[IceHorses] Lesson on steep hills
My neighbor and I went out to do some hill work on Sunday. She is a 3 Day Eventer and an instructor. We hit some hills that I have only looked at for the past 7 years. They have always been pretty intimidating to me. They are steep, probably about 55* to 60* incline. Soft sand. We did a less steep and shorter one first, and Sharon had me keep Whisper light in the bridle so she would learn to use her HQ's to drive herself up vs. dragging herself up with her forehand. Going up is easy for me, it's the going down that petrifies me (I am afraid of heights). Same thing, she had me (try) to keep Whisper light in the bridle and do a LOT of half halts going down so gravity did not just take us down and Whisper started using her HQ to go down after several tries. She was definately fighting the bit, tho and just wanted to plummet down! Then we hit the longer/steeper hill. Going up was fine, and Whisper stayed light in front and I could feel her using her rear end to dig in the sand and walk up the hill. We even did several halts going up. Sharon said I was ready to decend the steep hill, and I was hesitant, but she said we could do it, so we did. She had me halt a couple of times, which helped keep Whisper from wanting to plummet down. The first time down the steep one I felt like I had really accomplished something and overcome something I am afraid of. We did this a couple more times, before we came home. I told Sharon I wanted a lesson at the posting trot because that is the gait I will use most for endurance and I want to be a better balanced rider for my horse for the long distances. I will be getting a lunge line lesson Thursday afternoon at the posting trot WITHOUT stirrups. Oh, man, I can already feel my muscles burning! Susan in NV Nevermore Ranch http://users.oasisol.com/nevermore/ Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us. http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7
Re: [IceHorses] Lesson on steep hills
Way to go Susan! I can't imagine steep descents and sand. Your horses should get really tough .Going down steep hills has always been a problem for me - until Hunter. He came out of the box as the best downhill horse I've ever been on. He drops his hind quarters, I drop the reins and down we go. And it's quite a benefit on rides. If I can pass before the downhill section, we can really make time. I have no idea who taught him to be so good, but it's almost a religious experience for me sort of feel like shouting Thank you Jesus! When I first started going out with the endurance riders at Creekside, I was riding a very clunky 14.1 h pony. Bev rode over the edge of a nearly vertical trail, followed by Donna on her Paso Fino. As they went over the edge, their helmets disappeared. I said Holy Smoke (paraphrased) and followed them over the brink. That trail still bothers me. We went over the edge once recently and someone had dumped a white plastic garbage bag full of trash. Now that was exciting. Nancy
Re: [IceHorses] Lesson on steep hills
Way to go Susan! I can't imagine steep descents and sand. Does this make sense?- Riding Doppa downhill is really tough for her and me - she doesn't want to get her rear end under her and sit down to go downhill, therefore she also wants to rush because it's hard. I have always felt it's because she is built for the lateral gaits and doesn't have the depth of bend in the rear a more square horse would have. To support that totally anecdotal theory is the fact that riding Mura downhill is much easier (we have a short pretty steep section of our trail) and she trots and racks much easier. -- Laree
Re: [IceHorses] Lesson on steep hills
--- Laree Shulman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Does this make sense?- Riding Doppa downhill is really tough for her and me - she doesn't want to get her rear end under her and sit down to go downhill, therefore she also wants to rush because it's hard. It is easier for a horse to go downhill that way - but it is also dangerous because one false move or trip (especially if they are on their forehand) and you will both summersault downhill! That is why I am afraid of them! Find a smaller hill, like I did at first, and get your horse light in the bridle, and take a step and halt, take a step and halt. Do this all the way down. This will keep the horse from rushing and get them on their haunches. I did this on the smaller hill before I tackled the bigger hill. Susan in NV Nevermore Ranch http://users.oasisol.com/nevermore/ Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=listsid=396545433
