Читать книгу 55 Corrective Exercises for Horses. Resolving Postural Problems, Improving Movement Patterns, and Preventing Injury онлайн

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1 Find a ditch or canal that slopes downward approximately 5–10 feet, and then rises up the other side. Be sure the banks of this ditch are stable enough to ride on and not crumbly or dangerous.

2 Begin by standing in the swale, with the horse’s body parallel to the banks or sides (fig. 1.4 A).1.4 A: Some horses, especially those ridden primarily inside arenas, can be a little nervous about the changes of terrain in a ditch. Here, I start by asking Star to stand quietly in the ditch before we begin moving around.

3 Now proceed to ride a shallow serpentine that keeps crossing the ditch (figs. 1.4 B & C). 1.4 B & C: Star has to engage her stabilizing muscles as we head diagonally up the side of the ditch (B). I’m careful to guide her but not get in her way too much with rein contact. Star demonstrates how much flexion and stability is needed in the hind leg on the high side of the ditch as we turn to head back down (C). This type of maneuvering is more difficult than riding straight up and down hills.