[wild_spot]

I've been mulling this over for a long time. Is my habit of having different expectations of my horse in different situations detrimental to my long term goal of turning him into a successful show horse?

I use my current show horse for a lot of things – PC, Trail Riding, Stock work, ASH shows, Campdrafting, as well as numerous small PC shows in many different disciplines. I am a big believer in versatility in horses.

However, I’ve noticed that I expect different levels or response from him to certain cue’s depending on what I happen to be doing. The biggest discrepancies are in Trail Riding Vs. Showing/Campdrafting.

Out on the trail I ride him on a loose rein, and generally let him pick the speed as long as he isn’t being rude or lazy. If he is being lazy I’ll whop him with the end of a rein and he picks himself up again. If I ask for a stop, it is generally more rein that seat/legs as his attention is usually elsewhere – In the bushes or on the horse in front. It is still quite a gentle cue, but it is still more reins than seat. I am also happy with a gradual stop – A sudden stop is not so relaxing out on the trail! I only ask him to move off my legs when doing a gate or avoiding an obstacle – otherwise as long as he is following his nose I’m happy. Generally, as long as he is moving forward and straight I leave him alone. He is naturally very low-headed and calm.

However, when showing – I expect him to respond to just seat cues, just my spur, without much rein aid. I ride him on quite a short rein with a lot of leg to get him to show some energy, impulsion and to pick his head up and shorten himself. The thing is, it takes a good warm-up and often a few reminders to listen to my seat for stops and rate, and to lighten up his front end and not lean on the bit, and to give me good lateral flexion. I also ask for a lot of bend through his body – Especially when campdrafting, he needs to have a bend in his body toward the cow at all times.

In other words, I can’t just hop on and have him light to my seat and leg cues straight away – It’s like I have to remind him of what he has to do.

So what do you guys think? Is allowing him to be pretty lax on the trail detrimental to his lightness and responsiveness in the show ring/Campdraft arena? Is there a way to remedy this without compromising his mental wellbeing? (I.e. not constant schooling?) Do any of you have the same issues/conflicts in your horses/training?

 

[wild_spot]

^ The thing is, even if I asked for the stop with my seat, I know that out on the trail he wouldn't bury his butt in the ground and it would turn into a fight. For him to respond like that I need his attention 100% on me, but on the trail I don't want that - I like having an independant mind out on the trail as they often see things that we don't.

 

[wild_spot]

^ That's the thing - if he HAD to be one thing, then I would want him to be a happy, sane, safe trail riding packer for a kid. Which he can be. However, I bought him with the intention of re-selling. I am still planning on doing that but a few years down the track, hence, I want to get him as well-performed as I can. Gah, it is just very frustrating.

It makes me wonder - Thos successful show horses out there, how are they managed? Are they expected to be feather light all the time? Or do they get times when they can just ride for the sake of it?

 

[wild_spot]

If I collect him up he will still stop off my seat on the trail - It's just when we are strung out, loose rein that I pick my reins up first.

I had a campdraft yesterday. Had no luck competeing (cracked off in the camp both times, lol) but the work he was giving me in between was really, really good. Soft, collected, light stops, and his turns have improved a mile - He was really snappy and we got a decent slow spin which we had never achieved.

It rests my mind somewhat - He does seem to know when we are getting down to work. We will see how we go at the show today - If he works like he was yesterday it should be great.

I guess I meant this to be a general discussion also - Do you think you can make a top show horse that can also get out and relax on the trail, etc?

 

[wild_spot]

I think I made it sound worse than it is on the trails... Lol. The thing is on the trail I let him have as much rein as he wants and just travel. Because he isn't framed up, etc. he physically can't stop how we do when we are working. So when I ask for a stop/slow down I still use my seat but just use my reins (a tiny bit) more than I do when we are working, and I let him just come back through the paces. I don't have a ring or anything to train in, so I do train on the trails. We will ride for a while, then find a flat spot where I will collect him up and work on stops, turns, changes, rate, etc.

I'm always prepared to fight if it's needed - If he ignores my cue, wether on the trail or working, he will know about it :]

I had another show on the weekend - As I go on i'm getting less concerned about it. He was really good out the back (wasn't as good in the ring but that's an issue that is getting better as we go) and was being good and responsive.

Smrobs, he is one of those horses - I can put the greenest of green begginner on him and he will poke around with his head on the ground, slow as a wet week all day! Then I get on him and make him work and he is lighting quick in his turns, stops, etc.