From: Virginia
Dear Jessica,
ALMOST got to Equitana this year-- but definitely NEXT year! I just purchased the Idiot's Guide to Horses, but this item was not addressed there or in my 1other sources.
My quarterhorse gelding is wonderful. He teaches me things and when I have learned technique in class or by reading, he responds as if he already knew it! (He is 20, so that is a possibility!)
My question: While on the trail, he prefers the side of the road. Especially in our county, there are irrigation ditches every 20-30 feet-- often overgrown with crops or weeds. I know it is not good to be "in control" all the time, but is it possible for me to trust he'll NOT step into one and hurt us both? Usually, I'll give him some leg and ask he move a good margin away from the ditch, but others in our group do not think it is a problem.
There are other times, too. I have learned to trust him going OVER the ditches and down hills and even cantering over uneven terrain-- HE is fine. I remember the adage "throw your heart over the jump and your horse will follow". Am I too paranoid, or is trusting my horse to see perils plain stupid?
Thank you.
Virginia
You DO want to be able to put your leg on the horse and move him over instantly and smoothly (one step, two steps, three steps, or more) whenever you want him to move over, just for the sake of your safety and security. As long as you can easily move him from side to side, move him when you think there's a good reason to move him, and let him pick his way the rest of the time. Horses are incredibly clever at figuring out what to do over different sorts of terrain - which makes sense, when you think about it. They are prey animals, and their defense is their speed. Secure footing, for a horse, is quite literally a matter of life and death.
In my experience, a horse is far more likely to step into a ditch or into some other problem area if
1) the horse is green and/or unbalanced - not a problem with your experienced athlete!
2) the rider is green and/or unbalanced - I suspect this isn't a problem either. ;-)
3) the rider is worried about the horse falling into a ditch, keeps the reins too short and too tight, keeps trying to pull the horse over toward the center of the road, and eventually causes the horse to lose its balance, thus creating the situation she wanted to avoid.
4) the rider is constantly arguing with the horse and trying to micro-manage each footstep, and the horse eventually gets irritated and bucks in protest.
You need to be alert when you ride out. There are perils that your horse will not see or anticipate - broken glass on the road, for instance, or old farm wire lying flat on the ground and overgrown with grass. These are man-made perils, though. Your horse is obviously very balanced and capable of looking after himself over ordinary terrain, and you can take over at any time and ask him to follow another track, which he will do! So even though you need to stay reasonably attentive to the terrain and footing at all times, I really don't think that you have a problem (other than your own fear of tumbling into a ditch). ;-) And you ride with a group - VERY sensible, congratulations!
Since you worry about falling into ditches, here's one word of warning: Don't ever take the riding tour of the Grand Canyon! The mules like to walk on the extreme outer edge of the path, which can frighten the life out of anyone who looks down and imagines what could happen if the mule stumbled.
Come up and say hello when you get to Equitana next year. ;-) It's always fun for me to meet HORSE-SENSE subscribers.
Jessica
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