Comments on Julie Goodnight On the Road: Asking for More

Thanks Julie for the thoughtful post. No, I don't...

2009-08-30T21:00:04.067-06:00

Thanks Julie for the thoughtful post. No, I don't ask enough. When I do ask for more he actually really likes it. He gets bored. The most common comment trainers have said about him is that he's bored (or bored out of his mind even)But he won't give it without asking. This sounds like I don't do much with him but I do. He's just got a very active mind.

My two horses are as different as night and day. ...

2009-08-28T21:00:24.666-06:00

My two horses are as different as night and day. My gelding is more like Dually; you always get more than what you ask for. Fortunately, he's not as athletic as your horse so there is time to make adjustments...and he doesn't care how you are sitting. Then there is Jesse, my dominant/alpha mare. She questions EVERYTHING! She's a stocky Mustang/draft cross, extemely powerful, athletic...and toooo smart (according to my vet). However, if I give her a job to do, she makes sure that job gets done. Yesterday we went out for a couple hours on our mountain trails. She informed me I wasn't riding correctly. I hate it when she's right (99% of the time). I looked at our pictures when we got home, and, sure enough, I was sitting crooked most of the time. Your last video reminded me to "lift the sternum". I thought I was sitting straight, but the pictures can't lie. I've had hip problems since I hit 60, so I am happy I have 2 horses that will put up with my "stiff" days.
Juanita

Estes is all heart. I have to be careful, because...

2009-08-27T08:16:53.603-06:00

Estes is all heart. I have to be careful, because if I asked her to climb Long's Peak she'd do it and never complain. She'll do everything I ask and more, which worries me. She does ocassionally ask me if I'm sure I want to do what I ask, but she never complains, she just digs in and does it. Realizing this has made me more aware of what I expect of her and since I only get to ride once a week, I try not to really push her that one time a week so that she's stiff and sore the rest of the week. On the other hand, I want her to be in shape so it's a catch-22 with her.