226 replies to this topic

[The Wife]

Yay, Horse People!

My husband and I own a boarding and training facility that specializes in barrel, an other western performance horses.

We normally have around 20 boarder's horses here at a time, as well as our personal horses.

Our horses are...

Rocker: (Mine) Bay QH gelding; Rocker is my main barrel horse, we bought him as a yearling when we first bought the ranch and he's been a part of our lives ever since. But, due to finances he'll be going to live with a friend and client of mine who loves him, almost as much as we do.

Loco: (Mine) Chestnut Appendix gelding; Loco is my back up/second horse, and he's a total firecracker. We've had him for several years he is always up to something, or into/doing something he shouldn't be, but he's a big love despite his personality quirks.

Mindy: (Chris') Dark Bay QH mare; Mindy was Chris' roping horse and trail buddy before his stroke. She's a permanent part of our horsey family as she means the world to Chris and K. Right now, I'm putting her on barrels and training her to be K's step up horse in a few years.

Tina: (K's) Pinto Shetland mare; Tina was K's first pony and is the family pet. She normally roams the yard, but got banished to the pasture after she and our oldie, Tex, got in trouble for frisking Chris for treats.

Chuck: (K) Pinto Pony gelding; Chuck is K's soon to be pony, I want her to stay on our oldie, Tex, one more year since we lost some time this winter. For now I'm riding him during lessons and while ponying other horses so that when I hand him over to K this fall he is dead quiet.

Tex: (K) Grey QH gelding; Tex is one of my old barrel horses, who I bought back, so that K could have something safe to start trotting and loping on. He's a saint and is always up for a game of Tex the Pretty Unicorn or Cowboys and Indians.

[Doodle]

Sounds fab! I have never really been interested in barrel racing being british, its not something we have over here! But When I have seen it, it looks great fun! I have ridden western before, but only as a child, and it was over here, not true western experience!

Always great to here from different horsey folks!

[Tatiana]

As were talking horsey, i couldnt resist putting a pic of our highland stallion, hes two years old (moss-side sandaig).

Weve just registered as a highland pony stud

please see link below

[horselover]

He is gorgeous Tatiana

[Boudica]

This is Alvis, (the shetland)hes now on permanent load if my OH asks lol

This is one of Tatiana too, Robbie (Dales) (hope you dont mind me adding him)

Attached Thumbnails

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[Doodle]

Lovely horses!!

Im dying to get back in the saddle

[JaneC]

Hi there everyone, I am in need of some help and advice. Sorry I only seem to post when I have a problem I do apologose for that !!

I have been riding side-saddle for about 18 months but am just starting to ride astride again as my Riding for the Disabled group has a lovely little Fell pony that I am trying out. I had my first lesson this week. My right leg is very much weaker than my right and I have very little control over what it is doing so it tends to jiggle against the pony's side, he is obviously very confused and keeps moving away from my right leg.

What can I do to secure it or put a pad between my leg and the girth perhaps ? I have seen disabled riders who have velcro straps to hold the stirrup leather to the girth but wouldnt this being like having your leg on all the time ?

The instructor on the yard has not taught disabled riders before so she is at a bit of a loss. We wondered about a foam block to hold my leg slightly away ??

Any comments or suggestions would be great from all you horsey folk out there who are way more experinced than me.

Doodle....How is Murphy, I imagine you must be back in training now, is it going well ?

Jane

[Tatiana]

Hi
I personally wouldnt worry about the feel of your leg on all the time with regards to the pony.
As you say. you do not have too much strength in the leg so it should not create a significant enough amount of pressure to cause a problem.At the very worse it may create a little impulsion but you can control that by gently half halting....I am going to presume you know about half halts but if not ask your instructor as it will offer you more control.
If the pony does move away from the leg then carry a long schooling whip on the opposite side and lie it against the flank, this will counteract and 'swing' him straight.

I would go with the strap around the stirrup leather..can it not be around the outer saddle flap and underside rather than to the girth..just a thought..

Have fun!

[Doodle]

No worries Jane! You will probably find that once the horse gets used to you he will ignore what your lower leg is doing! If you have no control, your leg will be a constant same pressure and they tend to grow dead to the feeling! As far as the straps go, its trial and error, as what works for one rider may not work for another! I use those velcro straps you mention, and find they work wonders for me, as I have absolutely no control over either of my lower legs. I tend to make the straps on quite tight to try and hold my leg against Murphy's sides. I am not sure about a pad though, you could try out a foam block of some kind! Give it ago, you may find it doesn't work, or it may do wonders!

And what Tatiana suggested about carrying a long stick on the right side to compensate!

My link I have inserted this website and if you scroll down there is a couple strap ideas, the white band may work quite well as it would keep your leg tight to the side! Just a thought!


As for Me and Murphy, I have been back on riding for 3weeks, and tried having a lesson a couple weeks ago but it was too much for my leg, I am trying again next week! I have bravely put in entries for a competition on the 25th of Sept, so It may be a bit too soon, or it could be just what I need!

[JaneC]

Hi

Thanks Tatiana and Doodle for your replies.

I think we will try securing my right leg with a strap and see if that helps, the pony has not been ridden by disabled riders much and has done dressage with previous owner, so I think he is just a bit confused. Hopefully the more we get to know each other the better we will work it out. I can see that it is just trial and error as we are all individual in our disabilities. I will let you know how it goes.

I hope you make it to the competition Doodle and that the leg keeps improving.

[Doodle]

Good Luck Jane!

I will be competing at REC in November or I hope to. If it snows in November I wont be very happy! I just wrote out a list of what i want to try and get to be the year is finished! So I now have some things to look forward too again albeit, now the nights are getting shorter and its getting colder

[JaneC]

I thought it was time for an update on "horsey talk" !

Hope all of you out there're ok and just to let you know that I am still riding ! I have a side-saddle lesson once a week and have even entered little unaffiliated dressage at the riding centre where I have my lessons.

I only do walk and trot at present as my seat is just not secure enough to consider canter so I have done Intro A .........I have to laugh as the age range is form the tots of 6 and 7 to the grannies of over 60 ! And yes I fit into the granny bit ! However it has been really good and I have even had a rosette or two and managed to score some 8's which has spurred me on to try even harder.

The local RDA group has also been given a little Fell pony who is a sweetie and I have started to ride him astride. This is much harder for me than side saddle and so is also giving me a new challenge but once I get used to him I would like to compete on him too.

On the down side I am waiting for surgery on both my feet to try and improve my walking as it has deteriorated over the last 18 months or so, that will mean no riding for a couple of months but hopefully I will be back in the New Year and in the saddle again.

Come on all of you what have you been doing ? It would be great to hear more "horsey" tales !

Jane

[Doodle]

Thats great Jane, do you ride side saddle at the competitions? Who is your RDA group? Sorry to here that you have been having some troubles with your mobility but very good luck with surgery, even though it means some down time, it will help you in the long run. I can sympathsise how it is when you have to take some time away from riding, but you will be back in the saddle before you know it!

I have had a busy end to the season, it appears having a summer off means hard work to get back to previous standards! Lots of training and some winter qualifiers! I also did a music demo at the Scottish RDA Supra Conference, which scared the life out of me, as I had to do Q&A session on murf! He was a good boy!

Now for a relatively quiet winter! With some local stuff to keep murf ticking over until the Winter Championships! Im going to a Christmas Festival on the 10th so that should be good fun, and its not too far from home, which is better for murf!

[Tetracyclone]

Doodle,
I loe the name "Murf".

[Doodle]

Doodle,
I loe the name "Murf".

Its actually Murphy but I always call him murf! I have attached a video, as I think you asked for footage in the past. Excuse the crap quality and the non perfect performance of horse and rider! Doodle and Murf trying to do dressage.

[Tetracyclone]

You two work well together! Thanks for the vid.

[JaneC]

Thanks for the video Doodle it looks amazing, and you look so quiet and secure I still feel that I end up bouncing a lot in my sitting trot, now I shall have to really work hard to look anything like you and Murphy !

I do ride side saddle in the little dressage competitions I have done, as yet I have not splashed out and bought the proper habit etc as they are very expensive but next year I might be lurking on eBay to see if I can find one.

I am a member of Otley and district RDA they are a great bunch of people, you may have come across Kathryn Wheelock who competes a lot at para and able-bodied dressage, she is a member and started riding with Anne Everall who teaches me.

Good to hear that you are back competing again after your mishap and time out hope we don't get too much snow this year so that we can all keep riding through the winter.

Thanks for the update. Jane

[Doodle]

Thank you both

Any equipment for horses seems to be so expensive, Im just thinking about getting a dressage saddle. As I still ride in a GP.

Yes I know of Kathryn Wheelock, I haven't met her personally but I have seen her ride in the past! She has some lovely horses. I will hopefully catch up with you next year when I am down your way, as I have a couple of competitions planned for the spring!

Yes finger crossed for a milder winter, Im not sure there is such a thing up here haha! I wish for a lavish indoor school from Santa... Dreaming!

[twisted_ophelia]

Thank you both

Any equipment for horses seems to be so expensive, Im just thinking about getting a dressage saddle. As I still ride in a GP.

Yes I know of Kathryn Wheelock, I haven't met her personally but I have seen her ride in the past! She has some lovely horses. I will hopefully catch up with you next year when I am down your way, as I have a couple of competitions planned for the spring!

Yes finger crossed for a milder winter, Im not sure there is such a thing up here haha! I wish for a lavish indoor school from Santa... Dreaming!

I semi-forgot about this thread! Emma, I'm so glad you are back riding! How long did you end up having to take off? I haven't ridden since I think I was about... maybe 4 months pregnant, close to 5. But now that I've had Noa exactly 8 weeks ago, I'm just dying to get back in the saddle. I had leased both my horses out for the duration of my pregnancy so they got consistently worked (and lots of lovies since I was on bed rest for the most part) but we took Noa up to see them a couple weekends ago and it was AMAZING to be back at the barn. I'm going to try to get on Riot this coming weekend (my calmer horse) and ride for a teensy bit. I'm totally worried about how my body will handle it after a very high risk pregnancy and a 37 hour long natural birth which I'm still not fully recovered from. I'm desperate to go on a gorgeous long hack! Miss my horses!!

Edited by twisted_ophelia, 30 November 2011 - 05:34 AM.

[paul1404]

Im not to confident of riding so a pony and trap is more suitable for me. I have had a wheelchair converted into a trap. Here's a video of my pony " Prancer"

Thank you both

Any equipment for horses seems to be so expensive, Im just thinking about getting a dressage saddle. As I still ride in a GP.

Yes I know of Kathryn Wheelock, I haven't met her personally but I have seen her ride in the past! She has some lovely horses. I will hopefully catch up with you next year when I am down your way, as I have a couple of competitions planned for the spring!

Yes finger crossed for a milder winter, Im not sure there is such a thing up here haha! I wish for a lavish indoor school from Santa... Dreaming!

OMG wow M's you look fantastic

Edited by paul1404, 30 November 2011 - 06:39 PM.

[Doodle]

Hahaha Pauly! Thats straaaange! Do you like the view you have from behind?

Hey mimi!! I bet you can't wait to get back on, but take it slow! As you said you havent fully recovered, so your core wont be the strongest for balancing! But even just being able to be around a horse and smelling like one again is a great feeling! and just think in 4/5 years Noa could have a pony! Going for a hack is so relaxing and I imagine you need to unwiiiiind!

[The Wife]

Sorry to bring up an older thread, but only horse people will really understand the severity of the situation...

For the first time, since I was a child, I do not own a horse. In the course of a year I went from owning two competition horses, three youngsters, and a broodmare, to zero.

Tomorrow, I have to wake up and go work my client's horses and there will be no soft fuzzy noses of my own to smooch. When I feed, his stall will be empty and when I close the door for the night there will be no frantic nickering for that last peppermint.

The Husband and Daughter's horses are there and I'll have Mindy and Tex to ride when I want, but it's just not the same as going out to the barn and seeing Loco throw his head over the door to demand his breakfast.

Good Luck, Loco. Go show'em what for, Big Boy.

[twisted_ophelia]

I have started riding again (both my horses). Getting back on for the first time since being 4 or 5 months pregnant was AMAZING despite my body being totally out of riding shape. I had gentle rides on both my horses, just walk and canter (and a tiny bit of sitting trot but I've JUST healed from having the baby and I don't want to bang myself up down there LOL) and a few canter poles. I'm hoping to get out on a hack this weekend. It felt SO good. My balance was completely messed up since my abdominals and trunk muscles are a mess from carrying Noa and being pregnant so I think it's going to take me at least until the spring to get that back and start properly jumping again. Just being on my horses was the best thing ever. On a sad note, since I last rode, we've had THREE horses die at the barn (two from colic and one from old age/euthanasia) and it's devastating.

TheWife, I haven't read through this whole thread but did you recently lose Loco? I'm so sorry :-(

[Doodle]

That's so good to hear mimi! Take time to build yourself back up, but you will get there. And hopefully they will look after you. I'm sorry to hear of the loss of the horses, it's always horrible.
I'm sorry to hear of your loss the wife. It is like losing your best friend!

[JaneC]

Just a quick update, I had surgery on my right leg and foot on 7th December and was non-weight bearing and in a cast, had the cast off last week and the first thing I did was book a riding lesson !

I had 8 weeks with no riding and was suffering serious pony withdrawal !

Side-saddle lesson tomorrow and if that goes ok I shall try and have a dressage lesson next week, can't wait. Hope to see you at a competition if you are down this way Doodle, please let me know if you have any planned.

[Doodle]

Hi Jane! How did your lessons go?

I can completely sympathsise with the pony withdrawal, having had the whole summer in cast last year!

I have a few things planned for the end of winter, beginning of spring. I'm going down to the Para Winter Festival, and have a couple qualifiers one at Bishop Burton, and another at REC, in April for the National Championships. Hopefully see you out and about!

Ps... Mimi! How is riding going? How is noa?

[JaneC]

Hi Doodle

I have had 2 side saddle lessons and they went well, I was not as rusty as I thought after the enforced break, SO good to get back in the saddle ! My dressage lesson last week was cancelled because of the ice at the yard but hoping to get there this Friday, riding astride is much harder for my legs and feet so just have to be careful I don't put too much strain on the foot/leg that has had the surgery and undo my surgeon's good work !

Are your competitions at Bishop B and REC on 1st and 20th April ? Will try and get to one of them to watch I love to watch proper riders not novices like me !!

[Doodle]

Yeah they are on those dates, I'm still very much grass roots!!

You don't want to upset the leg, take it easy! Iam in a lot of pain after yesterday's lesson, my second one this year, I wonder how murphy feels! Only 3 weeks until the winter championships, aaaaaah!

[JaneC]

Hi Doodle

Really upset that I can't get to watch either of the 2 competitions in Yorkshire , have family commitments on both dates !

Please let me know how you and Murphy get on .

My leg is doing well and I am back riding once or twice a week it is still one of the highlights of my week although I now have a new granddaughter nearly 8 weeks old who is proving quite a distraction too !!

[Doodle]

Hi Jane, I hope you well!

Sorry I have taken so long to reply. I haven't been upto much lately as Murphy was out of action for end of april begin of May then I was out of action with a ligament strain. but we are both now back in action, and getting focused for the British Dressage Para Championships at Hickstead in June

How is your riding going?