Do You Ride Horses? V.4

[LissaJo]

So I've been working with horses for the past six months as a stable hand at a nice show barn and I resisted taking lessons for a long time because the shifts are short and I don't get many of them, but the longer I'm out of college the more it's becoming apparent that I'm not going to get a job in the field I majored in (editing--every single job requires 3-5 years of experience and I don't have the energy for a job AND an internship for that long). Seeing as I already have a barn job, I think it might actually be more realistic to pursue a career with horses?

That being said, I know I'm not going to be taken very seriously if I don't ride, so I'm starting lessons in a couple weeks! I'm wary about spending so much when I have loans/insurance to pay but I'm still really excited. I also saw another barn hiring while I was looking for a lesson barn, so I applied there and hopefully I'll have two barn jobs on my resume + more hours.

So this is all just a really roundabout way of saying, what else can I do to further a horse career without going back to school/dropping huge amounts of money in general? I like being a stable hand, but I want to do more eventually--specifically I'd love to train horses, but I also wouldn't mind farrier work if my body can handle it (fibromyalgia and carpal tunnel kind of make it intimidating). My barn's farrier was working the other day and I was tempted to ask him if he does apprenticeships, but figured I should probably wait and see if I get hired at this other barn before trying to take something else on. Any advice?

Being successful in the horse world is difficult.. if you like stable work, you could looking for a working student position.. many include housing, a small stipend, lessons, and even the opportunity to show or train if desired. (Yardandgroom.com is a good place to look for positions or used to be)

theres plenty of non riding positions as well.. breeding operations, grooming, etc

Farrier work is difficult on the body (but if you can handle it and learn well, you can make a good living and set your own hours/amount of clients)

[L!lly]

hello! i'm back and i'm asking for more advice!

so i am currently looking at buying a saddle (either an all purpose or a close contact, both english btw) and as it is a big financial commitment, i was wondering if anyone has any brands they recommend, or any brands that they don't recommend. any information is greatly appreciated!

have a nice day <3

[Brynmala]

so i am currently looking at buying a saddle (either an all purpose or a close contact, both english btw) and as it is a big financial commitment, i was wondering if anyone has any brands they recommend, or any brands that they don't recommend. any information is greatly appreciated!

You can't just buy an English saddle and expect it to fit a horse, you buy the saddle that fits the horse as decided by a reputable qualified saddle fitter, regardless of what make it is. They MUST be fitted to a specific horse, and checked and corrected every 6 months for the first couple of years, and every year after that, by a qualified saddle fitter. If you don't do this you are going to seriously damage the horse's back leaving it in pain, and potentially lining yourself up for a very bad accident when the horse objects to the pain. You can't usually swap an English saddle between horses either, for the same reasons. You might be able to chuck any old western saddle on a horse, but you certainly can't do this with an English one.... please listen to a British person on the matter!!

[sunny*days*ahead]

^Can't say I quite agree wholly with you there, Brynmala.
I agree that the saddle needs to fit the horse, but the reason certain brands are more popular (or more expensive!) is because of the fit. It's safe to say a more luxurious brand will fit a horse better than a cheaper brand, because of the material and skill that went into making it. Not by any means saying it will be a perfect fit! Or that cheaper brands don't fit! (:
Personally, it's a bit extreme for me to take my saddle/horse to a "qualified saddle fitter" every year, especially if my horse is at a steady weight/muscling and not showing any signs of improper fit. You can easily look on youtube or other internet sources though, if you want to get the general idea of how to fit a saddle to your horse! I use the pipecleaner method. (;
Also I just want to say, fitting a western saddle is of the same importance as fitting an English one.

But back to the original question - I'd visit a local barn or some equestrian friends and see what brands they prefer! Horse people generally love to share their preferences - hence why we have this thread! ;P My all-purpose english saddle is a bit out of date, no brand, but I can fit it properly to my horse using a lifter. There's hope for the oddly shaped horse/slightly misfitting saddle! C:

Sorry I can't be of more help in the brand department! Do you have any suggestions, Brynmala?

[Brynmala]

In the UK a saddle fitter comes out to the horse usually, which is not at all impractical. I'd still completely disagree that an expensive saddle is going to be 'better' than a cheaper one. If it doesn't fit it doesn't fit. My horse has a pretty cheap synthetic Thorogood, which is checked every year. Given the way he changes (he'll be 30 this year, but still in light work) it could really do with checking twice. He tells me when it is wrong and needs doing. With his previous owner this same horse was fitted for a saddle aged 5 - the only saddle that fitted him cost over £1000 - a lovely Dever. He still had it when he came to me aged 20, and it had never been looked at. His previous owner had all sorts of issues with him, and so did I initially which ultimately came down to a sore back. A series of chiropractor visits (and yes, do that before you get the saddler out too, it really does make a difference. The whole shape of his back visibly changed during the first visit) and a new saddle and he was like a new horse.

Interchangeable gullets and a CAIR system, if the horse will stand it, will make a saddle more versatile but padding underneath is never a substitute for proper and regular fitting.

[MoonLesbian]

Had my first lesson today! Still riding the high; I've been waiting almost 20 years for this xD I don't know what's usual, but I got to do sitting and posting trot, learned 2 point, and went over some ground poles--a lot more than I was expecting to get done in one hour, but it felt good! I already feel more equipped to own a horse once I'm more financially stable <3 I don't know when my next lesson will be yet because I've yet to get my work schedule for March but I'm going to book one as soon as I do! I don't have any questions this time, just had to share because I'm so excited haha

[dyingdinorat]

whoaaa it's been 3 years since i posted here!! still been following though lol <3
i haven't exactly updated anything on my riding, last time i posted i thought i could ride a mini pony so that's kinda wack
but ah anyways! so i was going to start barrel racing, and was already training w/ a 19 y/o aqha gelding named cash! however,, due to issues he was having, the lease fell through. so, i decided to chase an older dream of mine to start western dressage! when i went on monday, i wanted to ride english though, and i've only ridden english 2 times (3 now with that lesson). we learned 20 m circles at w/t/c, and long story short i have chosen to dedicate to english dressage rather than western!! i'm now riding mystery, a gelding who i'm prettyy sure is some draft paint mix (my friend thinks perch x paint, not sure though). it's been super cool so far, can't wait for the next lesson!!

[MoonLesbian]

Tips for cantering? I tried it at my second lesson today (my instructor wants to fast-track me because I have really good balance and she thinks I can handle it) but I fell off twice! Not the end of the world, just some bruising and I know you can't ride without being prepared to fall, but I'd rather it not happen again if I can help it xD I know I'm supposed to lean back, but I can't seem to do that? I don't know if there's a better position for my legs to be in or what but I just keep going over the horse's neck sldjgsgs

[Autvmn]

Tips for cantering? I tried it at my second lesson today (my instructor wants to fast-track me because I have really good balance and she thinks I can handle it) but I fell off twice! Not the end of the world, just some bruising and I know you can't ride without being prepared to fall, but I'd rather it not happen again if I can help it xD I know I'm supposed to lean back, but I can't seem to do that? I don't know if there's a better position for my legs to be in or what but I just keep going over the horse's neck sldjgsgs

Think about cantering as sitting back on your pockets (as if you were wearing jeans) and rocking with the motion of the horse. keep your legs underneath you not too far forward, not too far back, heels down. relax! learning to canter is always tricky but you'll get there! :D

[MoonLesbian]

Think about cantering as sitting back on your pockets (as if you were wearing jeans) and rocking with the motion of the horse. keep your legs underneath you not too far forward, not too far back, heels down. relax! learning to canter is always tricky but you'll get there!

The jean pockets thing is exactly how my instructor phrased it lol! I thought I was doing that but I might not have been far enough back. I am still having trouble with my heels though so that probably didn't help! I've been doing stretches and flexing my feet a lot but for some reason I just don't seem like I have the same flexibility in the saddle? I think it's a matter of balancing keeping my heels down and keeping the balls of my feet on the stirrups; I'm pretty sure every time I fix one of those things I lose the other xD