This message is from: "Starfire Farm, L.L.C." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
It's interesting to listen to people's experiences with tripping. When I start colts, fjords as well as other breeds, I am very aware that they have not yet learned to balance with someone on their backs, so I ride very upright with my upper body posture to help keep my balance closer to their rear ends. I start colts using a "natural horsemanship" method, hence, use a long rein with "dressage style" contact only rarely. I have experienced these colts tripping, but usually only if they are bored. I will ride them out in the pasture where they have to pay attention to where they are going. Also, in the pasture, they have more room to balance themselves, not being confined to the smaller dimensions of an arena. If they start to go down, I allow them their heads, and they usually catch themselves before going all the way down (so far, anyway, knock on wood! :-). After the colts are moving forward well, in a good, steady rhythm, I start to introduce them to half-halts, which can help rebalance them (with light but steady contact as Jean Gayle suggested.) Something that I have noticed about fjords is that, while doing "ground work" with them in a halter, they do tend to step on their own feet a lot, until they learn where to put their feet when asking them to bend and double back on a leadline. It's almost like they don't know how to take their feet with them when they move. Once they figure it out, there are no problems. If a more experienced horse starts tripping, I check the position of the rider first. If the rider is leaning on the horse's forehand, the horse is carrying that extra weight on his front legs. Second, I check the horse's impulsion. If he is not moving with purpose and impulsion, there is a greater tendency to trip. If making adjustments for the first two reasons doesn't take care of the tripping, I look for a medical reason. On a trail ride, I have noticed that some horses, fjords especially, have a tendency to trip if they are not the lead horse on a trail. To check the tripping horse out, I move him to the front, where he usually picks up interest in what is in front of him, and starts picking up his feet! Beth Starfire Farm in sunny,gorgeous today, Colorado.
