This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Everyone-
As usual, Dagrun & I had a horse-filled weekend. Saturday we went to a dressage show as spectators. We were inspired by the skill of the riders and condition of the horses! However, we both agreed that the novices looked better than the advanced. The high level riders and horses seemed stressed, stiff, cranked into position. At midday Dagrun informed me that we were going to look at a horse for sale! She has been horse-shopping for some months, unsuccessfully. We were amazed at the parade of horses advertised as eventing prospects which were in reality skinny clubfooted nags with bad teeth. Well, today's eventing prospect was a non-papered 7 year old rescue mare for just $1000. "Jelly" was allegedly a Thoroughbred, grey in color, totally unbroke! On this journey, we have both learned the value of an unbroke horse (I recall Carole R writing something to this effect about buying young stock a while back). "Trained" horses more often than not have developed lots of problems -- musculoskeletal injuries, resistance, fear, you name it. The untrained horse is a blank slate with little to "unlearn." Such was Jelly, friendly and willing to do whatever you asked. She had never been shod, thank God -- add hoof rehab to the list of trained horse problems! In the round pen she moved beautifully. Not only that, she jumped beautifully! Dagrun set up a jumping pole and, after initial investigation, Jelly jumped over it, three times! Sold! Sunday was videotaping day. Boy, nothing like seeing your own butt on TV. And you thought OTHER people looked funny in riding pants ;-) We each did a warm-up ride and a pretend dressage test. Very amusing, gallop up centerline? Dagrun rode Quinn and I rode Tommes. Now, I guess I'm lucky because I tend to think I look better on tape than I felt. While riding, I'm aware of a million imbalances, adjustments, corrections, most of which are not visible. The tape was extremely helpful. I saw some improvements that I am very happy about. I was also glad to see what needs improvement because I can at times feel something uncomfortable or imbalanced, but I don't know what exactly I'm doing. So... break out your videocameras! Brigid Wasson SF Bay Area, CA <A HREF="http://www.ourfjords.freeservers.com/fjord1/Our_Fjordsx.html";>Our Fjords</A> <A HREF="http://www.ourfjords.freeservers.com/fw/Fjordings_Wesx.html";>Fjordings West</A>
