tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post1871539901612510536..comments2024-01-06T11:22:03.305-08:00Comments on Equestrian Ink: More of AfricaJami Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-60779769287882664652011-11-13T07:24:11.460-08:002011-11-13T07:24:11.460-08:00Terri: I think you were incredibly brave to go on ...Terri: I think you were incredibly brave to go on an adventure like this! Althugh I'd love to, I don't know whether I'd have the guts to actually go. I've loved reading about your trip, and really enjoyed your photographs,too! How amazing to have been so close to lions!<br /><br />Regarding warmbloods/showhorses on trail rides, like Alison I also tend to believe that they're generally not very well suited to it. Of course, then it depends on the individual horse: Kwintus, my now retired dressage horse, was fine on trai rides. He hardly ever spooked, didn't get worked up about stuff. His only problem was that he stumbled.<br /><br />Qrac isn't an ideal trail horse, although I'm sure he'll become better suited to the trails as his schooling improves and he becomes more confident. Also, to become a good trail horse, horses need to, well, do trails! And since my focus is more on dressage, I'm obviously going to spend more time in the arena. If Qrac just did trails I'm pretty certain he'd be cool about them very quickly, especially the ones he gets to know like the back of his..hoof!Francesca Prescotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18201599087106798500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-84967367035900692042011-11-13T06:49:00.001-08:002011-11-13T06:49:00.001-08:00Hi Terri, I am commenting late, but wanted to than...Hi Terri, I am commenting late, but wanted to thank you for sharing your experience and photos--they are incredible! <br /><br />Weighing in on the horses--I have friends from Vermont, which is big on Warmbloods and eventing. They had two gorgeous horses with spectacular movements, but finally had to give them up because any work on the trail or outside an arena ended up being dangerous--and believe me, they tried. My feeling is when horses are bred for elegance and show performance, they possess qualities that are not usually conducive to trail riding. (I've never read an article called "Fun Trail Riding with Warmbloods"!) As Laura mentioned, most good solid trail horse doesn't possess the flash for the show ring. But good luck with your trail riding--and STAY SAFE!Alisonhttp://www.alisonhartbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-3969384929289987282011-11-08T17:54:16.939-08:002011-11-08T17:54:16.939-08:00Thanks for the comments and yes that is me on the ...Thanks for the comments and yes that is me on the white grey. It was the trip of a lifetime and I miss it yet get excited everytime I look at the photos. In 2 years we are planning another trip to Kenya, Botswana and maybe Rhwanda to see the Gorillas before they are gone. <br /><br />Laura, I can haul out to trails and after reading your comment I am going to make a concerted effort to do it more often. I do think my horses will be better for it.<br /><br />Glad everyone liked the photos. Some I took and some were taken by a photographer who was with us on the trip.Terri Rocovichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08222380250153504890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-21120945167183856862011-11-08T08:42:29.336-08:002011-11-08T08:42:29.336-08:00As for the trails, I have to cross a busy road to ...As for the trails, I have to cross a busy road to get to my "home" trails, but it is a straight crossing, I do not have to ride along the road, which I would find too dangerous. There are trails near our practice roping arena, and we ride those, but we do haul to get to the arena. Most folks around here must haul to some park or other to get to trails. Don't you have that option where you are? I do not like riding on pavement, either, but will do it for brief sections. Its safer if the horse is barefoot.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-65165597454324374682011-11-08T08:38:40.160-08:002011-11-08T08:38:40.160-08:00Terri--I loved the photos, too. That is you on the...Terri--I loved the photos, too. That is you on the gray horse, correct?Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-38284677590676062272011-11-08T08:31:11.571-08:002011-11-08T08:31:11.571-08:00Terri - I just have to comment on this set of pict...Terri - I just have to comment on this set of pictures. Magnificent! Riding with a herd of zebras - and close to lions - how totally amazing! And the picture of elephants captured between the horse's ears is a prize winner. Wow. Thank you for sharing!Linda Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17948970237555890150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-20336774206732426952011-11-08T07:55:49.959-08:002011-11-08T07:55:49.959-08:00I agree with Laura. I think horses that are rode ...I agree with Laura. I think horses that are rode a lot by confident riders and used in a variety of settings to "work" are generally desensitized to about anything, but that really is amazing to see lions so close and the horses so unbothered. I'm very impressed.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14303523299217618526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-15184885927376363562011-11-08T07:11:18.858-08:002011-11-08T07:11:18.858-08:00I agree with you 100% Laura and I know that I am v...I agree with you 100% Laura and I know that I am very guilty of enabling my horses babied behavior and I am much tougher than most in the dressage community. My horses live out unless the weather is bad (I don't like box stalls) and I will sternly correct a horse for spooking, especially if it is something silly.<br /><br />My biggest dilemma is a lack of good, safe trails to ride on. (I would kill to have your trails and open areas.)I want to ride my horses out in the open more but need safer trails to do it on. Everything by me is along streets with cars and trucks wizzing past or horrible footing. In some areas we have to ride on the asphalt which can be a recipe for desaster. I do have hills nearby that we try to go to when I can get a group together but it is not safe to ride there alone.<br /><br />I do de-sensitivity training on all the babies like walking over tarps, plastic bags, cans etc. but I hesitate to do this with the older show horses that come in for fear of injury.<br /><br />I am open for all suggestions. Thanks for the input.Terri Rocovichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08222380250153504890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-83182116179234921382011-11-08T06:08:00.532-08:002011-11-08T06:08:00.532-08:00I have a theory for you, Terri. My two trail horse...I have a theory for you, Terri. My two trail horses, Henry and Sunny, behave much like your African horses. They would have crossed that bridge, no problem. I can't say about lions, but they are very used to deer, coyotes, and bobcats, and never spook at them, also birds of any sort. Henry and Sunny are both ex team roping horses, and as such had to get used to whirling ropes, charging cattle...etc. Sunny came from old Mexico, where they treat horses much as they do in Africa (based on what I know). To be frank, I think that horses that are carefully babied their whole lives just don't have the tools for dealing with adversity (this isn't meant as an insult, just a statement of fact). My own horses are experiencing the same shift in weather you describe (I live on the California coast just a little north of you) and though they buck and play in their corrals, they are still stoic and well behaved under saddle. They just have a different wok ethic. But they could not perform high level dressage movements--not even close. I think that if you wanted to find a tough, solid horse, like you rode in Africa, you could do it easily, but you might have to treat it a little differently than you treat your horses if you wanted to keep that work ethic in place. No box stalls, lots of riding outside, for instance. Just my thoughts.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.com