Here's a series of still shots taken a couple of years ago of Cary's horse, Skjoni, saddle-racking. Again, this isn't so much THE frame that a horse should have to saddle rack...it's just the frame that Skjoni naturally assumes on a semi-loose rein. I think it's fairly typical though, of a horse who chooses to saddle-rack. http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=4jh0nhxz.bccf2jvb&x=0&y=q0g64s&localeid=en_US
Skjoni is not collected when he saddle racks, but on the other hand, he's not showing an extreme amount of ventroflexion, nor is he extremely strung out. His head is up (his choice) but he's not star-gazing. Skjoni can walk/trot and canter on the rail in the ring (with me up - Cary usually doesn't bother), and he can do leg yield, and a tiny bit towards shoulder-in. That does NOT mean that he has "talent for dressage" nor that he he is a "dressage horse" - it means we've worked on a tiny bit of "the basics" with him. It also means that he's one fun and versatile horse. :) Here's the video version. http://youtube.com/watch?v=xHdab8atoiA Sometimes Skjoni gaits in the pasture, and when he does, his head/"frame" is much the same as in the video and the still pictures. He also trots at liberty, but when he does, his head is usually lower - both are his choice. Karen Thomas, NC
