07/26/2025
My brain has thoughts 💭
In order to go fast, we must first master going slow.
I want to add to that.. I think a part of performance horses issues with getting sore is our timeline. Humans are not the most patient people and we strive for the instant gratification. From a biomechanical standpoint there is ALOT that goes into making a barrel run, jumping a course, completing a dressage test. What if when we do these things not only do we consider if the horse is mentally and trainability there.. but also physically?
If you’ve been doing ground poles and decide one day to set up a small jump and your horse does really well.. so you set up a few more and start doing that everyday, do we take into account of the physical demand JUMP that is from ground pole work? The amount of effort and body wear?
For barrel horses (which I relate to really well, since it’s my discipline of choice) if our horse is loping a nice pattern for a month or so and we start asking for speed and they do well, so we think it’s time to start doing that regularly, are they physically ready for that?
I guess my point is I feel like a lot of horses are physically pushed faster before taking into consideration how important a slow and gradual increase of workload is. Even if it’s off the “pattern”, still conditioning those maneuvers to get faster, effective and EFFICIENT movement you are conditioning the muscles, tendons, ligaments, fast twitch muscles and stamina also.
What happens when a horse is pushed faster than physically ready? They start to cheat. They take the easy path, they misuse muscles and misuse their body and we generate soreness. Of course a lot goes into this but it’s a way to look at our animals and give grace.
I like to think of barrel futurity trainers who do it well and do it right, do you ever wonder how their horses lay down the same consistent solid pattern and usually can have good successful years? They spent a year or more bringing that horse along slow and I’m sure everyday they ask themselves “Is this horse ready? Physically, mentally, and emotionally?” They have generated muscle memory and HEALTH. I even think this is true for our finished horses! Rushing the conditioning process or not taking it seriously.
I’m a big girlie on conditioning but I’m an even bigger girlie on conditioning with PURPOSE and a plan.
Which leads me to my next goal.. I’ve got an idea 💡 😉
