Do You Ride Horses? V.4

[Albino_]

So I'm gonna be able to ride again on Tuesday! I get to clean stalls and then ride 6 horses, one at a time obviously. But it's gonna be fun! I havnt ridden for a long while and I get to get back in the saddle. I'm so excited! And the thing is. The owner of the horses is my bosses farrier. Haha.

[Nocte Luna]

Wow it's been too long and too much has happened.

@WhoaDazzle
Don't ride in a pasture that you turn out in/feed in, it can be very ineffective because the horse will associate said pasture with food. Keep 1-2 different locations to work in. As far as keeping the horse, make sure that he/she has adequate food and water, lodging (is it kept in a stall or is it outside for most of the day?, etc), and emergency supplies. I would also recommend not doing the same workout every day, so come up with a loose training plan that varies as far as time, intensity, and what you're working on. Not sure if you ride English or Western, but I think either way working over poles can be very helpful and keep your horse interested in what you're doing. If possible, keep a phone on your person in case of an emergency and always let someone know before you ride. Another thing to keep in mind is take your time grooming and untacking, especially in the summer, so the horse can cool down completely. If you find out any more information, let us all know!

@TheSilverBrumby
Tell someone about what you've seen and experienced with those people. If they board/lease, then they'll have to have the owner's permission before bringing another horse onto the property. Perhaps the owner can help them in their decision, and help them decide not to purchase the horse. Good luck!

@My riding
Last Sunday was the show, and it went really well! First place in all 3 events with Senator, which is awesome! Our flat class was great, we had one late canter depart, but other than that, it was excellent. We did 2 foot warmup and 2 foot fences and won both. The jumps seemed a little small, actually. I could have done 2'6" easily, not sure if I would have won but I could have definitely competed. Senator was really great!

I also got to ride new guy Pete on Thursday, who is very speedy but caught on quickly when I was doing square halts with him.

Not sure if I told you guys, but I was having problems with my right knee. It's been hurting almost every time I've ridden since Thursday, but only when I trot. Not sure what it is, but if it persists, then I'm going to get it checked out.

Popped into K's lesson yesterday, Beginner Jump, (the class I first started in haha) and it went really well! I rode Senator and we did a total of 3 short courses, which was fine with me. I missed my morning lesson due to music stuff, unfortunately. Oh well. My knee started to hurt, and unfortunately we did a lot of trotting, but I didn't feel any pain after my lesson, so I'm hoping maybe it's sorted itself out.

My student has been doing very well lately, right now I'm trying to do more prep work to get her into K's class before April so I can focus a little more on school. I know my extra barn day will soon come to an end, but it was great while it lasted.

I also finally got my new stirrups onto my saddle, and I found a little horse shoe charm on an old necklace a few days ago. I took the charm off, put it onto a little ring, and now it's on the D ring of my saddle! It looks very nice. I've come to really like my saddle, even if it is slightly uncomfortable on my butt from time to time I do really appreciate it and take care of it. Now to get all the other things on my horsey wishlist...

[.Scarlet.]

Well, what a week I've had.

Let's start with Thursday. I got on a horse I haven't ridden in some time, couple months, named Bindi. She's a fabulous horse and she keeps getting better. And for my first time on her in a long time, we did great! I believe Thursday was my best ride to date and I was so proud of myself. We jumped a 2' pole and a 2' 6" oxer coming down the line and then a fence coming off the diagonal. But it felt perfect and my instructor and I were thrilled. The woman that owns Bindi even complimented me repeatedly. Made my week. And the video I added is us going down the line with slow-mo! (don't really want critique, that's what my trainer is for!)

https://www.facebook.com/amelia.lipkind/videos/1121149894592551/?l=2427289447492543237

And then... it all went south at our last IHSA hunt seat weekend. They had gotten a new horse and who drew it? me. No one else rode her before me. Mind you, this is my second over fences in a show, ever. We make it over the first one, hardly, she stuck her nose out and confused me. And when going passed the in-gate, she decided she didn't want to jump anymore and jerked to a stop and walked out Well, I went into a dirt, but thankfully nothing but a few skin tears on my one hand. Let go of the reins if you're falling >.<
I did okay in my flat class later, but I didn't place. And then I did fences today and they went a lot better. I'm so glad I decided to. The horse I drew was this cute flea bitten gray named Joey who has the cutest floppy ears. Yeah, it was sloppy as can be, only got one lead, but my instructor was happy I went and did it and stayed on. And so am I. My flat went okay, I kept getting the wrong lead the one way, but I liked my horse. However, the judge was doing what they're not supposed to do, which is judge the horses and not the riders. IHSA is all about how the rider works with the horse, not how the horse looks. That's unfair because everyone is given a random horse. So I somehow pinned second when I really shouldn't have. Yay for second, boo for wrong judge.

All in all, the weekend ended better than it started and I am definitely sore and tired because really, who sleeps well in hotels? Regionals are in two weeks and I need first or second to qualify for zones, which would be amazing. That's my IHSA update for you all c:

And.. I got an internship for the cutest equestrian apparel company everrrr. I just got merchandise in the mail and I'm in love with it all. Here are their pages if you want to see their stuff!
http://www.equestrianprep.com
https://www.facebook.com/stirrupsclothingcompany/

To me, their stuff is just super cute and I can't wait to continue being an intern for them! And this is some of the stuff that they sent me for being their intern!

Also, here's a still shot from the video of Bindi and I if you wanted to see c:


Sorry for all the big pictures

[atychiphobia]

@whoadazzle I love it when people do natural horsemanship. I do clinics with a man called John chatteron, his clinics are really really good. His method was used to save a horses life. If you want you can search up "John Chatterton natural horsemanship". That guy is awesome. What I was going to say was don't do parelli. I know a lot of people love his method but it's actually a load of junk. It makes the horses tense and then they have more back issues, the horse fears you etc. A lot of horse people don't know that parelli is actually bad for them and the horse.
I ride in my paddock but the ground is hard and we don't have an arena, round yard etc. But when we can float the horses out we normally go to a nearby stables thing. We are friends with the owners so they let us ride there whenever we want without charge. It's 1000 acres and they have a round yard, washing area, yards, fields, paddocks, stables, arena, livestock, cross country course, lakes, dams, a blue stone mansion etc. but that's if we can float out.

Ok now onto me
I have recently been doing horse vaulting so I can pass this pony club test I have to do. I used to do vaulting when I was little for quite a few years but we stopped because of multiple reasons. I have recently been getting back into it with my horse. We have a cheap vaulting set so it is no where near as good as the one I learnt on. In addition to that my horse's figure is a lot slimmer then a vaulting horses so it is harder to do poses and tricks on him. He is also a very very uncomfortable horse and makes your back hurt. But if I ignore all that then we are normally pretty good, I can't go faster then walk or I'll fall off. I am working on standing and currently can do it at halt but I need support at walk. But I'm happy with my progress and Midnight (my horse) is being really really good.

[Namikaze~Sin]

Been a little while now but heeeeey ^_^

Any tips for bonding with a new share/part loan pony? Do you find singing to horses makes them know your voice better?

[doriengray]

Hey guys, so I'm a beginner I guess you could say when it comes to riding, although I've been around horses pretty much all my life. I brought home my current horse, Mushu, last year and I feel like he doesn't respect me as a rider and I think it's because I haven't found my confidence yet, any tips on getting him to respect me? Also what are some good exercises I can do while riding, just little fun things to teach me some stuff I guess c:

[allo vera]

Hey guys, so I'm a beginner I guess you could say when it comes to riding, although I've been around horses pretty much all my life. I brought home my current horse, Mushu, last year and I feel like he doesn't respect me as a rider and I think it's because I haven't found my confidence yet, any tips on getting him to respect me? Also what are some good exercises I can do while riding, just little fun things to teach me some stuff I guess c:

A least for me, groundwork. I try to use as much of it as possible (although my opportunities are limited, as I just take lessons). It seems for me that if you can get the horse to respect you on the ground, they will respect you more in the saddle. I feel like it's true for all horses a little bit, but every horse is different. For example, one horse that I rode was a terror on the ground, but very sweet while under saddle.

One of the exercises I think is fun is a cloverleaf pattern. You set up 4 poles on the ground, in a plus sign shape. You go over the first (I did it at the trot, but walking would work fine too), go straight out, and turn to the right. You circle back around and go over the next pole, and repeat the cycle like so. It's a good exercise to work on bending and turning.

Another exercise I do a lot also helps with bending. You get yourself on a large circle. Trot, and bend to the inside (the horses that I ride know to do this when you shift the reins to the outside. I'm not sure what you'd have to do to get Mushu to bend if he's not trained to do it.). Make a circle or two with an inside bend, then go to an outside bend (once again I shift my reins inward). We just usually repeat this a couple times, then change directions and do it again. It help loosen the horse up with bending, and gets them into their "working" mentality.

[xChry.]

Hey you guys. Update.
My mare Beauty has coliced. I caught it too late. Vet says shes got a small chance of survival for this one. Ive been with her for hours on end now and she just keeps declining. Please pray for her recovery. She is my everything and I dont think I can own another horse and love one the same I love her. I dont even know why she coliced. It sucks...

[Lady_Lycana]

I know I have not posted in a while but I saw this on my facebook

http://www.kolotv.com/content/news/BLM- ... 10552.html

[Kasper]

Haven't been here in a while, but ah well.
Things had been moving pretty slowly for me last week in the horse department, but happy to say things are really picking up!
Transferred to a new stable (same one I went to when I was younger) and I'm working there all spring break!! After that back to regular lessons, until summer, when I'll be working again.

I'm really happy at my new barn because my previous kept me on trot poles & the occasional canter only from September until last week (even though I informed them I'd been riding for ten years before my assessment ) Now after one day I'm back jumping regularly as I was before I moved back to this city!! Finally!!



@spirit - About the respect: the bond between you and your horse is very important, not even so much as just riding but out of the saddle, too. Groundwork builds trust & respect most of all. My barn just got two new miniature horses and I'm often asked to lead them on trails to get them used to listening to people. Since your horse is most likely not a mini, doing trail rides is great. Before you go, plan out where you're going. No matter what happens, stick to that same plan - don't let your horse go for grass or decide to turn down a different path if that's not what you've intended. To keep them on track, begin by gently opening whatever rein is necessary (if they're turning left, open right, if right, open left). If they're going for grass, pull up sharply (adjust how hard you pull to how difficult they're being and how hard they went for the grass). Redirect them more if they refuse, but never start by immediately going full pull and crop (if you are even using a crop, which may be a good idea depending on the horse).
Fun exercises: Trail riding, once again, has many benefits and may be a good bonding activity if your horse is not easily spooked and you have access to trails. Lunging is helpful, and you can ask your coach how if you don't know how to do it properly.

@chry - I am so sorry to hear that. I wish her recovery, any chance of it, and hope everything does get better for you.

@namikaze - You could skim through the monster paragraph I wrote above - trail riding & such?

@silver brumby - Ooh, vaulting sounds hard. I've never attempted it myself but heard good things about it - it's supposed to be the safest horse sport? Well wishes to you and Midnight!

@scarlet - Bindi sounds lovely! That jumping photo is magazine-worthy. That's too bad that things didn't go well for you at your show - new horses are always difficult, though.