tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post5416158949230922105..comments2023-10-30T02:52:18.812-07:00Comments on when lilies fly: horse blog & philosophy: Gaiting Up a StormFlying Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04652273828990723024noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-72640332386318652342009-10-30T18:58:14.014-07:002009-10-30T18:58:14.014-07:00Funder: You are so right and I am going to try out...Funder: You are so right and I am going to try out the looser rein, consistently. It does seem to work better for him and he will appreciate the absence of the inconsistent contact/no contact thing I've been doing.Flying Lilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04652273828990723024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-18570900226013529312009-10-28T17:19:11.449-07:002009-10-28T17:19:11.449-07:00I don't think those dressage instructors who w...I don't think those dressage instructors who want you to take a light but consistent contact have ever ridden a gaited horse at anything other than a slow walk. It's almost impossible!<br /><br />I try to keep contact when we're going slow, just to let her know I'm still up there and we should bend <i>left</i> around this bush then <i>right</i> up ahead there. But when we speed up and her head nod gets faster, I just let her have a loose rein. If he racks, you might be able to keep contact, but I just don't see how it's possible on a running walk. <br /><br />I'm a big believer in self-carriage anyway. If she's not carrying her own head at speed, she's braced into a racky fake RW, and that's not what I want.Funderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358687366401205336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-44009632512028169682009-10-28T16:59:13.766-07:002009-10-28T16:59:13.766-07:00Funder: I think a lot about my inconsistent reins...Funder: I think a lot about my inconsistent reins. I am so confused there. With all the English lessons I've had, there's a tendency to try to get a contact; but then I try to ride with a loop in the reins with him because it seems desirable...it is a real conundrum. I'm going to try take your advice and try a consistent loose feel, or maybe just consistently use just a rope halter, which works pretty well with him. I'll let you know what transpires here, and ask you some questions...<br /><br />AllHorseStuff: Thanks!! (hair color - that was a new thing for me and I am having a blast being a redhead). Johnny is really smooth and strong; I hope I can keep him sound forever. Main worry is my riding is pretty heavy now and I wish I could get a lighter balance. The losing of stirrups maybe tells me something, maybe not. One more puzzle...Flying Lilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04652273828990723024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-69427390406904790852009-10-27T12:55:46.092-07:002009-10-27T12:55:46.092-07:00LOOK AT HIM!! Awesome. I have ridden a gaited hors...LOOK AT HIM!! Awesome. I have ridden a gaited horse once a few weeks ago...I totally kept asking for more...becasue it felt like nothing was happening!<br />John is so handsome and you do well with him. He is a very nice mover...very flowy!<br /> I would loose my stirrups in western too...a balance thing maybe with the fenders placed too far forward.(jsut my take)<br />If I ever get a Western saddle, it must allow me to be over my legs.<br />I love your haircolor!<br />KKallhorsestuffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05301081722884351021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-87800657618880563972009-10-15T10:22:06.533-07:002009-10-15T10:22:06.533-07:00You live in a beautiful area (at least THAT day!) ...You live in a beautiful area (at least THAT day!) <br /><br />John looks great to me. Nice self-carriage, and he's doing a wonderful job of gaiting while turning. That's always hard for Dixie - she wants to break into a trot or canter when I ask her to turn at speed. <br /><br />I ride a little differently from you, but I don't know who is more correct. I either give her a completely loose rein, for real western-style riding, or I use my hands and arms to follow her head nod, for English-type riding. It looks like John gets slack in his reins until his head nods down, then he takes up contact. It doesn't look like he's slamming into the bit, so it's not painful for him, but I wonder if it's disconcerting to him? Would you get more head nod if he had a little more rein?<br /><br />That's my only thought, really. He's a beautiful sweet horse, and yall look wonderful together. No Photoshop necessary!Funderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358687366401205336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-46259859842979534422009-10-14T18:31:16.899-07:002009-10-14T18:31:16.899-07:00Breathe: thank you! I have written a post about ...Breathe: thank you! I have written a post about the training techniques Kathy and I looked at yesterday; see if anything applies to your beastie!<br /><br />Kate: You are so kind!<br /><br />NM: Yes the riding area is quite open and that's a real plus.<br /><br />Brown-Eyed C: He is smooth like a Cadillac when he's really on, and covers some ground. Unfortunately he feels he should be allowed to set his own pace!<br /><br />C2b: I'm going to tie my hands to the saddle horn and to each other if need be and break this air-painting before winter is through.<br /><br />Lytha: I wish you could come ride him. I think he would enjoy a nice geochaching excursion. ^-^Flying Lilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04652273828990723024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-17573917048556442492009-10-14T10:29:17.240-07:002009-10-14T10:29:17.240-07:00I see a relaxed horse and a rider having fun with ...I see a relaxed horse and a rider having fun with it. That is the best!<br /><br />I wanna ride him too!!!!!!!<br /><br />I know his gait would make all my parts jiggle, but it would be so comfortable, I would try to ignore that and just float along.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing!<br /><br />~lythalythahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01719586193059362084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-62640070201548906692009-10-14T02:07:07.999-07:002009-10-14T02:07:07.999-07:00You are not the only one who has wobbling bits. He...You are not the only one who has wobbling bits. He looks lovely as always. Western riding always looks so much more relaxed than english syle.Zoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07320245344972085329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-61146814952024859882009-10-13T23:44:37.527-07:002009-10-13T23:44:37.527-07:00I don't know a thing about gaited horses...so ...I don't know a thing about gaited horses...so John's running walk looks wonderful to me. He also looks very smooth at the lope. No wonder you like getting him out on the trails so much. That horse covers some ground.:)BrownEyed Cowgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03610547057139295854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-87026988797047563602009-10-13T22:09:35.257-07:002009-10-13T22:09:35.257-07:00The sky is beautiful! I think John looks great! Hi...The sky is beautiful! I think John looks great! His gait looks like it could cover a lot of ground comfortably! Curious to see what techniques your friend used to help him learn some manners.Pony Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02464088874054923635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-51413624669096257432009-10-13T19:18:29.164-07:002009-10-13T19:18:29.164-07:00He looks like he is so much fun to ride. The scen...He looks like he is so much fun to ride. The scenery is amazing. All that open space.Nuzzling Muzzleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07649710635013663900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-43497160210667891362009-10-13T18:42:31.829-07:002009-10-13T18:42:31.829-07:00He is very beautiful!He is very beautiful!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102006698856259727.post-35246928009415420332009-10-13T18:36:05.201-07:002009-10-13T18:36:05.201-07:00His gait is just wonderful!
I know what you mea...His gait is just wonderful! <br /><br />I know what you mean about boundaries. I've just posted about a whole set of them I'm re-establishing.<br /><br />I'm not very experienced so don't have much in the way of a suggestion, other than what I always hear: Wet Saddle Blankets!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13104422629934443842noreply@blogger.com