<<From: "Judy Ryder" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>From the Horsemanpro: >The high stepping or the high action of the front legs in carriage horses >and in riding horses was desired not by horsemen but by the non-horse >public. To the public the high stepping horses with flexed, bowed necks >represent some type of proud and elegant horse, and since it was so >appealing to the public the royals and nobles adopted this in to parades >and >such.>>
Amen to that, and the main reason I've avoided both conventional driving and riding competitions where "collected," artificial movements are required and rewarded. There used to be an annual obstacle driving course in Durango, CO, back in the 1980s, where relaxed, naturally moving driving mules and horses on loose reins sauntered over bridges, and between natural obstacles to win ribbons. Locally, groups of riders go on 20-30 trail rides on gaited horses-sometimes all night in summer. No wasted movement encouraged, for sure. Rachel from E KY
