Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>Andi is what - four? I know you won't push for any particular gait for a while Susan, but I wouldn't be surprised if he has some good gait in there, waiting to surface.<< Yes, he will be four April 15 - tax day! Andi has come to me at the perfect time in my gaited horse education. Any earlier, and I would be very worried about his trot at liberty. But at this point in my education, I don't worry about it at all. When his saddle training starts (after April) we will do a lot of walking (and he has a nice head-nodding flat walk in hand, BTW) and whatever next-gear-up he offers me. Whisper, my 1/2Arab, 1/2 TWH has taught me a lot about a naturally trotting horse offering gait, which we are now refining cues for after a year under saddle. He will be my first horse I plan on doing everything with from the get-go myself. I am very excited!! At at my age, we will be going VERY SLOW. Right now, we are going for hand walks down the road and into the sandy washes. I have trouble in the deep sand keeping up with him, so I grab mane and let him drag me along while I purposely bump his ribs with my body. Then when we get home, I give him a bit of hay while I use the step stool to lay across his withers and back - but I have not yet taken my weight off the step stool - maybe this weekend! Susan in NV
Happy High Desert Trails Susan in NV Nevermore Ranch http://users.oasisol.com/nevermore/ --------------------------------- It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar.
