On Mon, Jan 15, 2007 at 09:22:49PM -0500, Karen Thomas wrote: > >>>> She is happiest when she is surrounded by children learning about how > to put on a halter or pick out her feet. She is happiest when she has a > timid rider on her back. She is happiest when she is giving a lesson in > either a round pen or arena. > [...] > But to move a > horse to a new location and have 15-20 people immediately start > walk/trot/canter lessons (on a multi-gaited horse), bouncing around in the > saddle as they learn their "up-down" lessons, while older students try to > canter, when the riders and even the instructor aren't familiar with the > horse's cues, his gaits...? That's another matter altogether.
...which hasn't happened. stop making stuff up. stjarni was used primarily for beginners, at a walk. we used other horses for the "up-down" stuff; horses who could reliably maintain a trot. > You are picking this life for Osp after you've had her for years, after > she's been essentially a one-person horse, right? You are making this > decision based on what you have learned about her personality over several > years...? And you know her well by now...? You know her gaits, their cues, > and her idiosyncrasies? Are you giving the lessons yourself, or are you > letting someone who doesn't know her at all give the lessons when you aren't > there to watch? These are all important variables that determine how > successful a horse can be as a lesson horse. ...and stjarni was certified as suitable as a lesson horse by gudmar, who had imported him, trained and retrained him, and sold him three times over five years. nobody taught with him except me and my own trainer. --vicka
