>>>>last minute pointers. Her mare wasn't working the way they wanted and >>>>the coach had Ashley back that mare the complete length of the arena >>>>(about the size of a dessage court). The mare was very resistant, head >>>>up, mouth wide open. It was hard to see exactly what they had >>>>accomplished.<<<<
I think the "exercise" is misplaced something-to-do when they don't know what to do. What exactly is it teaching the horse? If the horse wasn't working the way they wanted, maybe there was a reason... either she didn't know how or what to do (what the correct answer was), or *couldn't* respond correctly (rider in the way, equipment prohibiting right answer, etc.). I saw that a few times in roping. If the cow wasn't caught, the rider took it out on the horse by backing them around the arena... so... from the horse's perspective, did that help? In my opinion, it was the rider's failing. Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
