Smitty's Field-Testing, Continued
There's an old saying among horsemen that "your horse is a reflection of you," and Smitty is proving this to be so, so true.As I was walking him out in a huge field the other day, I was very pleased with how well he did with the leading lessons he's had in the barn/arena. For the most part, he stayed with my pace, on a lead with slack, and didn't get too eager or anxious. He did what he has been taught, deliberately, to do.
I haven't spent as much time/effort, however, in leading Smitty from the off-side, and this was revealed when I tried a bit of off-side leading out in the field--where there was no defining wall or fence to help with his visual orientation. Instead of going forward with me on his right side, he hesitated and hung back, uncertain of what to do.
Not his fault, but mine, for not giving both sides equal training time. But this, thanks to field testing, is something that's good to know--the better to do a better job at training.
Labels: field-testing, leading, Smitty
posted by Juli Thorson @ 11:25 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I am really wishing we had our baby back...we sent her to pre-school/kindergarten. These 60 degree days make it look like we were a little premature. Should have waited until snow.
Gorgeous pictures! Interesting and fun to watch the progress and how you're approaching it. Look forward to seeing more. :)
He is so beautiful. What a neck for a baby. Aren't you glad you figured out the hole in your leading training now instead of when he's grown? :D
I'm always very careful to work on both sides because I was exercise riding a horse for a friend and happened to pick up my right hand and he turned into a maniac. I almost ended up under his feet, so even though I'd always worked a little on the off side before now I make sure I spend a lot of time on both sides! It's so important!
Keep posting! I love hearing about Smitty.
Thanks for reminding me that I should be doing more work with my 3 1/2 year old's offside training! Isn't it so easy to forget that just because they do everything well one way, doesn't mean that the other is a whole new process?
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