>>>> (The boarding barn mentality is 'ride them through it', and the rough >>>> behavior happens--not all the time, but it's there.) V
I think "riding it out" is RARELY...if ever...the answer. When I was first considering buying Loftur, the first rehab I made a conscious effort to get, I had multiple dire warnings that he'd need a "good rider", and that I shouldn't buy him unless I could go see him and ride him myself - many of those warnings came from people no longer active on this list. Just a couple of years before that, I'd hit the ground several times when Gracie developed her problem, and I don't know about others, but I'm just not into pain - for myself or for my critters. I DO think that horses with problems need good HORSEMEN, and of course, many good horsemen are also good riders. "Riding it out" may prove riding skills, but I know that there are many good riders who simply don't have a clue when it comes to horsemanship skills. As much as I'd love to, I know I'll never be the best rider, but I still keep on trucking, trying to hone my horsemanship skills, because I KNOW I can continue to make progress there. That said, I DO think there are times when we need to gently push a horse past his comfort zone in order to make progress, but hopefully we can do that in small enough increments where the rider's physical safety and the horse's trust aren't jeopardized at all. Karen Thomas, NC
