Lancashire Lass
3rd May 2002, 10:13 AM
Yup agree with you there Wally, most horses who give the impression to most unassuming mounts that they 'enjoy' going fast, actually turns out to be the opposite!!! IMO they are usually 'running away' from something that hurts or something they don't like or understand.... pretty much along those lines, that's what I would tend to believe. Leaning back is in my opinion, no way to stop any horse that running on, it's your seat and lower back aids with a good supportive lower leg keeping you balanced, with timely half halts in there (perhaps quite a few at first!), that usually bring your horse back to a controllable gait, not leaning back and hauling on the reins, usually losing their own foot through the stirrups as I've seen some folk do in my time!! Paints a funny 'cartoon like' picture to an innocent bystander but it's no funny joke for the poor horse that's probably either frightend, confused or in pain!
I'd want to question my instructor is she EVER told me to 'lean back' in order to slow a horse down and ask for her reasoning behind it and perhaps mention that this would effect the overall 'balance of horse and rider' would it not????!
Jayne
I'd want to question my instructor is she EVER told me to 'lean back' in order to slow a horse down and ask for her reasoning behind it and perhaps mention that this would effect the overall 'balance of horse and rider' would it not????!
Jayne