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"She is worried that letting her horse move faster for English and jumping is going to ruin his western pleasure gaits."
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Dear Keith...
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Hello,
I want to ask a quick question. I don't know if you'll answer or not. I understand that ideally you want people to come to clinics, etc. I have a student who owns her own horse. She started learning to jump, and is doing really well. The horse is happy, she is happy. The horse is a 10 year old paint gelding, very patient and calm. She is worried that letting her horse move faster for english and jumping is going to ruin his western pleasure gaits. I believe that teaching her horse to move out will help his western pleasure by building muscle and helping him to get on his hind quarters. He doesn't get excited, so that's not the issue. He isn't super slow for western pleasure because he is heavy on the forehand, still learning, and gaining muscle for being in that "frame" they are looking for. It takes time.
Basically, do you agree that working a horse really forward and helping them to use their hindquarters and get better balance should, in the end, help this horse to also be a better western pleasure horse?
Thank you for your time,
Jen A |
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Reply
Yes, very well put. I would add that, as you know, training a horse is all about "going and stopping" - and anything you can do to further your control in those respects is time well spent. Why did I have to learn Geometry in high school? "To expand your brain" my mother says.
I've listed exercises/articles that should help deveop control (specifically speed control) w/in the horse you describe.
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Suggested Article: "Three Step Stop Exercise"
"When you've mastered this exercise, the cool "upshot" is that if you're riding your horse, and his body is in the wrong position to pick up his lead, for instance, (maybe he's all "splayed out") then you can simply pick up the reins and drive him...
from our Ask a Horse Trainer series > read more |
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Suggested Article: "Solve Every Horse Problem"
This exercise, Hip-Shoulder-Shoulder, has become a "classic" exercise for one very big reason: It gives you control of your horse's stop. Every horse-related problem you can think of comes down to "going and stopping." "I can't get my horse to...
from our How to Train a Horse series > read more |
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Suggested Article: "Stop Your Horse With Hip Shoulder Shoulder"
The most common problem we see: Keeping your horse moving may prove to be your biggest challenge. Sluggish horses that look for any excuse to slow down will stop dead in their tracks when you first pick up a rein and ask for such a sharp maneuver....
from our Ask a Horse Trainer series > read more |
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Suggested Article: "Riding Exercise: Steer the Tail"
"All you have to do is keep changing directions – for twenty minutes. You can start this exercise at a walk and then at a trot when you feel comfortable.
"The more excited or nervous the horse is, the more important it is for you to not let...
from our Horse Riding Instruction series > read more |
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Speed Control
Horse Speeds: As soon as I ask for a trot, he thinks he really needs to get somewhere in a hurry. |
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Speed Control
Horse Speeds: As soon as I ask for a trot, he thinks he really needs to get somewhere in a hurry. |
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Speed Control
How to Teach a Horse to Barrel Race: Whenever my horse gets through the gate to race he prances and hops until you let him go |
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