totem
pole, it was my job to go get coffee at the kitchen every morning.

One morning I was walking back to the barn with a trayload of coffee
cups.  Up ahead I see this big grey thoroughbred on his way to the
track who is clearly very, very keyed up.  He's travelling sideways
at the passage, and his hind end is tending to leave the ground, like
a helium balloon fighting its string.  But mostly I notice that the
exercise boy on this horse is sitting *perfectly still*, he's not
fighting the animal, not trying to correct it, the only perceivable
movement in this pair is the horse, the rider is just perfectly still.

I start to swing around to give them a wide berth--the horse looked
like he could blow at any moment.  As they passed me sideways the
exercise boy said "Good morning."

It was Bill Shoemaker.

Linda B. Merims
lbm@ici.net
Massachusetts, USA


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