--- In [email protected], "Judy Ryder" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I haven't tied a horse to be saddled in a long time. I just do it on the lawn, or if in the paddock, just at liberty.
---------------Yep, we basically do the same thing. We do put them in a stall configuration to saddle up just because there are other horses around that like to "inspect" anything new on the horse, but we don't tie them. We then take them out and let them graze for a few minutes while we get ready to mount up. While we mount up, we let them eat. Then we ask them to lift their heads up when we are settled in the saddle. When we get back from the ride, we let the horses graze freely while we untack, do tail pulls and rub them down with a liniment bath or rinse them off. This has worked extremely well for us and has helped build the trust between horse and human. > I think this may be different, tho, if it's a boarding barn situation, where it's not an option and horses have to be tied up.... -------------Agreed. We are fortunate that the place I am boarding Osp is a personal farm, not a boarding barn. > It shouldn't be *required* to keep an adult horse calm enough to be saddle (that would be masking a problem), but just as a courtesty or a gift to the horse who is going to be working for us. --------------EXACTLY! Dawn Bruin-Slot
