all in all, a good lesson. Macho responded right away and was more
than happy to not break at the lope. I commented to her that i felt
like i was pounding on his back and her comment was "sure, we can all
be softer at the lope, but no, you're not pounding. at all." what we
both agree is coming is me learning to actually ride the lope and
influence it. I tend to (from riding lower level dressage) want to
drive with my seat....riding a nice lope is using a solid core to ask
your horse to balance himself and slow down...not drive <g>. It will
come!
Friday, C and I took Katie and Macho up to central NJ to a big QH
farm--back in august, katie was allowed to show one of their mares,
and they seem to like Katie. We agreed that during times when she had
off from school, we'd go up for a lesson. This was our first and they
stated they would love if C came with us. All in all, it was a
really nice day....we got to see a big fancy barn, and katie had a
great lesson with Macho. What they had to say was right in line with
what C has been working on with Katie. An interesting question was
posed "what does katie want to DO with this horse"....As you've all
listened to me, Macho does not have the low headset that seems to be
needed to place in WP, and he's a bit more forward. Katie responded
"horsemanship and showmanship"..and C added that she felt Macho has
the makings to be a really nice western riding horse. Questions were
asked about his ability to do flying changes,e tc.... with C
commenting that yes, he can do them....she's working on excercises to
improve them (ie straightness, etc) and all acknowledged to keep
working on those skills so that when Katie is ready, he'll be able to
help her do them.
So katie's homework is...to work on some specifics in her riding (we
lowered her stirrups a hole-that kid is growing), on changing her leg
position slightly and to take Macho on a field trip every week <g>.
Following her lesson, she groomed her favorite mare in the barn and
got to play iwth a vacuum for the first time--which thrilled her to
know end. I wish i could get her to be so enthusiastic about the
vacuum and her room!
betsey
Ok Betsy now I'm confused. Western isn't my thing, but I did work with Boots
Cassie a couple of times in order to pick up some techniques to use in
showing my babies on the line. Aren't horsemanship and showmanship halter
classes? If her goals are to do halter classes why is anyone riding him at
all? No one rides the halter horses at Boots', they don't get turned out and
only have their clothes off when someone is rubbing on them.
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer---
showmanship IS showmanship at halter, you are correct! horsemanship
is a riding class...you ride a pattern, examples can be found here:
http://www.showhorsepromotions.com/horsemanship.htm
it's a different than pleasure which is a straight "rail" class...walk
jog lope, reverse, walk jog lope, back up. Macho does not have the
head set or the slow enough legs to really be competetive (and, we
have a three beat lope, we won't break that....). HOrsemanship is
pretty neat...it's an intense few minutes, sort kinda like a dressage
test <g>. but the horse can be a bit more forward and a more natural
(to macho!) headset than in WP
Showmanship is halter performance--not conformation but behavior and
control at halter.
Horsemanship is pattern riding that is judged 50/50 on horse and rider
performing set moves.
jrw
(snip)
> Horsemanship is pattern riding that is judged 50/50 on horse and rider
> performing set moves.
Wow. I wish dressage was judged that way. That would obviate all the
proposed rule changes about qualifying to ride up the levels, especially
at third.
sharon
the one thing i WISH i could get from a horsemanship pattern is a
score sheet. I know the judges use them, but unlike dressage, we
don't get them....
Betsey
Why the heck not???
What purpose is served concealing the individual movement scoring?
sharon
I don't think it's meant to conceil anything--it's more along the
lines of an open type show...you're getting your placings as soon as
the class concludes.
betsey
Pete would probably look cool in a Western saddle.
jrw
There are precious few saddles that fit him as I have come to learn, not
even custom. Here are the ones that fit to date...
1. Forestier Saumur
2. <... crickets chirping...>
:)
sharon
Sharon-
the whole western thing might surprize you. western saddles are
designed to fit differently....it might be a challenge or it might be
easy peasy.
he might even like it!
Obviously you need to try a Crates Reiner on him.
;->
jrw
Take up lifting weights for a while first. Hoisting a big Western saddle way
over my head without thumping the poor horse takes more muscle than I think
I've got just now! I think Pete the Pancake is bigger and taller than Hoover
and that Sharon is about my size.
Emily
snip
>> Obviously you need to try a Crates Reiner on him.
>>
>> ;->
>>
>> jrw
>
>Take up lifting weights for a while first. Hoisting a big Western saddle way
>over my head without thumping the poor horse takes more muscle than I think
>I've got just now! I think Pete the Pancake is bigger and taller than Hoover
>and that Sharon is about my size.
Only 35 pounds. That's not much.
jrw