Cantering and proper training
This message is from: beth gerst [EMAIL PROTECTED] On the subject of cantering. With correct, proper training from the beginning I do believe any horse can learn to canter well and in a balanced correct frame. If we think back to the days where horses actually were free and ran in herds they all GALLOPED with one another which means there is no reason horses cannot learn to canter in a nice frame balancing the weight of the rider and their own body. Some horses will take much longer than others to learn the proper way and the rider must have an abundance of patience to get a well balanced canter done correctly. I do cringe when I see not just Fjords but other horse breeds in the show ring being run into the canter from this crazy fast trot then the horse takes off into a uncontrollable canter that looks like something out of a Thewell cartoon book. If the time is taken to correctly train the horse then the horse will easily produce a beautiful canter for the rider. I do believe that the horses confirmation will dictate how comfortable the canter will be as well as the trot on some horses. But, again correct training and teaching the horse to round his body and to balance himself will only improve all of his gaits not just the canter. The horse should be working from the hind end and not just dragging his rider from the front end which I see happen in this breed a lot. Good luck to all that are schooling the canter.give it time, patience and above all correct training from the beginning. Beth and Lex in CT. The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Cantering and proper training/ mane trim
This message is from: Warren Stockwell [EMAIL PROTECTED] I just started taking lessons with Kaari in the Dressage style. First my daughter is working than me. I honestly don't have the skill to do it or the real interest but I am starting to now! I have found that rather than riding as though I am on the trail ( relaxed rein and body ) having the horse under me more and working off the back end it is easier to make a change. Now I don't know if I am saying this all right its the first lesson and we've been practicing since ( 4 days ). We have gotten closer to the canter than ever before. I find ( could be wrong ) that she has to be collected to even make the jump into the canter. If I don't set it up right before I ask I'm destine to fail. The question is why is it important ( yet effective ) to have contact with the mouth?? It seems to me that if the horse is right you should not be in it's mouth but relaxed not tight in the body but relaxed??? I've always been taught to leave 'em be when they're right . I've been told to train your horse to collect rather than hold them in. So this is rather confusing to my old brain. Maybe someone can give me some help with this. I'm not sure it won't end in a hard mouthed horse which equals less responsive right? Again new arena and old habits die hard. I just trimmed for the first time with a electric clippers! I've always done it with a scissors and find this works darn good and much faster! I find the high point on the neck ( where the natural arch is ) start there and work in a gradual decline twards the pole than to the withers. I use my hand/fingers as a guide for the leingth guage. seems to work fine. For a Fjord that has never had a electric clippers near her Kaari fell asleep!! Hastle free I love it!! Thanks, Roberta MN The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
