On Wed, Jan 09, 2008 at 04:49:25PM -0500, Karen Thomas wrote: > I think there is somewhat of a similarity...except that ALL horses with any > degree of training should be able to stand while someone makes a minor > adjustment in their clothing, grabs a sip of water, whatever, but that I > wouldn't really expect so many riders to be prepared to ride totally > bridleless. I'd say that being able to drop the reins is a very basic skill > for any horse/rider pair though.
i admit that i've done that plenty of times (incl. not-so-minor changes as taking off or putting on a coat) and stjarni just stands there or walks on, as the case may be. but we haven't tried that bridleless, and i do try to keep one hand at least looped through the reins while doing it. > I sure wouldn't let a small child ride any horse I own out of my sight this student of mine is thirteen, so somewhere between "small" and "adult", i guess. when i was thirteen i had my own horse and i don't think i ever rode in any supervisory sight at all, as i had no instructor and my parents are uninterested in horses. i had my adventures (and i think now my student has had one of her own), but neither i nor my pony came to harm. --vicka
