Comments - The Oakley Diaries 52 - Back in the Saddle - Barnmice Equestrian Social Community2024-03-28T22:34:29Zhttp://www.barnmice.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=1773158%3ABlogPost%3A877244&xn_auth=noLet me add to your last sente…tag:www.barnmice.com,2022-10-29:1773158:Comment:8770502022-10-29T13:26:03.722ZJackie Cochranhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/JackieCochran
<p>Let me add to your last sentence, after long rides and wet saddle-pads I add--with good responsive hands and logical riding.</p>
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<p>You are covering your bases well. Those huge expanses of open space are so useful in getting the horse to explore the joys of extension and those gallops really build up the horse's wind and stamina. I remember those joys these days when I am stuck in the riding ring plodding around at the walk and trot.</p>
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<p>One boring year I got my first…</p>
<p>Let me add to your last sentence, after long rides and wet saddle-pads I add--with good responsive hands and logical riding.</p>
<p></p>
<p>You are covering your bases well. Those huge expanses of open space are so useful in getting the horse to explore the joys of extension and those gallops really build up the horse's wind and stamina. I remember those joys these days when I am stuck in the riding ring plodding around at the walk and trot.</p>
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<p>One boring year I got my first horse to respond to the clenching of my calf muscles as a driving aid, both for walk and trot and just one for the aid for the canter. I worked at making my rein aids lighter and lighter, and as I did both my horse became incredibly responsive, so responsive that some dressage riders looking to lease a "confidence" horse could not stop gushing about how responsive my horse was, my horse who never had any dressage training, ever.</p>
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<p>Those big fields are so good for developing the forward impulse of both the horse and the rider, with forward impulse a trained horse can do just about anything so long as the rider does not interfere.</p>
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<p>You are doing super, super well with your horse. Good work!</p>