LOCK ME PLEASE C:

[Hanoverian]

Oh, Sadie, Please don't quit! I always read your posts although I don't always get the chance to reply/know how to reply. I love hearing about all of the horses in your life - from Bronson to Rez - and I really hope that you can get Bronson back. You're an incredibly strong person to have put up with Darla, to deal with Bronson leaving, and to still be able to move on... Although sometimes your posts won't get replied to due to time reasons, please don't feel ignored, I know that I'm not alone in saying that I'd miss you. <3

And that's cool that you got to play with Henhen. C: He really loved you. We don't have a roundpen, though, sadly. I really want to try join up but it's not really possible without a roundpen...

Creepy dream, too. I really hope that it's not true. Please, please, PLEASE call Bronson's owner. What's the worst thing that could happen? Be persistent, leave messages, voicemails, whatever - but don't give up on him. Don't give up on FINDING him.

[Sadie~Bronson~252]

@Hano, don't worry, I'm not quitting, not really. I can't 'quit', not really, not until I find Bronson. But it's just so hard- I have to call her place of work, only I don't get home until about a half hour before they close- maybe even later, and they're not open on weekends. I then sound like an idiot asking for her by her first name only because I don't have any further information even though I've talked to her twice. The last time I tried, She wasn't there, and I left my number with the receptionist, and she never called back. Or maybe she did- I wasn't home for most of July, so if she called, I wouldn't have been able to answer, which would have left my mom to answer, and she would NOT have answered. Probably wouldn't have even told me that she'd called. It tried asking her last night if we could stop back in at the office on our way into town, and she just blew me off, saying no, that he's probably nothing special and 'just a horse', and that Darla had probably already told them horrible things about me. (which I wouldn't put past her, but if that's true, I could probably KILL her reputation in revenge. Not like I'd actually do that, but if the reason that Bronson's owner isn't calling me back is because of Darla lying about me... I might have a few things to say.)
But I will try, even though it probably won't work. I know I won't be able to do much with Rez until I find him.

And I guess I had to put up with Darla- if I hadn't, how else would I have found Bronson? I wouldn't have. Maybe... maybe that would have been better.

The creepiest part of the dream is that when they have real people in them, they come true in some way. I've foreseen most of the things that happened at my old barn, including the auction, breaking my arm, and just generally things falling apart. So I may not find Bronson out by Rez, but he probably won't be the same horse when I do find him.

We don't have a roundpen either, so I actually did join up in the smaller corral, which was maybe... 100 by 80? Or smaller. I'm not sure. I used one of the ponies for it. He got a bit confused in the corners, but it worked. So if you have a smaller area like that, you could try it. And it's funny- all the times I played with Henry- and the others, like when I rode Charlotte (Darla's mare, bit of a Spaz) bareback and bridleless out in the pasture, no one else was home, since she'd had to leave and left me there on my own. I never got to do anything fun while they were there- too busy working.

And it's not that I feel ignored, it's just... a lot of things, really. Stuff that happens way to often to me, like being passed over in conversation. I should be used to it. I'm okay with being ignored, actually. I just don't know when to announce that it seems like I am.

@Mr.Milo, yeah, you're right, I am at a better barn. But they also still exist, and I'd like to be able to know that they really know I'm gone. I'm working on forgetting it, believe me.

[classi]

Sadie, I would reply but I barely have any time right now.

Oh my goodness, wonderful lesson on Riley! From his crazy almost bucking spook to our beautiful canter... I'll write in detail tomorrow morning.

[L O K I]

Hi, im 12cj3

Im new to this thread. Well, I think I posted ages ago on here before but that was a while back.
I love horses, and am 100% horse mad. Sadly, I am horseless, but I hope to get one one day. I do juinor staff on sunday at the riding school from 7.00 to 5.00 and have a lesson inbetween and on saturday I ride with my neighbours. My neighbours ( who are like the horse whisperers ) are very commited horse owners who keep there horses at the local paddock, which are only just down the road from us. They arnet only great owners to there horses, but they look after other people horses because there real owners are to lazy and uncommited to do it themselves. Because they look after other peoples horses they are allowed to use the horses for anything they want, so they give me " lessons " on other people ponys. I have only been riding for 3 years, so I probbaly wont know as much as you guys, but hopefully you will be able to help me out with any horsey questions I have.

[Toppyrocks]

Guuyyyysssss.... September sucks. Know why? It means school. Gahhh school is lammmmeeeee. I started yesterday and had my first full day today and UGH. That place is like a TRAP. But I did meet a guy who's from Brazil on exchange and he's kinda cute ;) Lol hahahahaha. Toppy is hardly ever girly like that. She must be very tired...

ANYWAYS. On to horse stuff.
I had my lesson today, and like usually it was hard work, but things are coming along nicely :) I have to swap the bit back to the one we had a few weeks ago because he was LEANING like you wouldn't believe on my hands. But I had him moving nicely and we even got a coupla right lead walk-canter transitions awesomely! So that's a nice improvement.


@Sadie- in my family, I have to practically yell to stop from being interrupted at family dinners. Like talk really loudly and then glare at people if they interrupt me and just keep talking really loudly till they shut their mouth so I can get a single sentance in. Otherwise I just get talked all over and never get a word in edgewise. So I know what ignored's like. So I'll watch your back ;)

That is a creepy dream. Thankfully I don't have dreams as vivid as that (scratch that, I had a serious of very vivid dreams about a person that I regret something about). But I hope very much so that you find your Bronson. Here's your smack upside the head to start calling her- *smack!*

@12- welcome to the nut house, my friend! Glad to have you here :) I, too, am horseless. Many of us our. That doesn't stop us from being a handful of crazy horse nuts, though.

@Rain- Good lessons are good!

@Flitter- seriously, girl, it's what we're here for :) -Insert cheesy grin here-

@Rowdy- Sounds like you gave Rowdy a real run for his money after that little stunt. I would've been pretty ticked at Jesse if he pulled something like that. Luckily I don't think he even knows how to kick. He is just that naive.

@Hano- That sucks about your lesson. Savour the good weather while you can, though! We are shockingly still with blue skies. *Knock on wood* Once we get the first rain of September it kinda socks in and then that's it for nice sunny days till, hmm, June. And our summer started late, we didn't have real summer weather till mid-end July. That's what sucks about Canada- we do get nice weather, but since we are farther north in the hemisphere we tend to have longer winters. Plus more drastic sunset/sunrise changes. We have very lovely summer days of sunrise at about 5:30 and sunset about 9:00, but then in the winter it's completely the other way with 7:00 sunrises and 5:00ish sunsets. Makes for gloomy weather.

[classi]

I got cantering clips from my lesson, so I'll upload those soon.

Well, the lesson started off from the wrong foot. I forgot which direction to put polo wraps on, so I re-rolled them about three times. So, as a result, I was a little late for my lesson. Then, they weren't wrapped tight enough, so my instructor had me get off, take them off, and re=roll them. So, when I was re-rolling them, they weren't tight enough. So I had to undo my roll, and re-roll that.
So then I re-did the polo wrap, because M put one on for me as an example, and then she came back and said "Good job Rain! It looks almost exactly like mine! Great job!" She rarely ever gives compliments to students, but on the ground she does give a few if the student deserves them. However, in the saddle she never gives compliments to you. She only tells the parents. Anyways...
So I was walking on Riley, and keep in mind that we were in a different ring. This one was much smaller. I have been riding in this ring for 2 and a half years, so I was much more comfortable in this ring, even if Riley wasn't.
My friend's half-lease pony, who was acting up, was being lunged in the round pen right next to the arena. The pony slammed herself against the fence (it was just loud, she wasn't hurt) and that scared the crap out of Riley. He took off and threw his head low. I felt him kind of scrunch up his back end, but I just pulled his head up so that he couldn't buck. He did a few itty bitty bucks because I had his head up about three times, and then he bolted. It was almost a gallop, but he turned back to a good boy and slowed down to a fast canter. So then I circled him a few times and he trotted, then walked. And of course, I patted him because he listened to me.
I still love him so much.
So then the lesson started. His trot is still new, but I felt much more comfortable at the trot today. At first, he took forever to get to trot, but then the second time he trotted almost right away.
Then we cantered. Well, the first time it was bad. I got him to canter after a very long time, and then I lost my stirrup, but I slowed him down right away. The next time was so much better! He cantered right away, I went into half seat, and we kept a nice slow canter the whole time. AND I slowed him down right away. The other direction was the same. (:
I think that transitions were slow at first because Riley has never really been in a ring that small.
After the lesson, M told my mom that I'm going to be really good. o.o She said that she really liked how I was respectful and obedient, and how I listened to what she said and tried my hardest to do my best. That makes me super happy, because M is a very good instructor.
Also, I asked a girl who's been at my farm for 9 years, how high Riley can jump. She said that he can jump 3ft courses at the highest, but that he can jump over that if it's just a single fence.
Needless to say, I'll be riding him for a very long time! Which I am super happy about. (:
So, yes. That was my lesson. (:

[DraftHorseLover]

@ Rain ~~ Thats amazing, it sounds like your building up a friendship with Riley, and he'll listen to you no matter what, and can't wait to see your videos! xD

[Hime]

I'd like some opinions on boarding your horse vs it being at home? I've been thinking about when I get another horse and I'm stuck between the two. >_< Boarding at the farm I'm taking lessons at would be really awesome; they're super nice people, there's no barn drama, the horses are really well cared for, and the facilities? Amazing. Trails, an indoor arena, humongous pastures, wash stalls, a lounge, etc. Plus I would know that when I'm at school, my horse would be taken care of. The only downside that I can see is the cost. I haven't gotten a job yet and finances are tight. Board is $425. I feel like it would be worth it, but it's not my decision to make; plus, that's a lot of money per month. Having it at home would be nice, but I feel like if it's here my mom would spoil it like she did my last one and make it mean.
So what are your opinions on board vs home? I really want to board eventually, but once again, money.

I think people had so far had good pointers on the matter. For me boarding has been only option. It does cost a lot, but I'd say keeping the horse at home would probably end up costing nearly the same(you are paying for the hay and bedding etc. or your parents are if you are living with them) plus all the work it requires. So in the end I'd say you might just pay almost the same amount by keeping your horse at home rather than boarding. Maybe little less when at home, but it's basically 365 days a year job to take care of it, plus feedings several times a day have to be arranged and if you also get a normal job, who will do all that. Then as said farrier cost may go slightly up as the farriers usually charge some travel cost which on boarding stables can be split between several people same with annual vet visits for shots and floating for example.
That boarding fee honestly from my view isn't too bad, it's little less what I currently pay. And my stable lacks running hot water(they only got running cold water), indoor arena and wash stalls. : P But the horses are well taken care of and the people are nice so no complains, though the running warm water would be lovely. I don't make much money either currently and sometimes I'm really out of money. My horse is also the reason I can't move out. I simply can't afford to pay two rents(mine and Heta's), at least with my current situation. So I would first consider how are you willing to live if you buy a new horse. Boarding might be expensive, but it saves your time. You also get the pros of the arenas and trails plus friends for you and the horse
Having a horse at home would be really nice, but lot of work and if you would be alone I don't know how you could manage the feedings while having a normal day job, unless you live with your parents who are willing to help, physically and financially.

And that's cool that you got to play with Henhen. C: He really loved you. We don't have a roundpen, though, sadly. I really want to try join up but it's not really possible without a roundpen...

You can do it on small arena etc. like Sadie said. But it's just easier in a round pen. Though I wouldn't try it on a huge arena. XD Actually I once did try it in school and it went awfully. Our arena is around the size of small dressage arena I think and I can do something like that in it with Heta, if I just get her to listen. You just might need to move more than you would in a round pen as the horse can run on a bigger area, but I once got Heta trotting on a circle around me nicely like I had a lunge line.

@DraftHorseLover: I'll post the gaited riding show's crash course in a minute here, incase someone else wants to read it anyway... Othervise this post will end up humongous. XD

[JuneyAmy]

Im free tommorow! what should i do with Juney? jumping? dressage? crossing?

[DraftHorseLover]

@ Hime ~~ Ok!, Thanks!

@ Juney ~~ Whats Crossing?