@Bella: Size vise it's not impossible combination, but I understand if it doesn't feel good to you. In some sense it can be considered an honor to ride harder ponies. Like the people in charge think you are well enough rider to handle them. Though if you can't make one of those ponies canter, then maybe you are not as good as you think. Just saying, don't be too offended please. Then again that considered, it's hard to make progress with yourself, if you can't really focus on yourself, but rather mostly on the pony and how to keep it moving. Eh, it's kinda complicated matter really. ^^'
Switch usually doesn't hurt. Sometimes you may find/learn something new and nice, sometimes you learn to value what you had at the other place. My friend M switched stables for the spring season as she felt like she had learned all the tricks to our stable's lesson horses and didn't really find enough challenge in the lessons anymore. I don't know if she was happy with the change or what, but now I think she wants to come back.
With such multifunction stable as the one you found, I might be little iffy about how 'high' level the horses are trained if they are used for both english and western. While the two displines are similar in many ways, they also have major differances. Can a one horse do both, yes, can a one horse do really well in both at the same time, not sure. Trail riding is good to keep the horses from getting bored, but it might also mean the horses are line ponies that don't really listen to the rider, but follow the horse in front of them. Of course not all trail horses are like this, but unfortunately more than few are(especially if the place allows total beginners/never ridden before people on trails). :\ But this is just me being bit tad negative-realistic. XD It's up to you ultimately and what kind of place you want to ride at. You could go watch one or two their english lessons at the other place and maybe ride on one lesson there, before making the final choise.
Not sure if any of this made any sense, sorry.... ^^'
@Lye: Not bad choice. How ever they can be bit stubborn, so watch out for that, and hard to get depending on where you live(plus expensive if they are rarer breed on the area).
@E.urka: That scavanger hunt sounds like tons of fun. Sounds like something I'd possibly enjoy with Heta too. Hopefully you can enter with your mare this year.
@Luzien: Poor you, hang in there. :c I hated it when I couldn't do things with one arm, can't imagine how annoying it must be not to be allowed to move around much.
Hard choices... :\ Breeding would not be a bad solution if you couldn't ride or work with your horse for almost 2 years. But if you'd get back on your feet in less time, it might be bit frustrating situation. And as you said, your recent work will be wasted.
Sending her to a driving teacher is not actually a bad idea as she'd get excersise. And if the training is successfull, you'd be able to drive her, if you get cleared to moving around before you get cleared for riding.
Still no info for me either. : P Allthough, when I was reading some of the meeting notes from the big FEIF meeting that was in last month(?), there was mention that the volunteer info letters should be sent out soon(like they promised late February early March was it?). But it's now 19th of March and nothing, so I have slightly bad feeling about this organizing group... -__- Though they are still actively looking for volunteers and especially to certain more PR related tasks.
That's not bad idea and we would almost have suitable area too, our pasture. It's slight down hill almost all the way down. But it's probably too slight and it's too big anyway, unless I want to spend good while chasing the pony, if she desides she doesn't want to be lunged. XD Not to mention it's a pasture and in use as soon as the grass grows(and fences get fixed...) and now that the snow has melted it's off limits so that the ground stays in good condition.
I'm mentally trying to convince myself the saddle is not such a big problem and I'm over reacting. But so far it's not helping. XP I've kept my eyes open for possible saddles, and even asked about one 16.5" TopReiter yesterday, but based on the answer it probably wouldn't have fit(and was pretty expensive). Generally it's really hard to find 16.5" Icelandic saddles here, so I've tried looking into normal dressage saddles as well. But I know little about those brands and most of them are even more expensive than the Icelandic horse ones. XP I've also yet to ask that one saddle for trial I had thought about before the accident, might ask for it next week and maybe tag along into the saddle fitting(as the saddler is coming Friday next week)... I think there was actually one goertz for sale(first I've ever seen actually), but it was either 17" or 17.5" and there was also something I didn't like about it, can't remember what though.
For now I'm going either on week 15 or 16 to see Tý(entry deadline is 20th of April, so before that, but as close as possible). ^^ Yet to set more exact date as things can still change and we need to fit 3 people's schedules. XD
Unfortunately, this spring show is the only offical Icelandic horse breeding show. :\ I suppose I could take her to less offical one(match show type of event), but I'm not sure if the evaluation there would be the kind I actually want... Plus then the stupid leg, as it's not nice if the judge points out your horse is tad lame. >_<
I think Heta's now bit better, but still some attitude issues or something odd going on(read about it more on my personal update post).
Doing okay myself.
Bit stiff sometimes, doesn't like if I do lots of lifting/moving in short period(like cook, while using heavy pans) and the shoulder did not like it at first when I rode my bike Tuesday(though it was perfectly fine today). XD I think if my shoulder is rolled/haunced forward and stays like that, then it hurts to pull it back. Plus generally if I lean on my left hand for longer periods and don't move it, then it goes stiff and hurts to move. But if i avoid that and certain ways of lifting, then it's pretty good. c: Riding doesn't hurt at all and really only issue at stable is lifing heavy things from high places, like saddle or rugs.
@iceeon: Welcome to the horse thread. That is good amount of info actually, definetly not too much.
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Well, had an interesting ride, in bad sense for change.
Tacked up normally, but wrapped up Heta's hind legs plus put bell boots to the front. Neither which I do regularry. Then walked to the arena, got on and started warming up. And Heta felt lot better than on our last ride last week. Trot was also bit better and less stiff. But after some time it became worse and noticed the saddle had slid up a little and it was pretty tight agaist the shoulder. Also it seemed like Heta was moving her shoulder in full range, but kinda cutting it so it wouldn't hit the saddle. :\ So took the saddle off and rode bareback. Which felt like better option in Heta's oppinion, until I tried to canter... Pony did 3-4 buck/bounce series. I didn't fall off luckily, but it was pretty close and I was sitting pretty much on her neck when she settled. After that I was slightly pissed and lets just say pony had to go some serious tolt for good while.
Which she did without any further bucks/bounces. Then I got off and let her run loose for while. Boy did she run. XD Crazy gallop and floyty/speedy trot round after round, while I had to do very little other than try get her change direction or keep her current one. She run so fast I was kinda worried she'd kick off a shoe, but she didn't and I was really glad I had put bell boots on her(and the wraps). She also managed to get sand/mud splashes on top of her butt while running...
After a good while, she seemed to get it out of her system and started to settle down a bit, so I asked her to stop. Then put saddle on and rode for bit. First trot and tolt and then one canter, which she did well and without bucking. I praised her ton for that, and didn't ask her more than the long side, then long reins and walk to cool off.
She got pretty sweaty and as it was late and seriously started to cool down for night, I had to rug her. : P I also put some liniment to her hind legs as both showed minor signs of swelling near the hocks... Hopefully it's nothing big or bad, but will have to pay attention to them and maybe start wrapping her legs more(though after todays ride, the wraps were coated thick with wet sand XP ). She's having massage tomorrow, which means Saturday is day off and unfortunately I can't ride her Sunday either(going to see stallion/breeder show and relatives at the same trip). But Monday I'll have to try... Still not sure if I want to meet up with the saddler next week or not. But I guess I'll learn more about that situation tomorrow as well, since if the saddle is really causing issues they should pop up in the massage.
I have also started doing a lot of translation work and pacing with his trot and that seems to be going really well, minus the tears and kicks. Hoping to start trotting poles at the beginning of April and jumping small stick by the end of April..let's hope all goes well.
If you don't want to quit totally, I'm sure you could still ride for just pleasure at least occasionally.