> Hey, I feel really stupid - I have been letting a lady from HORSES
> HELP (the local therapeutic riding place) drive Spot -  it was AWESOME,
> she got TEARS IN HER EYES because she had always believed that since
> polio left her with almost no strength in her right hand, she would be
> unable to ever drive a horse.  I took her out twice, and fought the urge
> almost successfully to grab the reins out of her hands when I didn't
> think she could pull hard enough.  But, Spot AMAZED me; she actually
> ADJUSTED and started listening to Penelope's voice when I finally got
> smart and let Penelope give the commands instead of me.
 
GOOD horse..  some horses are rather empathic as far as I can tell.. they 
pick up on people and occasionally the "differences" in the people.. that's 
why some horses do really well with the rehab riders.  
 
 
> did everything Penelope asked her to do.  EXCEPT that she stuck out her
> nose and got out of the bridle.
 
Chuckle..  well not perfect.. ;)
 
 
> Mrs. Braswell asked me where the cavesson was; I told her I only
> used it while showing so Spot wouldn't open up her mouth when asked to
> back up.  She looked at me with a surprised look, said she needed it to
> get on the bit (I *THINK* that's what she said) so I went and got it on
> Spot.
 
> Minutes later, Spot was flawlessly collected, her neck was arched,
> and her nose was almost perpendicular to the ground.  What a nice
> presentation that mare can give!
 
Take a picture! :)
 
 
> My question - HOW IN THE HECK?  I mean, what does the cavesson have
> to do with that?  She was all strung out, neck-wise, like many of the
> hunter jumpers I see in the show rings.  I put the cavesson on her and
 
 
Simple.. some horses know the difference in tack.. and they respond to it. 
Like CJ knew what the curb bit was for (showing) and what we used for 
knocking around.. she responded to both differently. Although right now it 
wouldn't make a difference since she's "Show" worked in any bridle I use.
 
 
 
                                  BK 
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