I was SO refreshed to see Jane Savoie give Lynn Palm a lesson today. Lynn rode a big Appendix QH, Indian Harvest, that you can see on http://www.lynnpalm.com/horses_for_sale.php. In the 2006 USDF AQHA Breed Awards, Jasper was the High Score Open Training Level Quarter Horse with a median score of 70.00%. I'll see if I can post a few short video clips to YouTube, and send a couple of still shots. This horse did NOT have a vertical head-set, not at all - and he most certainly was not behind the vertical...and several times Jane commented on his lovely and correct working trot. And several times, did she remind people that in no way should anyone expect a horse at this level to be in any sort of frame. Now, remember, this horse is built for dressage work, and is worked and competed by top level riders. I was reminded again just how ridiculous it is that we see so many Icelandic horses running around, legs trailing behind them, noses pulled behind the vertical (or straight out in front of them...) under the guise of collection. It simply felt good to be back in sync with the rest of the equestrian world again.
I am reminded still again that it's time we raise the bar, and raise the expectations for these horses. No - I'm not talking about competing our horses to this level, not at all. What I am talking about is applying the same good, sensible rules to our horses that the rest of the educated world uses, even if we only apply the sound practices in our backyards or on the trail. Virginia, if anyone tells you that Gat should be "on the bit" with a 10-year-old rider up, just tell them that if Lynn Palm and this magnificent born-for-dressage gelding aren't "on the bit" that you certainly don't think Gat/Alex need to be... Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
