Do You Ride Horses?

[Rebel Love Song]

@Hanoverian Jeez! That's a lot! They must have extreme facilities! My barn is full care with a huge indoor arena, outdoor arena, and two round pens. Plus tons of trails. It's only $400 a month

[Hooligan.]

@Boarding:
Although there aren't any barns in my area, I know a few people who board others's horses for them. I think its probably around $500-600 a month, and theres no arena or anything, really not even a barn, just run ins.

@Shoeing:
We sometimes do our own shoeing, depending if we have time. But the farrier we use when we don't have time runs at $90-100 for full shoes, although I'm sure it varies on shoe type. But we always supply shoes and take our horses to his place, so that brings it down to $50 a horse to be fully shod for us. We also always have him do our miniature horses as he uses a grinder instead of nippers, and its much better in my opinion.

@Riding:
So, my cousin brought her horse over to our house today and we were riding around in our arena, and we practiced barrels and poles. And her horse, Lady, is a pretty lazy horse, and S (my cousin), forgot her spurs so I let her use some of mine. Very dull rowels, and when she put them on and got on Lady, she was fine. But when she asked Lady to go, she started bucking and kicked me in the leg (I was on Queso). I'm super happy she missed Queso, although it wasn't a hard buck/kick, so my leg isn't even sore. she ended up just loping her around the arena a bit and she calmed down substantially. She's had spurs used on her before so I don't know why she acted so bad. But she is sorted out now so its all good. I was quite impressed with her pole runs though, once she got the spurs on she did really well for really never running poles. She didn't try the barrels with spurs because I had already put them up and switched to poles, but I think they would do good there too, probably mark in 3D to 4D.

[stirrupirons]

Will reply to everyone tomorrow, I just want to stop in and say that I'm currently texting back and forth with her owner and this mare is perfect for me.
"No buck or rear. And she will occasionally look at something but no spook. Her worst trait is when she's not being ridden consistently she gets energy and wants to go. Very controllable. Doesn't take off or take the bit. But clearly shows her energy. To test her to see if she would take off I've allowed her to go "her" speed. And she simply goes into a canter and just goes around."
She sounds like she needs consistent work and that's what I can give her. And with consistent work she sounds like she will be amazing. The owner is taking more pictures for me tomorrow including conformation shots so I can show you all! I've seen a picture of her, but its just when she's being ridden so its not the best, but she is stunning. Tall, dark, and beautiful :)
I'm going to see when I can try her tomorrow. This may actually happen. I am close to crying right now, lol.
and her name is Maggie!

[June Bug]

@boarding:
The board at my barn starts at $545 a month and goes up to $595 a month, depending on what kind of stall you want. it's all full care. That's pretty reasonable for my area, with most barns being around $700 monthly plus an activity fee. We have several places here where board is $1000 monthly o.O

$700-$1000 a month is pretty typical for us too. I count myself lucky to be near one of the only barns I've seen to be under that amount. xP Higher board depends on feed though, rather than type/size of stall since all our stalls are roughly the same size. We have a few little-ish, and by little-ish I mean 10x10, rather than 14x14 like the rest of them) tucked into corners, but those are used primarily for our small school ponies. Instead, we just charge a bit more if your horse needs senior or special feed as opposed to our normal grain, since those feed types are more expensive. That's definitely a plus for me since if/when I buy Grande, he needs a decent amount of space (he's Warmblood-sized) and is an easy keeper so not having to pay extra for the space for him and not having to worry about different feed is great. xD

That reminds me, actually, I went to visit a stable this summer out in Massachusetts and they had some of the tiniest stalls I've ever seen. D: The biggest ones, each with fairly large horse in them couldn't have been bigger than 10x10, there where a couple with ponies in them that were probably something like 8x10 with (about) 15hh horses in them, and then most shockingly there where two on the ends for two ponies that were just wide enough for the ponies to stand in them facing the door. :/ They didn't have enough room to turn around or anything. It was a shame too 'cause the stable was otherwise very nice. The doors all had the horse's names printed in fancy letters on them, but I'm really hoping they're only kept in there when they're needed for lessons or something. That'd be a pathetic amount of space to live in. :C

[Luzien]

@ Horse Lover!

Horse Lover did write: @June Bug Yeah- come over to England and you can have your cheap boarding rates A trim from the farrier is pretty cheap at i think £10-£15. I wouldn't mind sharing our little farm with you guys.

...ok that the idea of the day, do you have a place for two horses? im on my way,
full boarding fee at the farm is 20? really- the day, the week or month?... when its really per month and the horse can stay outside in summer and food and so is in the prize...i search work-and maybe a school in your town and come over with my little babys and become immigrant in england

@ monchele: good luck with the little girl i love to see a picture of her, she sounds nice!

@ X-Legolas-X
wow thats really nice of your father and the gelding sounds interesting^^ do you maybe have a picture of him to show? when he is such an excellent trail horse, then i wish you lots of fun on trail and many storys to tell

fantasy girl »
Oh thats great ----> you also have an icelandic horse how old is your buy and what is his name, when i may ask^^
But, I've been riding my little boy twice now since school started. And I just love him so much <3
The first sunday I worked him in the outdoor arena, bareback, and focused on making him more flexiable with turning (and holding a proper gait, and not throwing himself in to the turns), and he did great!
He was a bit stiff at the start, but soon loosen'd up, and when he got the task he was really a bless. I also worked on doing sudden slow downs (he is amazing from going from trot to walk, or canter to trot to walk, he slows almost on the spot), but we need to work some more on doing a halt as he gets a bit strong mouthed and stubborn at that. Oh well, we aren't rushing.
Besides, it was pretty hot that day so I only schooled him for like 35 min or something.

Yesterday though, we went on a hack. And this time I decided to ride him in his new saddle - proper icelandic saddle, first time I've ridden in one, rather comfy - to work him a bit differently. He wasen't exactly overjoyed when I put the saddle on, but seemed pretty happy still, as his old saddle haden't been too good.
Either way, we worked on holding a trot even if he wanted to race. And we managed -but still need to work a lot more on that-, but oddly enough, he is an icelandic horse who I was told can neither tolt nor do a pass (don't know the english word for that) the english name is tolt-some write tölt-or bether: its an ambling gait . some say to it pace but the pace is the running gait of the ambling gaits and its an other hoove beat (pace is two beat- and tolt is 4 beat gait- the piggy gaits are somewhere between)^^, but what he did when he trotted really fast, wasen't a trot . My sister even said so. So rather puzzled what it was he did there, because it was rather comfy. I couldn't feel him under me.
So if any of you have any idea on what gait he might have gone in (it wasen't slow or anything, he went rather fast, because he was ready to bolt and gallop off), please give me your suggestions as I'm curious to know c:try this on the street or on very hard ground- what does it sound like? how many hooves are at the ground..this can tell you your sister!^^ but as you did say he cant tolt...but maybe he can like some other icelandic horses not tolt naturally, but do "piggy-tolt" or bether caled trotty tolt or pacey tolt, and when you hold the reins the right way and sit deep in the saddle and so on, then he did this... not all "piggy-tolts" are hard to seat, when the horse wants or is trained or is started on the right leg...then its nearly as soft as tolt, but there are also jogging , shortened tölt(hurried walk....and so on)! ...as he did it not till this day, may i ask if you did something with the reins-legs-or your hand, some icelandcs do trot-tolt or galopp when you touch them on the neck or streak-touch the reins to the neck....is he breed in your country or sold from iceland as mature horse maybe go to an icelandic horse trainer and let him train your boy maybe he can tölt or Walk or so but needs the training to show it^_^
not sure if this works look at this site there is -normaly- a charta where you see a picture of all the iceladic gait tölt and its connection to other gaits(maybe you see what your horse did walk at this day^^) :
[color=#FF0000]http://totallyhorsecrazyandhorsestories.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/gaitconnection.jpg[/color]

Other than that, that is all the horsy news I have. But I will try and be much more active here!

thats great, please write more of your riding adventures for us^^

@ Hime: my my ...your little boy grows fast

---------------------------
To an even bether note and to talk about myself^^--> i was out with my horse the first day since a long long time... and now really started the training of my mare.
ok i started it already in march with running her on the bicycle, what really worked out greatly, but then stoped as she gone outside on the pastures. but now as its not so hot i can start again- without going up on 4 in the morning...now its only 5 to 6 in the morning^^

But the funny thing at this is the time: i walked out to the pasture for an hour( the same i had to walk back so i needed 2 hours only to walk to and from my horse ) and then i cleaned and walked her a bit(5 mins-speed cleaning) and worked with her for 15-20 mins in the roundpen on the meadow, and after this i started for the first time to work with her "little" 3 year old "foal" for 30 mins also in the roundpen( trying(its the word of the day^^...as how can you start a young horse on the hand when its so sensible....i really cant understand why she has to be so much like her dad...the mother genetic shoud kick in and make her a bit more self-confident or strong-headed...but nooooo ok, i think she is sweet and when i do nothing to stupid she can become a nice grown up riding horse one day^^-- but atleast now she walks some steps on the lead line without stopping every 2 steps ...only now every 10 or so^^, can trot on comand and stop (free style no lunge line) turn on sign-i think that is great for a half wild baby^^) ) so 50mins work with two horses -for two hours walking of myself...so no fun... but really it was worth the walk to start the training of this two and see them play in the pasture, but i really need a good cross-country-bicycle-trailer to get the tack out there when i start riding again...sometimes in the future
But still it was so fun, and im happy that they had a nice day not mean day, and the baby did not drag me through the mud or the fence or so but really worked with me

[stirrupirons]

@Board: Board around here averages at about $450-500 depending on if it's a show barn or not. My board is $400, but I'm going to be working it off and letting them use Maggie for trails and lessons with experienced riders :)

@Blue: Thank you!!! Aw, sad things with Bob didn't work out. Ace sounds amazing, though! So happy for you :) I love how everyone is finding so much success these days!

@Luzien: Thank you! I'm including pictures below :)

--

Well... I am talking to my barn owner Thursday about board! I'm in steady contact with Maggie's owner and they know I'm going to be bargaining for reduced board Thursday, and if everything works out, then I'm trying her out this weekend :) I have pictures of her! The owner is getting a good conformation shot for me, but so far I like the way she looks. She's very solid, she has high withers and is basically built just like Thinker, haha, so I don't really have to buy a new saddle.


I really like how she looks uphill!! That will make my life so much easier when I start really working with her in dressage :) She's such a cutie, I really like her.

[Dolphinlover~]

@Boarding costs: We just moved to one of the premiere riding facilities in my area, so the tenants there charge between $700-$1000+ depending on what you want to get with your boarding (lessons, etc.).

Speaking of the new place, we just moved in yesterday and it is the same place I started riding when I started looking for a trainer! The facility is insane. We have a huge outdoor in front that is 160x 360, a newly renovated indoor that is 80x 200, a smaller schooling ring in back that is 165x 130, and they are planning on building a fourth ring. Plus, we have shows on property (hunters, jumpers, dressage, and combined tests). Then there are a bunch of beautiful trails. Plus, I get to see my old trainer and my friends from that barn (: The only thing that's missing is my baby </3 Mulligan man :'( He left in June.

But I am SO excited since my trainer said we can bring Declan, who I tried last week and showed in the 3' Children's Hunter last
Friday. I think we may lease him. He's a 17.2 hh 9 year old chestnut TB. He is really big, but surprisingly I don't look tiny on him. I have been told me legs grew a lot :3 And my trainer wants me to do a jumper show this Saturday that is on property and a Joe Fargis clinic on the 22!

[.Scarlet.]

Eek. Sorry I disappeared I was on vacation and I don't get pony time until Sunday blehh. If I missed anything, quote it with my name in it and I will read it :3

[Namikaze~Sin]

Hey guys ^_^ I've been very inactive here recently, partly through lack of internet, partly because I haven't ridden in so long >< It must be about a month now! Hopefully, weather dependant, I should be riding tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

How long is the most you can go without riding before desperately wanting to? :3 Question to all

[fantasy girl]

@Luzien

fantasy girl »
Oh thats great ----> you also have an icelandic horse how old is your buy and what is his name, when i may ask^^

Well techically he isn't mine, I only lease him every Sunday (which I've done almost for 3 years now, and he has grown so much on me, considering the first 1 year was just one big struggle as we confused eachothers and used time to find eachothers 'buttons') :3
And I did post a little info of him earlier, in my first post here^^

...
I ride a grey 13ishh icelandic horse every Sunday, and even though he is around 20 years now -but he still holds the heart of a 5 year old- . I've ridden him for almost 3 years now and he is just such a loving boy (even though he did chase me/try to kick me from time to time in the early stages of our 'relationship' when I tried to catch him in the paddock. Now he just flattens his ear from time to time or just starts walking, but with a little help of treats he's improving towards me :3) who loves adventure and just go hacking into the woods - he is a completely different horse while hacking than when he is ridden on the arena, classical schooling horse - and race his buddy. I ride him almost always bareback as I just love the freeing feeling it gives you <3 It makes me feel like some sort of an native american riding along meadows with only a bridle and feeling the movements of the horse under me. Besides, he loves it aswell as there are no girths pressing on his tummy!
And for the ones interested, this is Pytur <3

the english name is tolt-some write tölt-or bether: its an ambling gait . some say to it pace but the pace is the running gait of the ambling gaits and its an other hoove beat (pace is two beat- and tolt is 4 beat gait- the piggy gaits are somewhere between)^^,

Yeah, was about to try and google the translation somehow, but felt a bit lazy^^''
And the famous piggy-gaits. Always a peculiar site seeing the icelandic horse - Snorri - my sister rides doing a piggy-gait x3

try this on the street or on very hard ground- what does it sound like? how many hooves are at the ground..this can tell you your sister!^^ but as you did say he cant tolt...but maybe he can like some other icelandic horses not tolt naturally, but do "piggy-tolt" or bether caled trotty tolt or pacey tolt, and when you hold the reins the right way and sit deep in the saddle and so on, then he did this... not all "piggy-tolts" are hard to seat, when the horse wants or is trained or is started on the right leg...then its nearly as soft as tolt, but there are also jogging , shortened tölt(hurried walk....and so on)! ...as he did it not till this day, may i ask if you did something with the reins-legs-or your hand, some icelandcs do trot-tolt or galopp when you touch them on the neck or streak-touch the reins to the neck....is he breed in your country or sold from iceland as mature horse maybe go to an icelandic horse trainer and let him train your boy maybe he can tölt or Walk or so but needs the training to show it^_^

The thing is, he only did it there because he was uber excited - the 'track' we where on was a looong sandyish road that trainers use to train their trotting horses on. So therefore we also use it from time to time as it's a perfect place for them to blast off. So I'm pretty sure he wouldn't do it again on some road, as he lacks the enthusiam you might say.

Well, he does have a new proper, quality icelandic saddle (he had a saddle before that wasen't too good on him) with an icelandic bridle (a set you might say xD). And he seems to really don't mind it (reason why I rode him bareback, because he didn't like the saddle and I could tell), and besides it makes me sit more differently on him. Which I noticed.
So this might have been another reason?

I'm pretty sure he was bred in my country, and I can't just send him to a trainer, condsidering he isn't my horse xD
Poor owner would get confused...And besides, I don't really see the reason in sending him off to a trainer. He is only used as a hacking horse/some work on the arena. ^^''

not sure if this works look at this site there is -normaly- a charta where you see a picture of all the iceladic gait tölt and its connection to other gaits(maybe you see what your horse did walk at this day^^) :
http://totallyhorsecrazyandhorsestories ... ection.jpg

That's actually a pretty helpful - and interesting - little map you have there. Will save that one for sure, for later use and for when I'm curious about the gaits they have! ^v^

@monchele
Maggie is such a beauty! o3o
Good luck in trying to buy her! <3