Training Saddlebreds?

Question

Why do saddlebreds lift there legs up when they have weights on and how does that training work??

Answer 1

all horses will lift higher with weights not just saddlebreds. horses naturally work against weight (unlike a human) in an effort to sling them off, they don't understand that it cant be done. many different breeds are worked in weights and chains, especially gaited horses. the weights and chains encourgage lift and leg action by irritating the horse and in some cases (when abused) actually bruise and sore the horse's legs so every time the chain hits it sends a jolt of pain up the leg (making the horse step higher to increase the time it takes for that foot to hit the ground and the pain to come). saddlebreds naturally lift, chains and weights only enhance whats natural.... they're not the cause of the lift. saddlebreds are built to carry themselves upright (deep sloping hocks, laid back shoulder, nech set high on the wither, sloping pasturns, sharp hip angle) and this causes the lift when you combine the hot, nervous nature and proud attitude of this breed

Answer 2

When you are walking in the mud, you have to jerk them out and because of the force of pulling them out in each step, you usualy end up "high stepping" through the mud. When you put weights around thier feet, they pick up with extra force to prevent from dragging thier feet. Saddlebred legs are set further forward on thier shoulder, as most high stepping breeds are, so they can realy pick thier knees up. A Quarter Horse, generaly has thier legs set further back in thier shoulder, so usualy they will only pick up at the lower leg, as if they were kicking at a fly with their front leg. Saddlebreds natuarly pick up thier front feet at the upper leg and shoulder, giving them more "knee action", as other horse generaly walk using thier entire leg in a more straight legged way. The training practice of weighting the feet is illegal in the arena, but it is a MUCH safer alternative, opposed to "clubbing" the foot as some call it, which causes extra strain to the pastern, and the joints. Some people use chemicals that they pour on the legs, so the horse lifts thier feet higher in pain. Often, this results in deterioration of the hair and skin. Although this is irrelavent to the question, some people put pins in the boots of jumping horses, to make them pick up thier feet extra high and realy tuck them under thier belly, so the horses legs hurt and they dont wanna hit the pole, or the pins will poke them harder. It is a cruel world. When using weighted boots, start off slowly, as it is quite the work for your horse. Some people say it is mean or cruel, but it is no different then the weighted bags people tye around thier ankles to work out. Hope this answers your question!

Answer 3

Duh!!!