As long as the horse is physically sound, picking up the correct lead is quite simple if the horse moves forward from the leg. Lift the inside rein, do not pull back, sit to the outside (outside seatbone) and ask with both legs. Think of shoulder-in to canter. Counter bending or counterflexing a horse for canter departure I would not recommend. Most horses are crooked for departure and do not take the correct lead due to this fact. Correct alignment ( straightness ) is the key. Perhaps the rider

 

 

 

 

Now this thread gave me a smile. You girls are a hoot! Im sure we all have had some problems of sort in one way or another with whats under our jeans/breeches! As far as comfort and panty lines under white breeches.... I live in Florida so moisture wicking and comfort is a must. My favs are called "Lovepats" 92% DUPONT stretch nylon, 5% cotton 3% Lycra/spandex. They are thin like tights material. When I first saw them at an equine trade fair, I thought they were very different. I had not

I dont know the distance your horse weaves horizonally but, I had a weaver in front of the gate and in his stall. He would weave from left to right on his front hooves. He did not pace side to side in the stall. He had plenty of turnout. Highstrung nervous horse. I put car tires in front of the gate and two in the stall side by side. It distracted him physically and mentally. Although the tires were unsightly, he did not weave with them in place. I also cut down his carbohydrates.

Safety is the number one priority. The alternative is no fun, even death. You should enjoy riding the horse if not, he is not the horse for you. You both seem like you are "green". Get a horse you can enjoy that is more skilled then you are as a rider. It will open your eyes to so many possibilities :) Horse and rider fit are paramount if you want to accomplish anything in or out of the saddle. Other wise it is an accident waiting to happen. You have been lucky so far. I am predicting this

I think this is one of the reasons to have regulated humane slaughter houses for horses. People of all types own horses. Some can afford them, some not. What to do with older or unwanted horses when people cant afford or care for them anymore??? Not everyone is going to "rescue" these horses for retirement, or pay the vet to put them down and also pay the rendering company to pick them up. So, the result is take them out in the woods and have the neighboring "farmer" take care

I have had two mares go through colic surgery $3,000 each at Kansas State University Equine hospital ten years ago. Im sure the prices have gone way up. The actually surgery was only $300 it was all the after care that was expensive. One had impaction, the other a lipoma wrapped around her small colon. The lipoma caused three feet of dead colon that had to be removed. Her recovery was a week before she could be hauled home. Once home she unloaded and colicked two hours later. I hauled her back to