Month:

Ranch Versatility – Part I

I was very excited when American Quarter Horse Association
(AQHA) Ranch Versatility was first introduced. Ranch Pleasure or
Ranch Riding as it is now called is great because it requires the
horse to have good forward movement. When I was showing in my
younger years Western Pleasure at that time also required good
forward movement. Somewhere along the line the discipline began
to require the horse to move much slower, with what I call the
crippled canter and that to me is not pleasant to observe or good
for the horse physically.
The idea of Ranch Riding is that it is a pleasure to ride and watch.
We are looking for a natural headset that is at least at or above the
withers.

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Ground Driving

Ground driving is also called Long Lining. Ground driving is a very good training
technique for young horses to learn how to turn right and left, stop, and back. This
exercise provides a great variety of training for any age of horse or rider.

Handler Coordination
For the human part of this partnership, ground driving works on your
coordination. It provides a focus on what you’re doing with your arms, adjusting your
reins and keeping them organized, your foot fall to stay in line with the horse, or your
foot fall to stay inward on a curving line. You learn how to flex the horse’s head inward
so you can just see his eye.

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