Do You Ride Horses?

[opal.]

@Blue
Thanks! I am glad I've found a way to at least be a little happier to go down and ride too XD The polo is super nice! I've worn it a bunch of times already XD You have a dressage show coming up fairly soon, right? How are things coming for that?

[Bluebird22]

Yep the dressage shows are next week on Wednesday (right after my rabbit show so I will be really rushed). They are going really well. I have my training level test memorized I an just working out the kinks currently. The intro is really easy, but it is not completely memorized yet. I will have a caller, but she haven't been able to practice with me /:

[stirrupirons]

Hey guys! It's been a while since I was last on here. I still haven't been cleared to ride yet, but I have a doctor's appointment July 11th and my dr said I will be cleared then. Despite that I'm actually riding for the first time since my accident tomorrow for drill practice. I'm just walking and doing some lateral work, but it's better than nothing. I'm not supposed to be riding, but it'll be my instructor/drill team/my little secret ;)
Thinker has been fantastic lately! Round pen work has really strengthened him and he is so much more respectful. Today he came up to me in his paddock and it was adorable :) He's so much more relaxed lately, and it's really nice. He's the most fantastic horse ever and I love him so much. <3
My instructor said that I can come out anytime even if she's not there if I want to see him and work with him. That's major because with most of the students she won't even let them lead the horse if she's not there. She said that I'm her most trusted student and *shock* I show the most potential for going onto high levels and GP because of my determination and passion for this sport. <3
I'm getting my senior pictures done with Thinker next Friday! My instructor's sister is a professional photographer and she's coming down next week anyway. I'm super duper excited :) I'm going out to the barn the day before to grab his bridle so I can clean and oil it. I'll make sure to show you guys :D
My orange and camo polo wraps sucked. They wouldn't stretch at all, they were really wide, and they bulked up majorly. They were just terrible. So I sold them and today I bought dark red Professional's Choice wraps :) I'm getting the same wraps in black Tuesday also as a present from my parents because I got a 4 on my APUSH test.
I've been working on pulling Thinker's mane and I still have a lot of work to do on it but right now I'm pretty pleased with it! I want to keep it a little longer since his mane is thick. Here's a picture of it today. It looks like it's uneven, but he has these long thin lighter pieces of mane that disappear in sunlight. :/ I need to get rid of them lol.
I hope everyone's doing great! Good luck with all shows that are coming up <3

[June Bug]

I've been lurking silently, but I'm still here. xD I took a break from riding due to a combination of the heat and being low on money, so participating in conversations about riding has been hard and sad for me for the past month.

I went to go say hi to Grande during the downtime I had in my work shift today. Because of camp, he's out in the paddock during my shift so I didn't expect to actually be able to say hi, but he came running right to me when I called for him <3 I hope he's missing me as much as I've been missing him~ I just got my paycheck for June and I'm pretty satisfied with my money situation now so once I deposit it, I'm going to sign up for lessons again. I don't know if I'll still be able to use him regularly now that he's popular, but I'm hoping I can wiggle into a lesson that works for both of us.
I think he does miss me, I had to go out and get Benji for someone right at the end of my shift and Grande refused to leave me the whole time I was out in the field. Even when Benji kicked the crud out of him for following too close, he just shimmied over to the other side of me and looked at me like "The mean little pony kicked me D:" <3 As soon as I put Benji away (and left him with some grumpy words for forcing me to walk through the mid-shin-deep mud puddle when I was only in short paddock boots, not to mention being a bully to my two boys (he kicked Twist last week so badly that the poor old man is going to have a nasty scar up the back of his thigh. I'm seriously surprised there was no tendon or bone damage with how close to his hock the wound is)), I went back to make sure Grande was okay and he was waiting patiently by the gate for me. Turns out he's fine (thank goodness, I don't think Benji was able to make any sort of decent contact), but it made me sad to see how eager he seemed to follow me even out of the field. I had to get a picture, even though he's all dirty from rolling.

He was apparently upset about me leaving. As soon as I turned around to leave, he started pawing at the gate and trying to push it open. </3
Anyone know any good ways to get rich fast so I can just buy him already? I'm pretty sure I'm the only person at work who doesn't own, but I can't seem to figure out how to handle that sort of expense. It's getting kind of frustrating, lol. I know it'll happen eventually, but gosh darn, I want him now!

His field buddies there are Jingles (Mr. Bitey), the paint, and Hobo, the red dun, btw. they came wandering over to see what the fuss was all about when Benji threw his little hissy fit.

[opal.]

@June Bug
...Oh my god...did you just post something with the title "He may be green and funny looking, but if I had any money at all he'd be mine in an instant" to /r/Horses? I can't believe you're a redditor too! *High fives*

[June Bug]

Pffffffffffff, yes. xD
I'm incredibly shy on reddit (it's so big with so many loud people D: ) but it's one of my only decent-quality pictures of him and I wanted to share. I love r/horses, it's my favorite subreddit~

[opal.]

Pffffffffffff, yes. xD
I'm incredibly shy on reddit (it's so big with so many loud people D: ) but it's one of my only decent-quality pictures of him and I wanted to share. I love r/horses, it's my favorite subreddit~

Ahaha this is awesome XD I just posted today too! The "Took some glamour shots of my boy" one :B
Reddit is loud XD It's my favorite subreddit too, but I wish more people posted XD I go through the pictures too fast XD

[sforzando.]

I'm back~ cx
Does anyone know how to slow a horse down without continuously tugging on the reins and without a half halt? I've tried to understand half halts but I just don't, and my mare rears whenever I pull on the reins too much. She doesn't have a slow trot or canter because the previous owners would always go from a walk to gallop, leaving her with no knowledge of trotting and barely any of cantering. I'm pretty much petrified of trotting because last time I did my horse bolted on me, almost got us run over because I couldn't get him under control, and then I dove head first into the dirt (with no helmet ahhh) and that left me bedridden for around four days because I would get a headache whenever I stood.
My grandfather insists I do lateral bending whenever my mare speeds up, but last time she tripped while pivoting on her hind feet - while at a canter. I keep trying to tell him that I won't do it, but he won't listen and keeps trying to teach me it anyways. I know that lateral bends won't always work, I got advice on here, and I even told him that. Of course he avoided it by saying, "we'll, that depends..."
Thank you to anyone who answers. ^^;

[ξƞçɧαƞtєđ]

I'm back~ cx
Does anyone know how to slow a horse down without continuously tugging on the reins and without a half halt? I've tried to understand half halts but I just don't, and my mare rears whenever I pull on the reins too much. She doesn't have a slow trot or canter because the previous owners would always go from a walk to gallop, leaving her with no knowledge of trotting and barely any of cantering. I'm pretty much petrified of trotting because last time I did my horse bolted on me, almost got us run over because I couldn't get him under control, and then I dove head first into the dirt (with no helmet ahhh) and that left me bedridden for around four days because I would get a headache whenever I stood.
My grandfather insists I do lateral bending whenever my mare speeds up, but last time she tripped while pivoting on her hind feet - while at a canter. I keep trying to tell him that I won't do it, but he won't listen and keeps trying to teach me it anyways. I know that lateral bends won't always work, I got advice on here, and I even told him that. Of course he avoided it by saying, "we'll, that depends..."
Thank you to anyone who answers. ^^;

When you wish to slow your mare down, trying becoming as heavy as you can in the saddle and pulse your hands on the reins. This isn't pulling, but closing your hand on a somewhat tight rein so you get her attention. I used to ride OTTBs and this always worked on them when they got into the signature 'racehorse mode'.

But as for the rearing, it may not be the fact you use your reins. Chest to make sure she has no sores in her mouth and her teeth are healthy. Also make sure her tack fits and she has no back problems. This could also be a cause for rearing.

But also, you may want to try and over come your fears. Just because it didn't work once, doesn't mean it won't work again. Don't give up too easily as it may end up paying off in the future. When your in the equine field, you have to show confidence at all times to keep your horse calm.

[.Scarlet.]

I'm back~ cx
Does anyone know how to slow a horse down without continuously tugging on the reins and without a half halt? I've tried to understand half halts but I just don't, and my mare rears whenever I pull on the reins too much. She doesn't have a slow trot or canter because the previous owners would always go from a walk to gallop, leaving her with no knowledge of trotting and barely any of cantering. I'm pretty much petrified of trotting because last time I did my horse bolted on me, almost got us run over because I couldn't get him under control, and then I dove head first into the dirt (with no helmet ahhh) and that left me bedridden for around four days because I would get a headache whenever I stood.
My grandfather insists I do lateral bending whenever my mare speeds up, but last time she tripped while pivoting on her hind feet - while at a canter. I keep trying to tell him that I won't do it, but he won't listen and keeps trying to teach me it anyways. I know that lateral bends won't always work, I got advice on here, and I even told him that. Of course he avoided it by saying, "we'll, that depends..."
Thank you to anyone who answers. ^^;

Half halts are when you pu back just slightly but hold with leg. I do them all the time riding a tb or when I'm jumping. Part of it is you need to be relaxed and sit back when they get too fast. I'm like that when I canter. I tighten up when you really need to relax. No it doesn't mean you can just chill up there and let them do whatever. But it just means not to tighten up. I agree with enchanted as well, moving your hands slightly wiggles the reigns a bit and they will slow down some. Also, talk to your horse. Communication can help a lot with some horses. It helps tons when I ride this one mare. But don't get tol nervous. Just stay calm and pay attention. I used to ride a horse that spooked at his own shadow. But I instantly caught him. Pulled back for him to calm, then released the reigns. But part of it could just be how her/his old owner treated him. Maybe try to lunge him and get different paces. See if you can do that so you don't fall or anything. Also, I recommend a helmet. Our heads are important and you want one if they decide to go on a bucking spree. I hope this helps