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| 15.
"A Judge's Impression of the Ride" By Frank Hopkins (Due to the fame of his 1886 ride, Hopkins was invited to Vermont yearly to serve as judge for the Green Mountain Horse Association's 100-mile Ride. In this report by Hopkins himself, one gets a true sense of the experienced distance-rider he was.)
Some of the trails are quite severe, with many long, steep grades; nevertheless, the footing was good and not a single horse injured the entire one hundred miles. On the second day, three very good horses and riders lost the trail losing two hours or more before they finally straightened out, thus putting them out of the contest. I observed a spotted gelding on the Ride loping beside fast-walking horses, but he stuck to his gait which is the true gait of the Indian War Pony. This horse showed other signs of having such blood in his veins; for instance, he loped all the way, except when walking. Some horsemen not acquainted with that gait, expected to see this spotted horse out of the Ride the first day and remarked that it was poor horsemanship to ride the horse at that gait. Personally, I feel that it is better horsemanship to ride your horse at his natural gait than to try to force him to a gait that will wear him out in a few hours. It would be well nigh impossible to make that spotted horse trot under the saddle or any other place without actually abusing him. However, that spotted horse came in as fresh every day as he was going out—not even gaunted at the end of the 100 miles and he only lacked three points toward winning first place as the best endurance horse on the Ride! It is well for us to forget about show horses and the bridle path, for the 100-mile ride does not blend with that little trot in the park before breakfast. On a real long, hard ride, the true loping horse will wear out six good horses who trot under saddle. I realize that this is a very broad statement. But I have seen it proven many times and history repeats itself in that famous, long hard rides have always been won by the loping horse. So, trail riders, don't condemn the true loping horse nor doubt the horsemanship of his rider, for the rider is using good sense when he allows his horse to travel his natural gait. There were so many fine horses and good riders on all breeds and classes that the judges found it extremely difficult to arrive at their decisions. However, I can assure the riders that every horse and rider had the most careful attention of the judges. The riders were probably not aware that their judges and the recorder were up most of the night discussing and arguing the points of every individual rider and his or her mount, not that these same judges even deprived themselves of viewing and enjoying the fine Morgan Horse Show in order that they might come to the final decision. Even then, the judges were an hour and a half late with their lists, the competition was so close. There were many large horses, also small ones, who did very well. Noticeable in the small horse group was Number 25 on the program on her little Indian "squaw" pony "Midnight." Although this pony is more than twenty years old and weighed but 790 pounds, she went all the way with the bunch and probably was in as good condition at the end of the Ride as the others. The Johnson twins made an attractive picture on the Trail. They rode all the way on their spirited mounts and showed remarkable horsemanship in carrying their horses along at an even, open gait. The stable in Woodstock, with its high posts, is well equipped to care for a large number of horses. The excellent hotels, inns and lodging homes are close by to accommodate the riders and there is not a more convenient nor livelier spot in our country to hold one of these rides. I really believe that anyone who rides on these trails will gain more knowledge of riding than in any other way. Some of the riders were overheard to admit that they would be better acquainted with trail riding next year. I have been asked to give our riders a few "pointers" such as I have gained through experience during my years in the "leather." Right here, let me say that you can not tell how good your horse is just by looking at him—only covering the trail and lots of it. Will condition your horse for a long hard ride. Another thing—do not jump or nerve up your horse in any way while training for a long ride. Be careful about balancing your mount while in the saddle; be sure to have your horse balanced as nearly as possible in his shoes. Often, a rider is unaware that his horse may not be naturally balanced; one horse might step with one forward foot an inch or more farther than the other, or it might be in one hind foot. Some horses travel too fast behind for their forrd feet; it makes an awful lot of difference in his riding if a horse is balanced. If you wish to find out of your horse is properly balanced, take your horse by the halter and trot him over a stretch of soft ground—about fifty feet—then measure the horse's tracks, from the toe of the hind foot to the toes of the forward foot—be sure to measure five or six tracks on each side; if the horse steps a half inch or one inch or more shorter with one forward foot than he does with the other, that foot should carry a little more weight in the shoe. If it is a hind foot, the same method should be followed, i.e., a little more weight put on both forward feet so he will throw them out. Of course, I can not tell you the amount of weight for an individual horse—you will learn that by having a little heavier shoe put on the foot. Keep trying it out until you have him stepping exactly the same length with one foot as he does the other. An unbalanced horse is quite noticeable, for he will have a little more knee action in one leg than in the other. There are some owners who will have a horse for years and not notice this. It will however, make a vast difference in the riding if your horse is perfectly balanced. To keep your horse balanced, it is wise to make a chart showing the weight of the individual shoe for every foot and the size of the nails used, so your horse will be properly shod the next time and save you the trouble of balancing him again. If your horse is balanced when shod, wearing down his shoes will not unbalance him as he will probably wear down his four shoes alike. Look at the feet often, if there are any signs of thrush, treat at once, for thrush will lead to many foot ailments, even to low heels and dropped soles and pinched hoofs. Remember, if the tree of the saddle does not fit your horse, he will not go right, no matter how the saddle is padded. Your saddle may fit many horses, but it may pinch the only horse that you choose to ride, or your weight may cause the saddle to bring pressure on the cantle end of the pads. These things are not easily detected on short rides, but you will soon notice them if you ride your horses over rough, hilly trails. Some saddle-trees are not open enough at the withers for one horse, even though the saddle may fit another horse well. If the rider should come to a long, hard climb for his horse it is likely that the rider will let his mount take the hill slowly, while at the same time he (the rider) flops back in the saddle to rest himself, thus putting all his weight in one spot, digging the cantle into the horse's back—and there you have a sore back for the horse—even though you cannot understand how it came there. It is a sure thing, though, that the soreness came from the rider taking things a little too easy going up hill. Padding your saddle too light will cause small skin corns. They don't appear sore when you fell of them, but when there are enough of them together, your horse will fret and worry. Going down hill will sore the horse if the saddle does not fit properly. The English style or flat saddle, is rather hard on the horse's back regardless of how carefully you watch. It is not for long, hard riding. Many riders who have taken up long riding have changed to the moderate stock saddle, even though they could not be persuaded to use one until they learned of the comfort for both rider and horse. Girth galls or pinches may be avoided by stretching your horse after saddling. This is done by taking the horses toe in the right hand and placing the left hand against his shoulder, pulling forward on the toe, thus pulling the skin wrinkles from under the girth. Two or three small buckles on the girth will also dig into the horse and cause lumps on either side. It is far better to use cinch straps and do away with buckles entirely. Oh yes, they don't look stylish, but they are comfortable for any horse. The head gear for your horse may suit you, but does it suit your horse? If not, he will have spells of fighting it. You have seen pulling horses and horses who seemed incurable. Riders, let me tell you there never was a horse who would get behind the bit and pull if that bit was hanging in the stable instead of being in that horse's mouth. I have broken some of the most vicious pullers that ever grabbed a bit and the cure was always effected by taking the bit out of the animal's mouth and gentling him with a choke cord, thereafter riding him with the old time hackamore bridle. No horse will pull without a good reason and in this instance it is the pain caused by the bit that does it, although there is no soreness visible. On the other hand, it may be shallow nerves or flattened bars on the under jaws; broken bars may lie under the skin in a horse's mouth all his life without giving him any trouble, but when coming in contact with the bit, your horse will pull and rave; some horses go stark mad from the sense of pain. Take this tip from an old-timer, riders—put a little LePage's glue on the seat of your pants and stay close to the leather and keep your feet in the stirrups—don't ride on the bit. A fairly loose line makes a happy horse and contented rider. It makes no difference whether your horse is three years old or thirty, hot blood or cold—they all respond to proper gentling if rightly done. I have gentled wild horses twenty years old or more who never had come in contact with a man before, and they took to their training kindly; in fact, I would rather gentle and break a horse who had never been handled than one raised in the stable fondled and patted from birth. During my years of handling all kinds in different parts of the world there is only one horse I recall that I could not gentle and there was a good reason for my failure to do so—the horses brain was diseased. While in Woodstock, some of the riders asked me for a few "tips" on long riding and I hope they understood me right. I was not talking merely to hear my own voice, but was passing on to those younger riders the benefits of my years of hard-earned experience. I have nothing to lose or gain by it and am always glad to give this experience to those who feel they may derive some profit from it, for my days of polishing saddle seats have about come to a close; but the lump in the throat and flush to the cheek when approaching a group of horsemen in the saddle is always there. Good Fortune favored me for nine years in getting dispatches through for the Generals on the Western Frontier, likewise throughout the seasons of my active horsemanship with that super showman, Col. W.F. Cody, and in successfully contesting against picked cavalrymen of all nations of the world. Meeting those riders in Vermont put a little more color in the dye. I enjoyed to the utmost being with them if only for a short while, and I hope to meet many new riders in addition to this friendly group in such a splendid Association. I know of no better way of spending a vacation than on the bridle trails in the Green hills of Vermont. |
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this site sponsored by The Horse of the Americas Registry, & IRAM - the Institute of Range and the American Mustang email:info@frankhopkins.com |
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