Do You Ride Horses?

[opal.]

@Least Favorite Chore

Well, since I don't actually take lessons. and we actually have a family who lives at the barn and is hired to take care of the horses, the only chore I really do is take in/put out horses on turnout-- and I like that! We have a big hose in the barn and stalls like these so the water buckets and grain buckets just hang right under that big door in the stall, and we just fill up all the water buckets with a hose-- no hauling water. I sometimes water horses without being asked to though, but I don't mind that either. All the horses get their stalls cleaned everyday except sunday when the family takes a day off. But no chores for anyone really unless you feel complied to do them! And the family takes great care of the barn and the horses

[stirrupirons]

@Chunky: Yes, that's what I posted xD

@Least favorite chore: I don't like hauling water buckets or hauling hay. The hay stacks are by the indoor arena, and I always have to haul it up a hill to the upper barn and to the miniature horse/donkey pasture and it's terribleeee. xD

[Chunky11]

@monchele- you seem to be leaning forwards a bit, and where you tense? It looks as if you were tensing up a bit and creating 'heavy' hands for the horse

[stirrupirons]

@Chunky: I lean forward because it encourages Thinker to use his hindquarters, and I like to go forward a little with the momentum because his trot's huge, if I'm not mistaken I think I posted about it a few pages back ^^ and no, I wasn't tense, he pulls on the reins a lot and tries to root his head (what he was doing here) but we're working on that and after this picture actually he gave and got on the bit, it was really nice

[opal.]

@Monchele
I've actually had more luck with leaning back to get horses to engage their hindquarters. If you really push him on with your seat and collect him, he might engage his hindquarters without you having to lean forward, which while is may be a quick fix, could develope into a bad habit-- not to mention leaning foreward isn't something you can do in the show ring like you can at home. It's not easy to engage his hind quarters if you don't collect him though, so I would focus on getting him collected and then working on getting his hindquarters in gear :B I'm not your trainer though, so if any of what I said contradicts what your trainer said, feel free to completely disregard this XD

[Bluebird22]

my least favorite chore: Water buckets. The heaviness doesn't really bother me, its just some of the clips the hold the bucket in the stall can be hard to unlatch. I also really hate sweeping out the barns.

Monchele: I think you look really good! There isn't much i can really crit!

Ople: Lucky you! I really wish my barn could afford new stall doors.

__________
My ride today was pretty good. I had some trouble keeping Bob on the rail, and listing to what I ask him. He would always just try to follow his owner or friends that were riding too. So I didn't do much cantering because of that. And at times he would just give me his little peppy trot. It got pretty frustrating at times. But I eventually got some good movement out of him. I'm going to have a lesson either Wednesday or Thursday and maybe my trainer can give my some tips to help get him on the rail and stay there. We had fun though. It was nice outside and really sunny, so a perfect day for riding. My dad took some pictures, and I will upload them soon :3

[stirrupirons]

@Opal: My trainer told me the exact opposite xD Thank you though for the advice! I leaned back when I first started riding Thinker because I was used to Lucky's pathetic trot, and I got 'left behind' since his strides are so big and quick. Leaning forward a little with Thinker encourages him to push from behind and lengthen his strides. ^^ Once he's 100% again, I'm sure I won't have to lean forward as much.

[Bluebird22]

I have the pictures from today! http://s1276.photobucket.com/albums/y466/Rosie_Kemper/ The password is horses

EDIT: feel free to crit

[zugzwang.]

I have a bit of a rant to share.

So for my birthday I got a gift card to a horse place and I have finally decided to use it. I thought that since I needed spurs and bell boots for a competition tomorrow I could use the gift card. Well I checked the website and it is an all English store so they have none o what I need but I am not willin to spend cash out of my saddle fund to get them from a different store!

Sorry I just had to get that out

[gam]

@Mr. Milo: He's very handsome indeed! And Dash is an adorable name for thoroughbred have a good ride(s) this weekend :]
@Hime: That's the impression I got, he looks like the sweetest guy.
And oh, okay! I guess I always think pony when I see a little fuzzy horse, lol. And I agree! When I walk the horses out I keep my hands low on their withers to try and soak up any heat I can, lol.
@Bluebird; oh I know! His color is such a bright bay, it's stunning. He's definitely swoon-worthy, lol. <3

@monchele: I replied to you on page 252 :] here ill quote it-

@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. :]