Conference noted::equitation

    Hi Becky!
    
    Glad to see you're still around.  I'm back on a temporary contract
    myself.  
    
    Is this a new horse (since we last spoke)?  What breed, age, and all
    that?  What kind of training has she had (and how much -- is she green
    broke?), and what do you plan to use her for?  
    
    As to your question, have you tried maintaining the small circles
    (where she bends correctly) and then gradually enlarging them?  If not,
    you might try that and, when she slips back into her bad habits, make
    the circle smaller again -- just enough to correct the problem.  And,
    of course, once she's bending correctly, give her praise.  And so on.
    
    And nope, I haven't been to any Bromberg concerts in a long time!
    
    steve 

    Hi Becky,
    
    The answer to you're question will vary depending on when & why the
    horse bends her head to the outside.
    
    If this only happens in one direction, then she may be tight on the
    *opposite* side. In other words if she can't bend her neck to the left,
    it's because the muscles on the right side are too tight to allow the
    muscles on the left side to flex the neck.
    
    If this happens in both directions, then it could be a training problem
    or an equitation problem.
    
    Personally, I wouldn't try to force her to bend her neck & head to the
    inside by doing tight circles or tying her head to the stirrup, etc.
    That's just gonna provoke a fight, IMHO.
    
    So, the first step is to figure out why she isn't bending and go from
    there.

    
    	Hi Steve,
    
    	Yes, I'm still here! And yes this is a new horse, she is a gorgeous
    leopard appaloosa mare, 9 years old, but quite green. The people who
    had her basically trail rode with her, and I think she was a follower
    so I really don't think she know's much, except what I'm tring to teach
    her. She does seem to learn fast though, the other problem I'm having
    with her is cantering, she seems afraid to canter as I think her mouth
    may have been hurt when they cantered her, but I'm not too worried
    about that yet. 
    
    	And don't laugh (warm blood and thoughbred people) but I would love
    to do some dressage with her. Even though she is an appy she has very
    long pasterns and very nice gaits, I can get her to do an extended trot
    it's rough right now, but I really think she has it in her to be very
    graceful. I know that we have a ways to go and will need some lessons
    with her ect....
    
    	Thanks for the tip, I probably should do more of the small circles
    I just don't want to sour her on it either.
    
    	Nope I haven't been to a Bromberg concert either in a long time,
    went to the Moody Blues sunday, and that was pretty awesome, with the
    orchestra behind them. Hey, did you ever get a band going? Write to me
    off line here, stop by and see my mare if your in the area.
    
    Becky

    One of the horses I used to ride has the same problem, whilst going 
    round on the right rein, no problem, but as soon as you go onto the 
    left rein, she wouldn't bend at all.  To combat this I had to half halt 
    with the inside rein with a lot of inside leg just infront of the girth 
    to stop her turning, with the leg a little bit behind the girth when 
    you want to turn.  Most horses would probably start to fight but I 
    suppose it depends on the temperament of the horse to start with.  She 
    now seems to have "grown out" of the problem, but does revert to her 
    old habits if the reins are left to long for a long period of time.
    
    Good luck Becky
    
    
    
    Lynda

    Hi again,
    
    Congrats on the new horse!  She sounds like just what you wanted, and
    I'm sure you can work the "bugs" out.  What John says in .-1 makes
    sense to me.  Don't force her into small circles if she's not limber
    enough to do them.  You may do well to consult a good trainer.  I know,
    anyway, that you're the patient type who won't try to rush her. 
    
    Would certainly like to see your mare.  What area are you in? 
    Speaking of visiting each others' horses/barns, we happen to have a
    colt in our barn, born June 19, with a nice blanket on his rump.  It's
    amazing how fast they grow.  And now that he's a month old, he thinks
    it feels great to try out his new teeth on various arms, legs, etc. 
    He's a boarder -- belongs to our farrier, who brought the mare to our
    barn for the purpose of foaling. Linda (the farrier) got her wish and
    then some: a colt with not only a blanket, but also socks and a blaze. 
    His conformation looks excellent also (I'm told, as I'm no expert).  I
    do know he looks great bouncing around the pasture alongside his mom.
                                                 
    And yes, I'm playing again -- in a 10-piece R&B ensemble called Biggs
    Band.  For more info, better check the R&B notesfile, note 7.46
    (library file = AKOFIN::AFTER_HOURS). 
    
    And yes, I'll get back to you offline (sorry, moderators, for the
    digression!).
    
    -steve
          
     
     
    
    

    re.3 No one would laugh at an Appy doing dressage! I saw a couple at
    the the last USDF/AHSA show I went to. Purests agree that dressage is
    for ALL horses no matter what their ultimate job will be. I still get
    some strange looks with my "Kentucky Warmblood"(Saddlebred) but he has
    also been mistaken for a Hannavarian! Dressage is straightening and
    strengthening my crooked horse.

    
    	Thanks for all the tips so far, I tried some half halts last night
    with her, which worked the first few times but got a little annoyed
    after that, so I quit it and let her relax, plus she might be in heat.
    I'm definately going to get some lessons with her as soon as I can
    afford. 
    
    	I know appy's can do dressage, but I know we need lots of training
    at this point. Also, if you really mess up and your on a leopard
    appaloosa, you kinda stick out like a sore thumb ;-) no place to
    hide!!!
    
    Becky

    'Course, it cuts both ways. If you do well, you will also stick out.
    Most of the horses at a dressage competition are bay, brown, chestnut
    and a few grays. WHen somebody rides in on a palomino or appy,
    everybody notices. So, they'll recognize you next time out, either way.
    
    BTW, there was an Appy that not only competed successfully a while back
    but made Gran Prix level and tried for the USET! (Can't remember
    whether they were on the team or not) It was a "few spot" Appy so 
    people might not notice at a distance. But, you could tell it wasn't 
    a Hannoverian!
    
    About 10 years ago(when the NEDA Fall championship was still in Groton
    Ma), a little girl(12-13 years old) came in riding a palomino pony that
    couldn't have been more than 13.3-14.0 hands. She was outstanding! And
    the judge on the first day placed her well up in the class(about 3rd I
    think) over professionals, experienced adult amatuers and fancy horses.
    She came back for the second day(the championship classes were over 2
    days) and rode for a different judge. I thought she did better than the
    first day and so did everybody I talked to. The judge disagreed, however 
    and the low score put her right out of the championship ribbons. 
    
    But, nobody laughed at that palomino pony!

    My horse would not turn/bend to the left when I first got to riding
    him.  Excerises of serpentines/circles/dimishing circles (20-25 meters
    down to 10-15 meters) helped.  I also had ridden him dressage, but he
    was very unforgiving.  Later found that he was very tender mouthed but
    needed a firm hand for control- very difficult for me to learn.  I also
    got him working in the hunter/jumper training, and now he has given up
    many of the bad habits of not going to the left.  For untrained horses
    the 10 meter circles can be hard on them- which is why I worked him on
    serpentines a lot.
    
    Hopes this helps.
    Bruce 

    
    	Thanks for all the suggestions, I have done some serpentines with
    her and I do think she perfers them to doing circles.
    
    	Can anyone recommend a good trainer? perhaps I should post this
    elsewhere? My mare is located in Boxborough Ma. I'm near Wetherbee farm
    perhaps I could get someone from there? Any comments appreciated.
    Thanks,
    
    	Becky
    

Stephanie Baer works out of Wetherbee.  Stephie is competing (successfully) at 
the Advanced level in combined training, and has worked with Kathy Connelly and
Bruce Davidson, among others. 

Kathy