Do You Ride Horses? V.4

[.Scarlet.]

@ Hime- yesssss socks That would be a cute baby. How's Ty doing?? And lessons on Heta??

Update- So my IHSA team has the second to last show of this semester left this weekend. And I feel like I've done so crap this semester. I pointed up to Novice the 2nd show and since then all I've gotten is two 6th places. It really kind of sucks. And I feel like I always get lumped into the Novice class with all the good riders. But I did just point up into the pit, which is Novice. I'm just trying to prep for Regionals in the spring, which I'm going to and next weekend's show when I finally show over fences, which I'm really kind of worried about. I've never shown over fences, let alone on a horse I don't even know D:
How do you guys stay calm at the shows??

[Albino_]

@ Hime- yesssss socks That would be a cute baby. How's Ty doing?? And lessons on Heta??

Update- So my IHSA team has the second to last show of this semester left this weekend. And I feel like I've done so crap this semester. I pointed up to Novice the 2nd show and since then all I've gotten is two 6th places. It really kind of sucks. And I feel like I always get lumped into the Novice class with all the good riders. But I did just point up into the pit, which is Novice. I'm just trying to prep for Regionals in the spring, which I'm going to and next weekend's show when I finally show over fences, which I'm really kind of worried about. I've never shown over fences, let alone on a horse I don't even know D:
How do you guys stay calm at the shows??

I just count to ten and i try to relaxe so the horse does too. Then i give it my best

[.Scarlet.]

@ Hime- yesssss socks That would be a cute baby. How's Ty doing?? And lessons on Heta??

Update- So my IHSA team has the second to last show of this semester left this weekend. And I feel like I've done so crap this semester. I pointed up to Novice the 2nd show and since then all I've gotten is two 6th places. It really kind of sucks. And I feel like I always get lumped into the Novice class with all the good riders. But I did just point up into the pit, which is Novice. I'm just trying to prep for Regionals in the spring, which I'm going to and next weekend's show when I finally show over fences, which I'm really kind of worried about. I've never shown over fences, let alone on a horse I don't even know D:
How do you guys stay calm at the shows??

Almost forgot, I got new boots. New TALL boots. The dreaded break in period for my first pair of tall, all leather boots and my ankles are already dying. I only had a flat lesson this week because my instructor is out of the country, but she told us to ride before our show, so we did. But oh my goodness do they hurt!!!! They dig so much into the back of my knee and my heel and ankle are just ahhhh. Does anyone have any boot breaking in tips?? I'm being super anal with my boots too. I've already polished them with Urad twice and I only got them last weekend.But help with breaking in my ariats! I can only deal with so much pain D:

[Kestrell]

I had the worst time breaking in my tall boots! Wear them around your house in some pj pants and long socks with the zipper about halfway up and ever ten minutes raise the zipper up until you get it all the way zipped and just walk around with them zipped for a few hours (repeat for about 3 days). Besides that and just riding I don't have any other tips

[Petlover552]

I REALLY want some english riding boots!! (chaps?)
Me and my family are western folk, so don't ride or do english very often at all :p

[ShortyTheHobbitess]

I REALLY want some english riding boots!! (chaps?)
Me and my family are western folk, so don't ride or do english very often at all :p

If you have a pair of short lace up boots, just get a pair of half chaps. I'm on the same boat that I ride more western then English, but I do enjoy english. The lining of my tall boots is all funky & it would cost more to fix them than they're worth & with not even a guarantee that it would last. So I got a pair of cheaper half chaps (don't remember brand right if hand), but I truly love them. I usually wear them in both disciplines if I'm just putting around home - mostly because I need to get a new pair of regular riding boots, mine were a hand-me-down from my sister & that was over 6 years ago.

Had the new farrier come out yesterday. I am quite impressed with how he dealt with foundered donkey feet (years ago he was allowed to wander around the yard & chowed down in the corn bin) in just one session compared to the other farrier we've had out the last few times, he alctually has flat normal-ish looking feet! Lucky Pearl only needed a few places rasped & she was done. Shorty got trimmed all the way around, she was pretty good, but got a little wiggly when the farrier when he was using his stand to hold her back right leg in a forward position (think like if they're kicking their belly to shoo flies). We'd taken her to a chiropractor this summer & they had said something about her glute muscle (the equivalent??) was snapping on thee ring side of her bone or something. So I figure I'll have to start doing some stretches for her hind legs.

[Hime]

@Jezi: Ah, that must suck. One of the stable's horses managed to fracture his coffin bone couple years back while in paddock(well arena to be exact). XP

@Scarlet: Tý's doing okay I think(probably been month or two since I last went to see him). The boys were recently moved to different paddock/shelter though. Since there's now more girls than boys, so the boys had to give up their two paddocks to the girls. Heta's been doing okay on lessons I believe, or at least I haven't heard anything about it(I should probably ask though)... Past few weeks though I haven't been able to ride her much myself, so not really sure how she is to ride these days. :\ But very soon it's Christmas holiday time and hopefully I get to ride plenty. ^^

Don't be too hard on yourself. ^^ You just moved up and if I remember right you said once that the Novice level has ton more riders, so naturally it'll be harder to get points if there's so much more competition. If possible I'd try and get a chance to jump some course before the actual show, if you haven't jumped in a long time. If that's not possible... Just try to focus on the horse and make every stride count before you need to start the course in terms of figuring out the horse you are riding, and also keep it up during the course as well. Honestly I'd be terrified to even ride a completely strange horse in any show setting, so really I don't think I can't offer much help on the nerves. Other than remember to breath. ^^;

Darn, I think I just read a tall boot breaking in tip somewhere. It may have involved using water somehow... Most common I've heard is to wear them as much as possible when not riding. I've never had the 'pleasure' of breaking in tall boots and I really don't think there's much to break in with just paddock boots. XD
Couple links I found with some tips:
http://www.proequinegrooms.com/index.php/tips/equipment-and-tack/tips-for-breaking-in-a-new-pair-of-riding-or-paddock-boots/
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-news/2014/07/18-how-to-break-in-your-tall-boots.aspx

@Ponu: I'd be jumping around like crazy if I found $9 pants. XD Cheapest I've ever seen on sale have probably been around 40-50 euros, but not my size/liking sadly. : P

[.Scarlet.]

@Hime-Thanks for all the tips! I'm going to ride twice this coming week before our show and work on my jumping. Hopefully I'll meet her standards. Hopefully all the ponies are doing well ^-^ and hahaha, no thankfully no breaking in paddock boots. I think I would cry if I had to break those in!

Well, I was nowhere near happy with my ride today. I almost fell off and we had a different coach for today because our's is away for the week. And she is very critical, which I appreciate, but I had a hard time fixing the things. And then, someone let a porta potty door slam and my horse spooked and I almost ate it. But I stayed on, calmed him down and cantered. I came out of the ring and she told me what I should do, but I think I was just upset and overwhelmed and starting tearing up. I hate crying and I did and I'm just not happy at all with this day. Just, ugh. Hopefully this coming weekend will go better and I remember all my courses and make it without falling.

[doriengray]

Wow it's been awhile since I've posted! Anyone remember me? xD I'm the beginner rider and who bought a fleabitten grey thoroughbred gelding months ago, Mushu. Then he had his laminitis scare, but it just turned out to be an abscess in his hoof. Since then, he's been amazing! .Since his winter coat has come out, you can see the flecks of grey alot more clearly now. He definitely doesn't act like he's 18, he acts like he's 4! He's teaching me alot :)

Latest photos

[:Toucan:]

Hi guys! How is everyone doing? Does anyone have any fun Thanksgiving plans coming up if you celebrate?? My mom and I went to Equine Affaire last weekend and it was fun....we volunteered a lot. But we agreed next year we want to take a trip instead to a ranch to go trail riding rather than watching other people ride all weekend

@Hime

Have you thought of any names in particular for the new foal?? That's so exciting

@Scarlet

I'm sorry you've been having a bad week!For nerves just try to forget your'e in a competition-just pretend your trying to do a really nice hack and have fun! Even if you make a mistake (not saying you will though ), remember that everyone else who's ever rode at the competition your'e going to has made mistakes too and everybody has those off days!! Sorry i'm so bad at giving advice.

@Targaryen (p.s .....KHALEESI!!! I very much enjoy GoT )

Mushu is so adorable, and I love that name!! Have you been able to work with him much or is he resting from the abscess? How long have you been riding for ?