LOCK ME PLEASE C:

[stirrupirons]

I'm totally late on this, haven't posted in forever here, but as a former horse owner I thought I'd just put my two cents in c:
@Arabesca: Like everyone else said, after two lessons you aren't ready to own a horse. I bought mine when I was eleven after I had been riding for six years, and I still could've used some more experience. Owning a horse is so much more than just riding. About 10% of my owning a horse was riding - 90% of the time I was taking care of him. Wait at least a few years until you start searching. My old instructor bought a pony off this girl who got him after a few lessons - the girl and her family had no idea how to take care of him and his pasture was literally their front yard. They didn't know how to feed him correctly, they didn't have any sort of shelter, and she would only ride if someone was leading her around. The pony was neglected and in poor health. I'm not saying this would happen to you, of course, but it is a HUGE responsibility. Plus it costs a lot to own a horse. If you board, you have to pay for it, and if you have some stables at your house you have to pay even more, what with upkeep and if you want to expand or build to accommodate your horse, there's that cost, too.

I'm going to call the barn tomorrow and book a lesson. I was going to this whole past month, but I've been super busy - my AP US History teacher decided that we have extremely difficult college level homework every single night. I still haven't done my homework for this weekend. Reading 11 pages of difficult stuff and taking notes. Ugh. ;-; I've decided not to decide what discipline I'm going to work at and eventually show in, I'm going to gain experience and knowledge in English first, then decide :3 I'm leaning towards dressage, though. Any dressage riders out there? I'll need some tips. xD
Also, since the only boots I have are NOT for riding, should I just go to Chick's and get some cheap paddock boots and half-chaps to start with, or should I just get rubber boots? I want to drive there tomorrow but my dad said all I need's rubber boots.

[Rosalind]

xD Ill take pictures when i can. Also, i need names for her, i want something curious cute and not normal. Her registered name is Starlight's Serenade.

Maybe you could look up what Starlight is in another language, that can be a really pretty and interesting name.

@monchele: I've really been leaning towards dressage as well! I don't have any specific dressage tips but you could mention to your instructor that's what you were leaning towards. I told my instructor and so we have been working on things more related to dressage versus related to jumping. I would also go ahead and get some paddock boots and half chaps. Riding is rubber boots really stinks and when you switch later it can mess you up a little bit.

[Toppyrocks]

Monchele- I ride dressage If perfecting things and being patient is your thing, that dressage would be good for you!
Paddock boots and half chaps would be better, because they have better grip, are more comfortable, last longer and you can use them in schooling shoes. Rubber boots don't allow you to bend your ankle properly. You could probably find books and half chaps for 100$, tops. Maybe less.

So now I decided that I have the time to give you all an update on me and Jesse.

Yesterday I went for my lease day, and my mom dropped me and left cause she had things she had to do and there was people at the barn. Well, there was people, but they left by the time I had Jesse tacked up. And then I went for his saddle, and it was gone. They'd taken it to the show that they all went to this weekend, and hadn't bothered to let me know or tell me what one to use instead. Grrr.... So I texted his owner and she took at least 45 minutes to reply. While I waited, I went to lunge Jesse first, cause I was planning on riding at least mostly bareback. Then I had to call my dad to come, because riding when no one else is at the barn isn't a smart idea. So I waited 20 minutes or so before he got there. I was getting more and more frustrated because it was my last lease day of the summer, and I had planned to have a nice ride, walk around outside, give Messy Jesse the bath that he needs, and spend time with him. Instead I was stuck waiting around for someone to come or an answer for the saddle. I didn't waste the time, though. I did some ground work with him. He's getting better all the time, I ended up being able to walk, jog, turn around and stop suddenly with him at my side, all with a good 4 or 5 feet of slack on the lunge line the whole time. The rest I had wound up in my hand. He has more respect for me now, which is always a good thing. So then my dad arrived, and I decided screw it, I'm just going to ride bareback. Of course, as soon as I got on, I finally got a text back telling me what saddle, but it was the one I hate and I didn't have much time left to mess around with saddles.

I think bareback helped with my pushing with my seat issue, which is what I wanted. My dad took photos too, and some video We went outside after for some nice outdoor pics. I'll post some if I get the chance.

I think I've figured part of my seat problem out. After seeing my bareback pics, I realized that I dont have my calf and heels far enough back when I am just sitting naturally on his back with no saddle or stirrups to change my position, and so maybe that's upsetting my balance. I'm going to do more bareback from now on to try and fix all that.

Here's the other news:

@Hano- Yes, we will be doing more shows We are going to a schooling flat-class show the end of this month, and then we are going to start doing some dressage shows later in the fall or in the winter. I've been talking to my trainers, deciding where to go from here, and I'm wanting to get more lessons once I get a job, work more on dressage and be able to show Level 1 this year. I'm really looking forwards to it!

I also went all day Friday to an arab show to watch, take pics and help out my stable mates. It was fun, but really, really slow. And I have also decided that I don't want to participate in in-hand halter classes, at least not for arabians. I did not like what I saw.

[stirrupirons]

@Rosalind & Toppyrocks - Thank you! I found a pair of cheap TuffRider paddock boots for $28.99 and a pair of Dublin half-chaps for $32.49. Now to convince my dad I'll actually need them for riding, since he's so against spending and thinks he's so right when it comes to riding >_>

[Dolphinlover~]

Wow clearly I missed a lot xD I read everyone's posts and I will try to respond if I get time.

I had an outstanding lesson today. I had a semi-private lesson with, R, the newest girl that rides with my trainer. She is a year younger than me and super nice. She owns her own horse Ruby, and her mom owns three more on their own farm o.0 She is no spoiled at all and doesn't brag about it -- which I like a lot. Anways, she rode Jewel today and I was obviously on the best horse in the world, Mulligan <3 It was gloomy outside but my trainer wanted us to ride in the big outdoor even though it looked like it was going to rain. It ended up misting/drizzle but it felt nice and the horses didn't mind. Trotting went well, I got Mulligan into a very nice hunter frame and got him to lower his head and come under me nicely :3 Then we cantered and the transitions were flawless. Mulligan stepped right into the canter from a walk, that's my man (:

After all of the flatwork we jumpped. First we trotted an X, which was super! Sometimes when I trot jumps on Mully we either end up chipping from not enough leg or cantering right from the start with too much leg xD This time we went almost right to the base without cantering but got a great distance and my trainer was super pleased. We trotted it a few more times with the same good results. Then my trainer rasied it to a small vertical, about 2'3". We cantered that, and once again awesome results. My trainer kept saying that I was doing an awesome job. Then she raised it to a 2'9" vertical and we got an awesome distance! Mulligan was very responsive today which was great ;D Then she had us jump the outside line to the vertical. We didn't have enough impulse and forwardness to the first jump so we chipped, and turned around to do it again. It was perfect the second time around, which was good :3 Then the last thing my trainer had us do was canter the outside line (2'6"), and she raised the second jump to a 2'9" oxer, to another oxer. This oxer though was big. And I mean big. I would say it very well could have been 3' xD We got 6 strides in the outside line instead of 5, but my trainer had no problem with that because we still got good distances and that was better than gunning him to the last fence for the 5 strides and get a huge distance. Then jumping the big oxer was outstanding! I gave Mulligan more leg to get him moving more forward and infront of me and bam -- perfect distance. My trainer was very pleased. She even said that that oxer was bigger than we normally jump, which normal is now 2'9" for Mully and I. She said she was very happy because she saw that I knew I needed more from Mulligan to make it over the oxer and I gave him the support he needed.

We have another lesson on Thursday before our out of barn show this Saturday. I am so excited and I feel very prepared for it too. I found out the Mully's owner is also riding him in the show (: I can't wait to see her again since she is super nice. That means we can't be doing the same division, and Mully's owner also shows at 2'6" so that means most likely one of us will be doing 2'9"! Well I can't wait to see what division my trainer is having us do. Awesome lesson today and I am so happy.

[classi]

I know I'm double posting... oh well. I'm really tired. xD
Pictures first! Click on Riley to see them all. Password is 'raindrop' as always.



So now for the very detailed novel of our lesson.
Riley is such a saint. I have no idea how he put up with me, especially at the canter.
So I got on him and walked around for a while. He is very different from any horses I have ridden. He is really sensitive, and it felt really nice bending him in the corners and pushing him over with my leg. I haven't ridden a horse that responsive before, even Rhumba, so it felt really cool and a bit new, even though I knew how to bend.
Well, when we finally started trotting, I was in for a surprise. Riley has an extremely bouncy hunter trot. He moves his head quite a bit, or at least it felt like he was, so I had to trot for a while. He kept on kind of bouncing me out of the saddle, but near the end I got used to it.
He also responds to half halts very well. I just pull back the outside rein a little, and he slows.
Anyways, I'll have to get used to his trot... but I have time. Lots of time. And near the end I even felt a little more comfortable.
So we trotted a little, and every time it was a little better.
Also, just a little... I don't know. But Riley isn't lazy at all. I have to kick him a bit to get him to trot, but after that he's fine. I also have to pull back quite hard to stop/slow him but oh well.
So, then we moved on to cantering. Well, I asked him and he didn't canter, and then my new instructor came over and talked to me about the 'new' way of asking for a canter. You don't kick... you bend the horse to the inside, and push in and up with your outside leg. So I went back to the rail and got an epic transition... but a wrong lead. So we trotted and then cantered again. And we had a nice little canter for about three seconds, until I lost my left stirrup. So then I squeezed him in an attempt to stay on, because his canter is very different, and then he sped up, and then I nearly lost my right stirrup, so then I was squeezing him and he sped up some more because he's a really good boy, and then I finally got my stirrup back and half halted, but by then I was actually scared so I was squeezing him, so poor Riley just sped up a little. So then my instructor yelled "WALK!" and I had to leeeean back and pull on the reins like my life depended on it. And then Riley walked.
Oh geez that horse is a saint. Any other horse would've thrown its head around, bucked, shied, whatnot but Riley just kept going and tried to listen to me even though I was telling him all sorts of crazy things. He is SUCH a good horse. He didn't get mad at me at all. Even Winnie would've been pretty angry.
So we trotted around and Riley got a little fast because I was tense, but then I relaxed and half halted and he LISTENED to me. Oh gosh. After a horrible cantering session, he still listened to me half halting him. I love him so much.
So we trotted around and I felt a bit more comfortable at the trot. Yay!
Also, everyone was talking about how good we are for each other. My new instructor, M, was telling everyone that she really liked me on Riley. My friend in the lesson said I looked awesome on him. S said that he's perfect for me and that I looked great. A bunch of people were watching me ride and said that Riley and I were meant for each other.
Poor guy, he was so hot. I spent a really long time washing him, especially on those veins that cool them down. And I think I hugged him a million times!
Also, I'm going to browse on Smartpak and order his stuff now because our half lease is now official!
I have to get a bridle, a bit, a martingale, boots... and I think some other stuff. But I want to get some hoof oil and I want to get him a halter and lead rope too, because he doesn't have one.
See, at my barn, there's a bunch of halters, lead ropes, and girths that everyone uses. No horse really has 'their own'. But I want Riley to have his own!
Also, about the bridle/martingale/boots... if I ever get my own horse, and it isn't Riley, then I'll just use the same bridle/martingale/boots on my horse. So I'm fine with getting that stuff. (:

I love Riley so much. <3

For Toppy. :3

@ Rowdy; I meant to reply to you earlier, sorry! Oh goodness, that's not good... I hope you feel better soon! I guess you feel alright now, but I imagine that waking up in a hospital with no clue was quite... surprising.

@ Dolphin; You and Mully are on a roll!
3 FEET? Geez, girl, that is amazing. A-maz-ing.
I hope you get to show at 2'9"! That would be so awesome, and no matter what level you will have to get us some pictures or videos.
I have to say this again- you and Mully are perfect for each other. Maybe he can even jump 3'6"?
I remember when you were jumping 2'3" on Woody... that was so long ago...

[Toppyrocks]

Rain, I still can't find the link! It's in that post, right? My computer is showing now link or picture or anything, just your text.


Guys, I feel like a really ungrateful person right now. And really jealous and frustrated. :(

[OneRowdyNight]

Any tips on convincing Jessy that I'm fine to ride Sonoma once the doctors clear me to ride? Becausse she *doesn't* want me on that horse now.. :\

[classi]

@ Toppy; Hmm... well, here's the link.

@ Rowdy; I'm sorry, I don't have any advice. Someone else might, though.

[Rosalind]

@Dolphinlover~: Congrats on a wonderful lesson!

@Toppy: What's wrong dear? :c

@Rowdy: I missed your post, what happened?! D: