I’d love to find out more about riding Lusitano and Andalusian horses. What are your impressions of them? Whether you’ve owned one, ridden one, or happened to meet one once :biggrin:, please share.
I’ve had a few lessons recently on a Lusitano gelding. I’ve learned a lot! He is a real schoolmaster, although he isn’t asked to do lots of very athletic work anymore because he’s an older boy. The RS is understandably protective of him so I feel very privileged.
He has very different paces to anything else I’ve ever ridden. It took me the whole of the first lesson to figure out what his feet were doing underneath me. I kept wanting to push him forward, but when I did he was clearly out of his natural rhythm. Lesson two was better, and in lesson three we started to achieve bits work I was proud of, although there were still a few dodgy uncoordinated moments. :giggle:
I have ridden well-educated horses before – Warmbloods, TBs, and a couple of cobby / draught x types – but this is a whole new thing. I am used to collection being a very powerful feeling with lots of suspension and oomph. This horse feels more delicate. His paces are shorter and (at least, until he is very collected indeed) quicker, and there is no feeling of potential extension. Not that he won’t extend, just that it isn’t ready and waiting. Sorry, I can’t find a better way of putting all that.
So I’m wondering if this is typical of the type, or just this horse? Does my experience sound familiar to anyone, or are you thinking ‘doesn’t sound like the Lusos I’ve ridden’? Does anyone have any advice for riding Lusitanos (or Andalusians, I think there would be a lot of crossover)? What are their temperaments usually like?
Anyway, so, I have lots of questions!
:nerd:
I’ve had a few lessons recently on a Lusitano gelding. I’ve learned a lot! He is a real schoolmaster, although he isn’t asked to do lots of very athletic work anymore because he’s an older boy. The RS is understandably protective of him so I feel very privileged.
He has very different paces to anything else I’ve ever ridden. It took me the whole of the first lesson to figure out what his feet were doing underneath me. I kept wanting to push him forward, but when I did he was clearly out of his natural rhythm. Lesson two was better, and in lesson three we started to achieve bits work I was proud of, although there were still a few dodgy uncoordinated moments. :giggle:
I have ridden well-educated horses before – Warmbloods, TBs, and a couple of cobby / draught x types – but this is a whole new thing. I am used to collection being a very powerful feeling with lots of suspension and oomph. This horse feels more delicate. His paces are shorter and (at least, until he is very collected indeed) quicker, and there is no feeling of potential extension. Not that he won’t extend, just that it isn’t ready and waiting. Sorry, I can’t find a better way of putting all that.
So I’m wondering if this is typical of the type, or just this horse? Does my experience sound familiar to anyone, or are you thinking ‘doesn’t sound like the Lusos I’ve ridden’? Does anyone have any advice for riding Lusitanos (or Andalusians, I think there would be a lot of crossover)? What are their temperaments usually like?
Anyway, so, I have lots of questions!
:nerd: