Page 40 - Demo

horse you will be able to predict behavior,spot a problem in its earliest stages andmake the subtle debugging %u201cfix%u201d necessary,and then get back to the fun of riding.For starters, most problems that have todo with a horse that is too fresh can usually be fixed without getting on the horse!I recommend solving these problems on alonge line.Just like children anticipating the end ofthe school year, it doesn%u2019t do any good toyell and scream when they are just overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation.If I thought for one minute that yelling andscreaming would fix the problem, I wouldheartily suggest it. But, as any parent cantell you, when kids are really wired up andexcited, you can yell until you are hoarseand the result is still unchanged!On the other hand, longeing is a fabulous, simple way to give your overly exuberant horse a chance to kick up his heels,whinny to his heart%u2019s content, canteraround in a circle with his tail up over hisback and in a word, debug himself! Ithink of it this way: every buck your horsedoes on the longe line is one less that youwill have to ride out of him later!Earlier, I mentioned that it is easier onall concerned to use the longe line whenyour horse is too fresh. Using the exampleof the children anticipating the end of theschool term, rather than trying to forcethem to sit quietly in the classroom andstudy, a better solution would be to takethem out to do something physical so theycould work off some of that pent-up energy. This solution is easier on the kids,the teachers and physical activity is goodfor them on many levels.In the same way, 10 to 20 minutes oflongeing for the too fresh horse is easieron you and your horse. As a rule ofthumb, when working with either younghorses, green broke horses or fresh horses,work them on a longe line with just a halter on for about 10-15 minutes. In spite ofthe fact that the point of this exercise is tojust get the bats out of their belfry, you canstill include some verbal work. Using longeing in this way allows thehorse to have fun, and soon they learn thatas their partner, you will always be fairand let them play first. But once the longeline is put away and the saddle is put on,you expect them to get down to business.When done properly, longeing is notonly good for debugging your horse, itcan be used for higher levels of training,dressage, jumping and a wide variety ofother things. In other words, this is a skillthat is well worth learning. dressing for suCCess in the sAddleIn the same way that we prepare ourselves for the weather by dressing properly, you can prepare yourself fordebugging by dressing properly. If it isthe spring of the year and you know yourhorse is full of himself, there are manythings you can wear that will increaseyour debugging effectiveness.Chaps are leather or suede pant-likecoverings that most working riders wear.These leather leggings help to make therider stick like glue to the saddle. Whenyou put two leather or suede surfaces together, they tend to create friction and thishelps to secure the rider. They are alsogreat leg protection in cold weather or ifyou are trail riding through thick brush.A shorter version of the chap is something called %u201chalf-chaps.%u201d These halfchaps only cover the lower leg area.Half-chaps still provide the gripping action of the chap, without being as confining or as warm as full chaps can be in thesummer months.Riding helmets are available now inboth English and Western styles andshould always be used. In the same waythat riding your bike or motorcycle with ahelmet is a good thing, riding your horsewith a helmet is also necessary. Safety is achoice that you get to make each andevery day.To be sure that the helmet does what itis intended to do, be sure to use the chinstrap provided and check to ensure that ithas an acceptable safety rating with theSafety Equipment Institute.Boots with a heel are also a necessity ifyou are debugging your horse. If you normally ride in sneakers, be warned that thistype of footwear can be dangerous. Thegood news is that there are riding sneakersavailable at most tack shops now thathave a heel on them. The idea of ridingwith a heel is to prevent your foot fromslipping completely through the stirrup,resulting in your foot being trapped andpossibly dragged if you fall off. Additionally, riding with either a steel-toed boot orany footwear that has a hard toe will comein handy should you inadvertently getstepped on.Leather riding gloves are also veryhelpful. As with chaps, leather glovesagainst leather reins will create a solid gripand prevent the reins from being pulledout of your hands by a fresh or buckinghorse. They are also helpful to use whenlongeing. One other advantage of wearing gloves is that they help to keep yourhands looking young by protecting themfrom the sun, wind and dirt that go handand-hand with outdoor recreation.the defensive seAt And When to use itWhat happens if you missed the five toten warning signs that your horse gave youand now he is galloping back with you tothe barn for a snack? Is there anything thatyou can do with your natural body weight40 Arizona Horse Connection July, 2026continued on page 42SANTORI RANCH%u2022 BOARDING %u2022 IRRIGATED PASTURES%u2022 LESSONS %u2022 HORSE CAMPS%u2022 ARENA RENTALTrainers on SiteSpecializing in lessons for all ages and abilities.Beginner to the show ring! Seasonedschool horses and leases available.955 W. Road 2 North Chino Valley, AZ(928) 848-3659 Santori-Ranch.com