LOCK ME PLEASE C:

[Actually.A.Herondale]

My mom is really confusing...First she said that once I'm 16, I can have my own horse. Then my instructor tells her that at my level of riding, it's a shame I don't have on already. So my mom asked my other cousin who rides horses if she'll share one with me, but she can't, because she's going to europe this summer. So then it gets quiet, and then I tell her we could try to lease from the barn. It's about 800 dollars. She thinks about it. Then says I can't lease a horse until I'm 16. Which is it? Own a horse, or lease? Make up your mind, mom!
Not to mention, I just KNOW someone is going to ruin the horse I ride, Cowboy. I know it. The other people who are at the barn are way below me in riding levels, and they all want to ride Cowboy for the show ((Well, some of them used him last time, but still)) and NONE of them are allowed to take lessons on him yet, and NONE of them know how to control Cowboy. He's a big horse, he gets excited, and if you don't tell him where to go, he's going to not turn the barrel. I got 1st place with him on clover, speed, and dash, when everyone else who rode him for those got 3rd, 4th, and 5th, maybe second, I don't know. I know how he thinks, and how to keep him under control. They don't. But everyone wants to ride him, because he's the fastest horse in the barn. The other horses just canter, and you have to kick them. With Cowboy, it's hard to keep him at a canter. He sees the barrels, he's hot and ready to run.
I don't want them to ruin him like they did with Nilla. Apparently, Nilla was the fastest horse last year. This year, they can barely get him to keep a slow canter around it. It slows to a trot. He learned all the newbie tricks.

One girl tried riding Cowboy (first time ever that she was on him) during teh show, and he totally missed the turn, and she said "I'm not riding him again. I felt like I was going to fall off."
Well, duh. There is a reason Cowboy needs the breast strap, and a reason he needs ADVANCED riders, not beginners, on him.
Then, I went on a trail with him. He was in the front, and he was great. A little nervous about a bike, and not very happy with a little mud puddle, but totally controlable and very well behaved and ready to lead. Then someone else rode him on a trail, and said "He's not good on the trail. As soon as we got around the last turn, he wanted to rush back to the barn."
-_- all horses will do that. They all want to go back and eat, or just stand there. You just don't know Cowboy or how to control him. If you can't control him, don't ride him. I was riding him two days after he got to the barn. I ride him once a week. I have ridden him once a week for a few months now. He's a good boy. He's sweet, well behaved, smart, and so much fun to ride.
But other students are going to ruin him. Cowboy is NOT a beginner horse. He is NOT for people who can't be firm, and NOT for lazy riders. When you're leaning back and have a bubble of fat an inch over the back of the saddle, you need to get off of him, because he's like my baby. I LOVE him. Get your fat a** off him, before you ruin a perfectly good horse.


Sorry for the rant. I'm just annoyed that he's a barn horse and that I just found out you can't lease unless you have your own tack, your own grooming kit, and are taking and paying for lessons as well as paying for leasing. It's already 700 dollars a month to take lessons once a week......

[scene_kid]

Well have you ever heard of "half halts" that's when you pull back on the reins just a little bit less then a full stop because sometimes when you pull back like you trying to stop the horse from going fast they can just grab hold of the bit and take off again and keep in mind if your in a tug'o'war contest with a horse or even a pony I think you can guess who would win that one....half halts tell the horse that you are serious but your not aggravating the horse by constantly pulling. Another thing you could do is try and 'bend' the horse depending on what lead your horse or pony is on thats the way you 'bend' them...unless of course the horse doesnt really know what that is then sometimes that just makes them go faster anyway. Or if its a really big problem I suggest you lunge your horse before you him or her to get an bucks or major energy he has out hope it helps if you have more questions feel free to p.m. me

If you ride stallions, Arabs etc I suggest you learn a true half halt. And I don't get how a horse that is a bit of a puller relates to bucking, horses that are kept in alot can have this problem. Bending will only be helped with a real half halt not pulling on both reins.

**** edit *****
@hunter, I can understand that your are annoyed but $800 is a heck of alot and a horse is even more to buy. Also do you know anything about the current economic status?! No-one has much spare money. Btw $700 for 4 lessons!!!!! That's beyond belief!!! If you don't trust the Instrucors to be sensible with who they let ride cowboy then why go? If they are putting inexperienced riders on a horse then it can be dangerous so I doupt they will do that.

[psychodrama]

Who rides English? I do. I'm only a intermediate rider (as of last year, when I last rode) but right now, English riding sounds cool for an intermediate rider.
Otherwise, my grandmother owns a horse farm (where I ride) and I have a horse, Sam's Blazing Star, or Sissy. She has the same Date Of Birth (yes, really.)

I wanted to know this: What do you do in English? Meaning, what activites do you do in English?

I ride English. And I do Showjumping,Cross Country and Dressage in english. There are OTHER things to do

[Actually.A.Herondale]

Who rides English? I do. I'm only a intermediate rider (as of last year, when I last rode) but right now, English riding sounds cool for an intermediate rider.
Otherwise, my grandmother owns a horse farm (where I ride) and I have a horse, Sam's Blazing Star, or Sissy. She has the same Date Of Birth (yes, really.)

I wanted to know this: What do you do in English? Meaning, what activites do you do in English?

I ride English. And I do Showjumping,Cross Country and Dressage in english. There are OTHER things to do

Most people here ride English. On the thread, AND where I live. Kinda makes me wonder why I still post here when I ride western....
I guess just knowing there are people who still ride horses and don't sit there with perfume, drugs, and alcohol all day like most kids in my school...

[HorseLover!]

I need some help!

On Saturday- i rode Bloo, and i fell off twice. One in cantering and one in jumping.

Cantering fall;

Me and Bloo had just done a circle in trot and we got to the corner and we took a canter, we had to do 2 circles, i did one and could feel her fighting, so i kept contact on the reins and then it happened, she sped up fought with me like her life depended on it, i pulled her for the circle and she decided she was going to go for the jump that was around 3ft? Now, Bloo has never jumped 3ft and neither have i, also Emily was sat on the jump, i pulled her in the other direction has hard as i could but it was no use, at the last second at a full force gallop she turned on a penny, and i went flying, he stopped dead and i face planted the floor, after i got back on and we just about completed the canter and she was still fighting.

Jumping Fall;

Me and Bloo had been doing a few small jumps and poles, and i could feel her veering to one side, so i did small jumps to correct this, she sorted her self out was jumping them nicely, so we put it up to a pretty big straight, i trotted a circle and then took a canter at the corner, i let her see the jump and kept her in the middle, until the last second, where she decided she was going to veer towards the wall, as we jumped it my whole foot caught the jump wing and pulled my foot back, i let out a small ouch and Bloo bolted at the jump wing falling, he bolted into the back of the ride and into the wall i went as she stopped dead, i fell under one of the horses who then proceeded to kick me in the head, luckily it was lightly.

Now here's the bit i need help with.

Was this my fault? And what can i do to make sure this doesn't happen again?

Thank you for reading.

[Actually.A.Herondale]

I need some help!

On Saturday- i rode Bloo, and i fell off twice. One in cantering and one in jumping.

Cantering fall;

Me and Bloo had just done a circle in trot and we got to the corner and we took a canter, we had to do 2 circles, i did one and could feel her fighting, so i kept contact on the reins and then it happened, she sped up fought with me like her life depended on it, i pulled her for the circle and she decided she was going to go for the jump that was around 3ft? Now, Bloo has never jumped 3ft and neither have i, also Emily was sat on the jump, i pulled her in the other direction has hard as i could but it was no use, at the last second at a full force gallop she turned on a penny, and i went flying, he stopped dead and i face planted the floor, after i got back on and we just about completed the canter and she was still fighting.

Jumping Fall;

Me and Bloo had been doing a few small jumps and poles, and i could feel her veering to one side, so i did small jumps to correct this, she sorted her self out was jumping them nicely, so we put it up to a pretty big straight, i trotted a circle and then took a canter at the corner, i let her see the jump and kept her in the middle, until the last second, where she decided she was going to veer towards the wall, as we jumped it my whole foot caught the jump wing and pulled my foot back, i let out a small ouch and Bloo bolted at the jump wing falling, he bolted into the back of the ride and into the wall i went as she stopped dead, i fell under one of the horses who then proceeded to kick me in the head, luckily it was lightly.

Now here's the bit i need help with.

Was this my fault? And what can i do to make sure this doesn't happen again?

Thank you for reading.

If she was tossing her head, maybe you had the reins too tight, or maybe she needs to have her teeth done. Sharp teeth can lead horses to be like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIVXoi249bw

[scene_kid]

@horselover. I would need a video to watch to see, but from what you have said I can tell one problem. Don't just pull the rein for a turn use your legs too. Nothing should just be done with your hands you need your seat and legs for it to be done well, even if you use one more than the other you need them all especially if a horse is being naughty and ignores the one.

@hunter. That is one very extreme case

[MochaTheLlama]

Who rides English? I do. I'm only a intermediate rider (as of last year, when I last rode) but right now, English riding sounds cool for an intermediate rider.
Otherwise, my grandmother owns a horse farm (where I ride) and I have a horse, Sam's Blazing Star, or Sissy. She has the same Date Of Birth (yes, really.)

I wanted to know this: What do you do in English? Meaning, what activites do you do in English?

I ride English. And I do Showjumping,Cross Country and Dressage in english. There are OTHER things to do

Most people here ride English. On the thread, AND where I live. Kinda makes me wonder why I still post here when I ride western....
I guess just knowing there are people who still ride horses and don't sit there with perfume, drugs, and alcohol all day like most kids in my school...

It shouldn't matter what discipline you ride when posting on the thread, we're all posting about the same thing; Our love of horses!

[Typical Aquarius]

Most people here ride English. On the thread, AND where I live. Kinda makes me wonder why I still post here when I ride western....
I guess just knowing there are people who still ride horses and don't sit there with perfume, drugs, and alcohol all day like most kids in my school...

Alot of people on here actually ride western, or do natural horsemanship. I do all of it: horsemanship, western, and English, so you're definitely not alone in the western department <3

[Chloe043]

Well have you ever heard of "half halts" that's when you pull back on the reins just a little bit less then a full stop because sometimes when you pull back like you trying to stop the horse from going fast they can just grab hold of the bit and take off again and keep in mind if your in a tug'o'war contest with a horse or even a pony I think you can guess who would win that one....half halts tell the horse that you are serious but your not aggravating the horse by constantly pulling. Another thing you could do is try and 'bend' the horse depending on what lead your horse or pony is on thats the way you 'bend' them...unless of course the horse doesnt really know what that is then sometimes that just makes them go faster anyway. Or if its a really big problem I suggest you lunge your horse before you him or her to get an bucks or major energy he has out hope it helps if you have more questions feel free to p.m. me

If you ride stallions, Arabs etc I suggest you learn a true half halt. And I don't get how a horse that is a bit of a puller relates to bucking, horses that are kept in alot can have this problem. Bending will only be helped with a real half halt not pulling on both reins.

**** edit *****
@hunter, I can understand that your are annoyed but $800 is a heck of alot and a horse is even more to buy. Also do you know anything about the current economic status?! No-one has much spare money. Btw $700 for 4 lessons!!!!! That's beyond belief!!! If you don't trust the Instrucors to be sensible with who they let ride cowboy then why go? If they are putting inexperienced riders on a horse then it can be dangerous so I doupt they will do that.

If she is such a good rider she can get a non dangerous but potentially talented horse with training(in the USA) for $800 I got my 12 yr old last year as a fully broke BEAUTIFULL palomino QH that sat for 3yrs but road out perfect for the 1st time in forever on a 100F summer day and i got him for $900. He has learned to jump, neck rein, half @** barral race, half @** rein and he has always been AMAZING on the trails and thats not even a year of training into him. I also got my pony as a 2yr old stud colt w/ no training(He excepted a halter and sorta got the concept of leading, that was it.) for $100 now at 5yrs old he's a trailing dream and 4yr olds can get on him and ride him around all by themselves and has been used as a childrens lesson horse. He even free jumps over 3ft when he's in shape. With a little training, you can make a little money go a long way. But I agree on the prices WOWY!! I'm glad iv'e never had to take a lesson in my life! Jeez!