Do You Ride Horses?

[Hooligan.]

@Kaia:
Yeah, barrel race all the time (: I would suggest just working on what is right for you and your horse. The nice thing about barrels is you can run them either direction. If your horse is good at right leads, and not so good at left leads, you want to go to the left first, so he only takes one left lead. If he is good at left and not right, like my horse, take the right first. I also like to run my horses in snaffles because you pull them around. That is a lot more difficult/awkward with a snaked bit. Also, keep your hands at the right hight, some horses you have to have really low hands, and some horses you have to have them a little higher up. Also, just take it slow at first. Work on some circling excersizes so your horse doesn't drop his shoulder going into the turn, and make sure you have enough room in the pocket to get around it. Remember, if you are confident enough, if you knock a barrel a little, reach down and tip it up! Also work on switching your hands, because you will be switching when you go from barrel 1 to barrel 2. Occasionally, after a long time of just showing and not running barrels, you can forget that it is allowed to reach down and grab your horn. I'm a good enough rider that I run a lot of my practice runs with two rein hands and not holding on (I hope I don't sound cocky...), which can help me elevate his shoulder and gives me more freedom. But during practice runs we aren't running that fast, only like 22-28 second runs. In the real deal I for sure hold on. Also, get a saddle that fits you and the horse right. If your saddle is too big you'll slide around in it a lot. Too small and you'll be pushed out and uncomfortable. Really sit deep going around the barrels. And pull your horse out going around, not in. Make sure your horse can rate good and gets his leads good. You don't want a horse who doesn't get his leads to go in really tight fast circle, they can easily get unbalanced. I hope this helps (: If you have any other questions go ahead and ask.

Going riding in about an hour guys. Hopefully Queso chills a little hehehe!

[LissaJo]

@Kaia

some more random tips for you..
Dont lean! You should be sitting up straight at all times. Leaning forward could wind up with you on the ground if your horse stumbles. If you lean in while turning, you can throw your horse off balance and make him fall. And obviously leaning back is bad too. Getti.g left behind is not a fun ride and you cant do your job properly if you arent balanced.

Grab the horn! Seriously. When you are just trotting, pretend like you are running. It feels silly at first but you need to simulate what you will do in a real run. Think grabbing the horn is for wimps? Watch the pros. They use the horn for balance and very few of them dont use it. You should push yourself back going into the turn, but be holding on so that if you get left behind, the horn will pull you back up.

Start slow! Walk and perfect your pattern before you trot. When you get to the spot at the begining of your pocket where you will check him when running, stop and back up 3-4 steps before going around the barrel.

Dont burn your horse out on the pattern! You can teach him a lot without pulling out the barrels. Burnt out and sore horses are horses who tend tohave gate problems.

ALWAYS walk in and out of the gate. Go in and circle before running. Leave the barrels in the ring and practice rail work. Dont let him learn that everytime he sees barrels he gets to run them.

If you rush into training you could blow his mind. There are a lot of crazy and dangerous barrel horses out there. Train yours right and you wont end up with an idiot!



Things your horse should know before EVER seeing a barrel:

Both leads
how to flex
how to back up
leg amd seat cues
how to stop (brakes are a wonderful thing!)

[classi]

Does anyone want to hear about my lesson today? And my hack a few days ago? My lesson was quite good today, at least the flatwork. The jumping was okay, but we didn't take off the neck stretcher (we normally do) for jumping and that made it nearly impossible to get good distances - plus, he jumped a teensy bit different with it on and it was sort of hard to stay with him. I'll just talk about the flat (which is very interesting at some points!) if anyone wants me to. (:

[karkadorr]

Whoa o.0 Haven't been on CS for ages (read: week) hahah
what's happened?

[Dolphinlover~]

Hey guys, I just wanted to apologize to everyone for my absence...I also wanted to say that school and homework and grades and riding have been keeping me extremely busy and I don't really have much time for CS anymore since I need to keep my grades up to ride. I wanted to inform you guys that I probably won't get on much, and when I do get on I will probably (sadly) only be able to quickly explain my rides and not have time to reply to anyone.
I know this sounds really selfish, but I want to warn you busy ahead of time that I'm not trying to be selfish in anyway, it's just that time won't allow for me to reply more in depth.

Back on topic, I am riding tomorrow! It will be my first lesson on Shadwell since our show, and I k ow what I have to work o. And what we have to work on. Luckily that list isn't too big, so I feel like after the intense winter training that we will be able to piece everything together and start competiting at 3' and doing the medals (: I will try to come and tell you gushes about my lesson if I have time. Thanks for reading and understanding!

[gam]

@Bluebird; Thanks! I know how we all get to feeling like that sometimes. :] Thanks so much!

guys, the horse from Holland came in! His name is Benson, he's gorgeous! GORGEOUS! Take a look;
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-s ... 7616_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-p ... 1501_n.jpg
http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-a ... 0281_o.jpg

I'm excited to meet him :]

@Amy Pond: Donny is SO gorgeous, what a great photo! :]
@monchele: You look great! I suggest maybe shortening your reins and keeping him more collected and neat. However, I don't know anything about the horse you're riding--he might be like Shelby, who actually needs a few minutes completely out of frame to stretch out and warm up or he might just be built like that. I think you look great though, what a gorgeous horse. :]
@Hime: what a gorgeous pony! she looks great, she's SO cute! lol, the icicles! it sounds absolutely freezing there! Last week at the barn it was 20 degrees fahrenheit, or -6C, but we still rode, though a member of our group opted not to come. Thank god for the walled in indoor, once we got on and started to move around it wasn't too cold, there's nothing like a steamy horse to keep you warm! lol :]

[Hanoverian]

Skimmed through a bit but didn't really fully read because I'm short on time, please feel free to quote anything for me.

@rain:
I would love to hear about your lessons/hacks c:

@Dolphin:
I'm kinda in the same situation! Riding 3 days a week and balancing some tough classes is wearing on me, plus I have my volunteer work and friends and so on and trying to find a part-time job... o.o I'm stressed!
Hope to hear from you! Have a good lesson C:

@Gamgam:
Wow, Benson is lovely! I hope to see him on the circuit this summer! 8D I probably won't be showing tons but I'm going to watch a lot C: Are you planning on showing this year? I think I'm going to do a queenie or two depending on what I can afford, hope to see you there!

__________________________
Had a lovely ride today on the new WB if anyone wants to hear C:

[opal.]

@Gamgam
He's gorgeous!

@Hano
I'd love to hear C:

[gam]

@Hano: I'd love to hear! And yes, I'm sure you will--he was bought mostly for the reason he was already "Americanized"-- ready to show and already fitting right in in America :] I don't really plan on showing a lot this year. Maybe a few schooling shows at the barn this summer, but I'm definitely not going to be shooting any higher than that, showing just isn't my thing. I'll be busy with summer camps and other things like that, trust me, I'm a lot happier that way :] Showing is fun, but it can be stressful and I normally don't end up with any feeling of accomplishment, lol. A blue ribbon to me is just a good lesson on a good horse. :]

@OpalWyvern: Isn't he? I can't wait to meet him :]

[Mr.Milo]

@gam gam: He is so handsome!! He reminds my of the TB we got named Dash....it think his name is Dash.

@Smokey: hahaha ya it is barave, i hate the feeling of falling. Ooooo ultimate dare, though i would probably be like your friend and chicken out...i stink at dares!DX Hhahah well i hope he joins, and argh teachers they say laghing distracts their class when all its really distracting is them. Ya i want to see that fight, i got my little sister to join me and watch!XD

@Elizabeth: Thats really cool, does each horse do a few specific sports or are they trained in all of those?

@Amy Pond: Hhaha i would love to see a horse bob for apples, but the game you explained sounds much more fun i would totally play it but im so short that i can reach the stirrups from the ground. Wow he is beautiful i just want to give him a big hug. Hahaha TB's are just full of peronality and you can always tell them apart even when they look exactly the same. A fire!! im glad no one is seriously hurt, i hope everything pulls through so that you can do your show.

@Hime: awww i love seeing those pictures of Heta and i think this is the first time i have seen a video of her. I just love her coat, do you know the name of hter coat color? im not sure if its a chenut color or something darker. Anyways that is some really cold temperature your having!

@Silence: sure

@Dolphin: i hope your lesson goes well!

@Hano: i would love to!
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Riding tomrrow, i hope that lady who rides Scottie isn't there. Also there is no school Monday so im really excited for that, i want to ask if i can go to the barn again so i can ride twice. I have missed so many lessons that it would be great to have two lessons close together.