Re: [IceHorses] ground driving Dagur
On 05/08/07, Judy Ryder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > How did you actually hitch the object to him? Oh I see what you're asking... When we actually are at a point where we are hitching something to him, we would have a full set of harness on him. The harness would include a breast collar, and from that there would be 'tugs' and we would attach the tugs to a single tree or bar or separator...and the object would be attached to that. Or as in Gusti's case one winter, we didn't have harness, so we put the surcingle on him, and then a nice padded western cinch went across his chest, and from the cinch we attached some lines (no separator) to either side of him and he dragged the kids and I on a toboggan while one of us led him... But Gusti is special...he's very tolerant of us when we're playing.. Wanda
[IceHorses] Lori: Dagur / Scooter
Lori, what are the differences between Dagur and Scooter, physically, and how they act / react, emotions, etc. Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
[IceHorses] American Walking Pony
This is a video of a registered American Walking Pony mare, for sale in So California: http://iceryder.net/princesswalkingpony.html Please feel free to forward. Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
[IceHorses] Connected Riding Photos
Here are some photos from Robyn, from a Connected Riding clinic: http://iceryder.net/clinicrobynconnectedriding.html Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
Re: [IceHorses] ground driving Dagur
--- Wanda Lauscher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Kevin and I did a bit of ground driving with Dagur. > I started out as > the helper but was able to basically fall out of the > picture gradually > has Dagur and Kevin began working together. > > Wanda Your Dagur is so pretty and smart Happy Trails from Lorraine Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games. http://sims.yahoo.com/
Re: [IceHorses] ABOUT THE HORSE - I CAN"T WAIT!
In a message dated 8/5/2007 3:04:48 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) What tree size did you end up getting? What shape is your pony? Sylvia ** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
Re: [IceHorses] ground driving Dagur
>> Wanda, if you were going to ask the horse to pull something, a little log >> or >> bicycle tire, how would you set it up for him to do that? > > Kevin would ground drive Dagur, and I would drag the object around, > behind, beside, in front ofDagur. The intent is for Dagur to > become accustomed to the noise of it and understand that noise wasn't > going to hurt him. How did you actually hitch the object to him? Was it attached to the surcingle? Was it attached to the side of him with one rope, or behind him with two ropes (one on each side)? Did he wear a breast collar on the surcingle? Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
Re: [IceHorses] ground driving Dagur
On 05/08/07, Judy Ryder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Wanda, if you were going to ask the horse to pull something, a little log or > bicycle tire, how would you set it up for him to do that? Kevin would ground drive Dagur, and I would drag the object around, behind, beside, in front ofDagur. The intent is for Dagur to become accustomed to the noise of it and understand that noise wasn't going to hurt him. When we felt he was ready to pull it, I would stay more behind him while dragging the object...allowing him more time to get used to the noise from that direction. Then when he was hitched to it, Kevin would still ground drive, but at that point I would be leading Dagur on a lead line...just to avoid any gooseyness. All of this could be handled in one session or in many sessions, depending on how accepting the horse is. This is the process we used with Gusti when we worked up to the point of having him hitched to the PVC pipe. I think I sent in You Tube videos last winter... But Dagur is a long way off from that. Gusti had tons of ground driving done with him when he was a baby...long before he was ever ridden. We're giving Dagur the same opportunity now. We'd forgotten that step when we first backed Dagur...and we are retracing a few steps now. Dagur loves it. Yes...we're training...fumbling around..making mistakes...and hopefully learning from them. Wanda
Re: [IceHorses] ground driving Dagur
> Kevin and I did a bit of ground driving with Dagur. Nice pictures, and thanks so much for taking them, and sending them to us! Wanda, if you were going to ask the horse to pull something, a little log or bicycle tire, how would you set it up for him to do that? Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
Re: [IceHorses] Maja's first ride
In a message dated 8/5/2007 7:32:09 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Karen, I enjoyed that so much, I have been doing the same thing with Willie. My friend Clara walks me around the yard. We have been doing this maybe three times now. To watch you do it is great for me to see. I am never sure if I am doing the right thing or not. Thank you so much for your video. Sylvia ** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
Re: [IceHorses] Maja videos - groundwork and ground driving
On 05/08/07, Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Boring stuff, I know, because we are slow... Not boring at all. Nice work. Thanks for sharing. You gave me a few good ideas. Wanda
Re: [IceHorses] Maja's first ride
--- Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > my tiny friend climbed up > > http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=4jh0nhxz.5a84bki7&x=0&y=30nwrl > Great session, Karen. Something good to lift your spirits! Susan in NV Nevermore Ranch http://users.oasisol.com/nevermore/ Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. http://mobile.yahoo.com/go?refer=1GNXIC
[IceHorses] Maja videos - groundwork and ground driving
Here are a few video clips from yesterday - ground work and ground driving: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=D5E225EAA44DAB93 Boring stuff, I know, because we are slow... Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.4/936 - Release Date: 8/4/2007 2:42 PM
[IceHorses] Re: Was saddle on ebay - now Kerrits
--- In IceHorses@yahoogroups.com, "Debbie Kirchner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dawn, I know you have been working on these tights for yourself for years, then others started to ask you for them, and a business was born... I find it really exciting for you... before you know it you will need 10 seamstresses and we will see you on OPRAH LOL! I'm gettin' there :-). I'm just getting back from a few days out of town, so sorry for the delay in response... I have a total of 5 seamstresses now (just hired on the 5th this past week). We are definitely going through growing pains right now and there are a WHOLE lot of decisions to make on a daily basis. But I'm so excited about where we are going. I'm trying to predict where it's headed and make decisions based upon that. But it's really going a whole lot better than I thought! Thanks for kind words and support Debbie. I so sincerely appreciate all of the wonderful support I've received from the Icelandic Horse community, the Yahoo Groups community and the referrals I've received from the folks in those communitites. I wouldn't be where I am otherwise. Dawn Bruin-Slot, northern Michigan Fuzzy Logic Equine
[IceHorses] Maja's first ride
Maja got a ground-driving lesson yesterday, and did quite well. Neither Cary nor I were feeling up to working a horse this weekend, so Maja was the only one to get any progress towards riding. I got some videos of her ground-driving, but I haven't gotten any up on You Tube yet. I'll try to get around to that eventually. Today, it was really, really hot again, so Maja got a quick session in the round pen doing a little ground work...and then my tiny friend climbed up on her for a very short ride around the round pen with me leading. Much of the time she was mounted, she was moving her legs back and forth quietly, wiggling quietly in the saddle, slightly leaning forward and back - all very subtly, but getting her used to more sensations from above, while she had weight on her back. Here are the pictures - Cary had it on burst mode at times, so some are very close together. http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=4jh0nhxz.5a84bki7&x=0&y=30nwrl Maja was quite relaxed about the whole thing. In the pictures, however, it looks to me that her head is a bit high. In actuality, I think it really wasn't - she has a higher set neck than some horses, and a big, blowsy mane to add to the illusion. Oh yeah, we did use a treed saddle today - that one is the x-wide Thorowgood pony saddle. We have been alternating the tack we use, sometimes a bareback pad, sometimes just a pad, and we will use one of the treeless saddles soon. But, in the process of exposing her, this saddle is a good one to throw into the mix - it has flaps that make a funny little noise and they flop a bit, and we like to make sure that the horses are exposed to that sort of oddity before we forget and get overly confident. This pony saddle isn't a bad fit for her, and my friend is so tiny and was only up for maybe 5 minutes, so it wasn't a big deal. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.4/936 - Release Date: 8/4/2007 2:42 PM
Re: [IceHorses] OT puppy pictures
On 8/5/07, Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Between my daughter's puppy and these pictures of yours, Anna, I may HAVE to > have a puppy myself soon... :) We seem to have fallen into a pattern of 'rescue an old yorkie' get a puppy, rescue old dog puppy. Unfortunately we had two very old dogs-one older rescue and ours from puppyhood that we lost this past winter. I checked out rescues, but none were available and there happened to be a puppy available from a wonderful breeder who bred one of the sweet rescues we had. It was a sign. Puppies are so much fun and so much work. In order to housebreak him, I have been taking him to my office he sleeps in my office while I see patients. Unfortanely he's not sleeping as much and wants to play in the afternoon. An office employee always seems to be willing to play with him. Anna
Re: [IceHorses] Weight-Carrying Ability
--- Janice McDonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > even if a horse can carry 300 pounds, and even if they could carry > it > all day without harm, i KNOW most cannot ride balanced at that > weight. I only say "most" because I know if i say "all" someone > will > come up with "I had my great uncle roscoe who weighed 450 and rode > at > Tevis three years straight on our Mini marec buttercup", never > fails, Janice, I loved this! So perfect of human behavior This thread I am finally getting to.but I am a heavy rider...Judy has met me, and I am not a slight thing, never will beI at this point weigh 250lbsI have been up to 320 lbs in my life, and I will say at 320lbs, it is pretty difficult to get on a horse, I did, but it was Hard. Now, I have owned quite a few Icelandics in the past 5 years, and I have ridden others which I have not owned My new gelding is perfect for a big rider like myself.he has large cannon bones, wide back, short back but not too short.about 13-3 hands give or take I have not officially measured him yetwhen I get on he rests a hind leg, there is no motion downward, He is a tank. We call him Sherman sometimes because of his wonderful attributes(His name is Trausti, sired by a stallion called Svadi in S. Cal) we also have not found anything that spooks him, we are trying. He is at our friends farm right now getting in 30 days of riding, he is also very green, and I wanted professional work done on him before I ventured out on him on the trail. Now there is a mare who I love to ride, she is Smth and fun, but she has a long back, smaller bones and she just is not as hardy.I only ride her on fun short rides, mabye 5 or so miles.she is not ours but is at our farm... I placed my appy because I my weight.I bought Icelandics, and the ones that I have purchased can carry menot all can. Sallys mare used to be ridden by an Icelander who was 6' 7' and weighed 350lbsshe did it, she is short, stocky, big boned and willing to do it...Sally now won't even let me ride her...225 lbs is Sallys weight limit on her nowshe is older, 19 years. The world would be nice if all of us could always qualify our statements, some Icelandics, or many Icelandics can carry 300 lbs.but we do not always do that. Skye Fire Island Farms Breeding Quality Icelandic Trail Horses Certified Farrier Services 'Natural Balance' Shoeing and Trimming. Founder, Navicular options for your horse. 808-640-6080
Re: [IceHorses] Bridleless training
Thanks Judy and Robyn. Nancy
Re: [IceHorses] ABOUT THE HORSE - I CAN"T WAIT!
Welll phooey. Maybe I'll wait until my friend rides a few miles in hers. She had offered it to my daughter to use at an endurance ride. Abby decided not to borrow new tack even for the shorter 30 miles distance she planned to do. Her horse stepped into what seemed to be a small pool of water for a drink and then ended over his head in a horrific bog. Hers wasn't the only accident in this spot. Her saddle still isn't really clean (good thing she wasn't using a brand new borrowed saddle) and poor Smoke apparently re-injured an old tendon sheath injury and may be retiring. Abby is heartbroken. She really loves that horse, the first she's ever owned herself. They have such an amazing bond. Nancy
RE: [IceHorses] Bridleless training
Hi Robyn, I would love a copy of the bridleless training. I do some bridleless riding. My personal mare and I are like one and we read each other's mind and I use my body a tiny bit. I have some students that want to learn and I want to teach them correctly. My finance just builted me a pedestal and I walked her over to it and I looked at my mare and the pedestal and without missing a step she walked right up with all 4 feet and turn ed around and looked at me, like ok now what? Anne
Re: [IceHorses] ABOUT THE HORSE - I CAN"T WAIT!
Nice looking saddle. Not really, but if it works for her that is all I need. And a bonus if it works for me. I thought maybe someday going with an all leather but they are way to heavy. According to different people, saddle maker, saddle fitter, horse massager, etc the flex panel saddles are worse than either the treeless or treed. I don't know why but that is what they have said. If true it is to bad because so many people think that is the answer to their problems. He cut the bars to fit her back. Not to long. It was really cool how he changed the bars from being adequate to fitting her perfect. Go on his web sight and look under something about his trees. Shows how he made them wider and they flare out in the front. I sure hope I am happy with it. I haven't had any sciatic problems in any treed western saddles.
Re: [IceHorses] OT puppy pictures
Thank you Nancy... Shorty has been with us for 18 months... the newest one is his half sister, same sire...The breeder is going out of business, I was going to wait and get one by this Male after Dakota Passed, but when she said she was selling all her dogs, I decided, after talking to my vet, to get one now... She looks just like Shorty, he has a bit more white then she does though, she appears to be a tad more yellow then him too... I am trying to figure out a name, LaKota, LaKeata, L'il Kota, Fawn, Rain, Lyric, She is Very Mellow, quiet, sweet.. yet, runs like the wind... then comes right back to me and sits on my feet or between my feet... stays right with me where ever I go, JUST LIKE DAKOTA... Dakota is content with her here.. THANK GOD... I was so worried.. They had a nice black one with brown, she was SO HYPER... I really liked her LOOK too, different then Shorty, I think her hair wil be curly and brown with black points, face ears and paws... really cute too.. but, man, she would have driven Dakota crazy... This one is so much like Dakota it is scary, she may look like Shorty, but she has Dakota's demeaner... Debbie in MN ~ Please check out how we can all help raise money for Huginn's Hospital Fund ~ http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgtrq74d_386xtqp ~~~If we all do a little, we will have a lot
RE: [IceHorses] Viking Nicknames
Most were very unflattering, weren't they?! Cherie
Re: [IceHorses] Bridleless training
> Oh yes, Robyn, I'd like that PDF, please. Courtesy of Robyn, the file is here: http://iceryder.net/robynneckring.html Enjoy! Thanks, Robyn! Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
Re: [IceHorses] neck ring
> Is this a better size? Yes! Love it! Thanks! Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
Re: [IceHorses] Bridleless training
Oh yes, Robyn, I'd like that PDF, please. [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'm always looking for something to do with Twist, who is very good off lead. He's the OT Standardbred who is so phlegmatic he's barely breathing. His resting heart rate is 24-26. Nancy
[IceHorses] Bridleless training
Since I started training this way I have a great new relationship with my horse. She learned to trust me and she has shown me a very friendly side of her, which I haven't seen before. Here is where I learned it, does anyone else here work with bridleless training? Conny Bridleless Training By Palm Lynn Bridleless Training is for the rider as well as for any breed of horse in any discipline. The important benefit of the rider's use of seat and leg aids is stressed, taking the emphasis off the hand aids which allows the rider to communicate more clearly with the horse. You become a more confident rider and improve rider balance problems caused by improper use of your hands. You'll learn to read your horse and understand where he carries his natural balance. This DVD provides excellent training techniques for older horses, for horses that have problems accepting a bit, and is excellent for horses that show signs of resistance as it provides a technique to get them to slow down and accept what they are doing. Using horses in different stages of training, Lynn demonstrates steps that must be followed and carefully evaluated before you advance. Ground training, numerous types of maneuvers, and many stages of training were involved in this unique bridleless training method. The final segment demonstrates the advanced horse, using Rugged Lark to show you the results of training through Love, Acceptance, Respect, and Kindness. This DVD can help you mark a new beginning in the relationship you have with your horse. However, always remember the many safety tips Lynn uses as an important part of all you do whether you are riding and or training. DVD Click Here http://www.horsesinyourmailbox.com/horses/pwccart.cgi?p_id=500201 to view image
Re: [IceHorses] ABOUT THE HORSE - I CAN"T WAIT!
Nice looking saddle. A friend loaned us a Watson saddle http://www.4asaddle.com/saddle%201399.htm I think it was the Distance Runner. I think this may be what I get for the ponies. The Tucker Equitation Endurance I like so much is too long for their shorter backs. Both my Steubben Siegfried and my daughter's Passier dressage saddle fit, but I have become used to riding the endnurance style saddle and feel very secure. Nancy
Re: [IceHorses] OT puppy pictures
Congratulations to Shorty on finding himself a great home. Lucky lucky dogs. Nancy
Re: [IceHorses] ABOUT THE HORSE - I CAN"T WAIT!
>>>very basic without tooling or anything<<< It is the synthetic saddle but I have a cheyenne cantle so I can get my leg over for mounting easier and my saddle will be oiled. So it will be kinda a reddish color with the black synthetic. I also got a suede seat. The girth which is the mule double type was included with the saddle. I don't think it is a terrible price. I should have done this last year when I first got her.
Re: [IceHorses] ABOUT THE HORSE - I CAN"T WAIT!
The saddle was $1300 plus shipping $40. It is synthetic with the seat and top being leather. I didn't want the stirrups as I use the easy ride type and it is the very basic without tooling or anything. I did have two strings with conchos in the back so I could tie something on. http://aboutthehorse.com/ <>
Re: [IceHorses] OT puppy pictures
I just got a puppy too.. This link is Dakota, the black Schnoodle who has been so sick, was attacked, lost 70% of his pancreas, then became diabetic and lost his site... He might have Cancer now, is on Antibiotics 2x's a day... I was going to wait till he passed to get another puppy, BUT Shorty is the adult Buff, also a Schnoodle playing with Dakota http://picasaweb.google.com/dakota.charm/Dakota?authkey=96E7jzPMgUQ And on this Link is LaKeata??? she is a 10 week old Schnoodle, half brother on the sire's side to Shorty.. http://picasaweb.google.com/dakota.charm/Puppy07 We bought Shorty last time Dakota was so sick... 18 months ago... the breeder is going out of business and discounted this puppy... Shorty became Dan's Dog, instantly... and this cute little girl has bonded to me Instantly... funny, I carried them both home in the car both times... She already curls up at my feet with Dakota, where ever I go, she is MELLOW Yellow... maybe I should call her Mountain Dew??? -- Debbie in MN ~ Please check out how we can all help raise money for Huginn's Hospital Fund ~ http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgtrq74d_386xtqp ~~~If we all do a little, we will have a lot
Re: [IceHorses] ABOUT THE HORSE - I CAN"T WAIT!
>>>very basic without tooling or anything<<< Also it will weigh around 20 lbs with the lighter stirrups.
RE: [IceHorses] OT puppy pictures
Here's our 4 month old Yorkie, Arnie. ADORABLE! Between my daughter's puppy and these pictures of yours, Anna, I may HAVE to have a puppy myself soon... :) Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.4/936 - Release Date: 8/4/2007 2:42 PM
Re: [IceHorses] OT puppy pictures
On 05/08/07, Anna Hopkins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Here's our 4 month old Yorkie, Arnie. He's quite the independent > spirit. Instead of sleeping on the bed with us he likes to sleep on > the little table at the foot of the bed. He also likes to explore in > the landscaping. The last photo is of him playing tug with his older > brother and sister You absolutely can not send any more pictures of that poor ugly little dog!! I just go all gewy and want a little one for myself.. Wanda
Re: [IceHorses] Cross-Under Bridles (Bitless Bridle)
On 8/4/07, Nancy Sturm <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > So Judy and Robyn, what DO you like? Kaaren Jordan's husband makes a sidepull that has a really nice look and feel to it. Since I haven't ridden in the last 5 weeks--pulled too many other directions right now, plus it's been too hot, and I don't like stressing either myself or the horse--I haven't had a chance to try it out for very long. I hope to ride Shadow in a sidepull, and then eventually nothing. At this point he certainly doesn't need a bit at all. Santana my twh prefers not having a bit, altho of all of them that I've tried he does best w/ a Monte Foreman pelham (rein on the snaffle setting, not curb). I currently ride him in a Dr. Cooks, but neither one of us likes it very much. Robyn S
[IceHorses] Parelli UK
Newsletter: http://enews.parelli.com/ Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
Re: [IceHorses] OT puppy pictures
She's so cute! We have friends who have a much-loved Yorkie. She decided she belonged to the husband, a big tall outdoorsman who does logging, builds fences and runs heavy equipment. She goes everywhere with him and if he has a job away from home, she goes along. A real guy's dog. Nancy
Re: [IceHorses] Cha Cha
What a sweetheart. I allow mine into the tackroom, sort of a trailer training exercise, but now if we're going to be gone I have to be super careful to tell our young helper never to ever leave the tack room door open. Nancy
[IceHorses] Parelli Podcasts
How horses learn: http://podcast.parelli.com/Parelli%20Natural%20Horsemanship/Podcast/1DE6AD25-2EFC-4E5D-8284-D87CFAD33442.html Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
[IceHorses] Horsenality
Read Parelli on "Horsenality": http://www.parelli.com/content.faces?contentId=25 and chart your horse's personality here: http://files.parelli.com/HorsenalityChart.pdf Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
[IceHorses] Free Parelli DVD
https://www.parelli.com/freedvd.faces Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
RE: [IceHorses] Cross-Under Bridles (Bitless Bridle)
Here's some sidepulls: http://iceryder.net/sidepull.html I like all of those, with probably my favorite one being the one made by Kaaren Jordan. It seems to fit my Icelandics really well. But, all the ones on that page are leather - and I like leather best, but the older I get, the less enthusiasm I have for cleaning tack. So, two good alternatives are in biothane are the Moss Rock Endurance Freedom Bridle, and the Harmony Bridle made by Dana at Nicker's Saddlery. These two are really cool because they can be rigged as traditional bridles, used as a halter by snapping the lead to the ring under the chin, as a sidepull, or as a cross-under/bitless bridle. Karen Thomas, NC
Re: [IceHorses] Wanda / intro and driving question
On 05/08/07, Judy Ryder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > But there wasn't an ending to this sentence: > > > Ground driving you can pretty much do by yourself after you and your helper have spent some time ensuring that your horse is solid with it. What we did with Gusti, and Peppy and now Dagur is the helper gradually works her way out of the picture over a series of sessions. Right now, we have Dagur to the point where he's not on a lead line, but the helper (me) is still up there supporting him. What I did during the last session is I found myself fading back a bit during turns, etc. We want the sessions just ho-hum...nothing scarey. With Gusti and Peppy I was able to fade out quite quickly...but Dagur enjoys the support so we've ensured he has a helper a little longer. That's how we do it. We're probably making mistakes, but Gusti and Peppy are as solid as rocks with the start they've had...and Dagur is coming along.. Wanda
RE: [IceHorses] Connecting Rein to Opposite Shoulder
>>> Maybe I'm misunderstanding this, but...rather than pulling on the horse's head, I'd rather personally use my leg to ask the horse to step his front end back over to the outside. But then I'm a big fan of bridleless riding/using legs/seat and staying out of the horse's mouth as much as possible. I'm a big fan of seat and leg too, but I'm not opposed to using a bit - with restraint - when it helps clarify things. In the case of this Josh Lyons video, I'd prefer to see a bit and two reins used rather than using the single rein as he's doing. Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't see a reason for his priorities in that short session. I've been thinking about the comment I read on clickryder, where someone said something about confusing BTV (behind the vertical) with "softness". In the past, sort of pre-Rollkur/pre-NH, when horses went BTV, it was called "an evasion". If you've ever ridden a horse that evades that way, you know that you have no communication at all with the horse via his mouth when he does that. And, while my goal is to have most of my communication come from seat and legs, I see no reason to totally throw away rein communication as an option. When you allow BTV, that's essentially what you do. I think (hope!) we all know that horsemanship isn't a straight line journey, that sometimes we have to take slight detours to get where we want to be, dependent on our skills (or lack of) and the horse's past experiences. That said, I want my journey to be as straight-line as I can manage, so long as it isn't harsh on the horse. With that in mind, unless Josh Lyons got that horse with a previously learned bit-evasion issue, I see no reason at all for the extreme BTV action of that horse. I WANT "softness" in a horse...but I think "softness" can go to a point beyond usefulness, so that responsiveness is lost and softness just becomes "mush." That's what I'm afraid I'm seeing in that Josh Lyons snippet, but I could be wrong I guess. Karen Thomas, NC
RE: [IceHorses] Maja
>>> The Freedom Bridle looks very interesting. Do you know how similar it is in action to the Dr. Cooks bitless? I like the Freedom Bridles. But, I don't really care for the cross-over pieces of the bitless bridle, so I took them off of our Freedom bridles. I think it would be very similar if I'd left them on - but the Freedom bridles seem more versatile and less expensive. Plus Lisa will make them in your chosen color(s) to measurements you supply. We use ours as either halters, bridles with bits or as sidepulls. Yesterday, my friend drove Maja with the long reins attached to the sidepull rings. I got a few videos of that, but didn't get them up on YouTube yet. Karen Thomas, NC
