| Paging all Equestrians!!
Posted: 1/29/2007 10:33:40 AM | WARNING: This thread will be virtually incomprehensible to non-horsie people. lol!
Well I looked through the threads to see if there were already some about riding, but apparently not. I know there are lots of us out there! :-)
So, I was thinking we could introduce ourselves and talk horses! We're a very *special* breed of people, those of us who loooove the smell of the barn and who would rather spend money on a new halter or bridle than a new pair of jeans. 
I presently own 2 horses - my 12-yr old Saddlebred mare, who is my ex-Jumper (competed up to 3'3" and schooled up to 3'9"), and her coming 3-yr old filly, who I bred myself - her sire is a fancy 17hh Dutch Warmblood stallion. I just started her under saddle, and she's coming along nicely! I can't wait to start showing her this summer - haven't decided whether it'll be at some small Dressage shows, or maybe the baby green Hunters, who knows...!
Hope to hear from lots more avid equestrians! | |
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Posted: 1/29/2007 7:04:08 PM | Well seems like this post has been sitting here for a long time with no reply!
I too love horses since I was 3! I own an ex racer that I re-trained and we now do dressage and I will be putting him over some jumps and maybe even eventing him soon to mix it up.
Wow a saddlebred/warmblood will be an awesome combination! Good choice! I find the cross breeds are the best horses.
I'm sure you can appreciate the hot blooded horses (saddlebred/thoroughbred!) lovely all hearted creatures but the warmblood crosses are the best of both worlds!
Did you end up doing any showing this summer past? How did things go? | |
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Posted: 1/30/2007 10:16:26 AM | Hi there, thanks for posting on my lonely thread! lol
Is your guy a Thoroughbred or Standardbred? (you said ex-racer, I assume TB..?)
Nope, no showing last summer, unless you cound the one breed show I did.. but my girl is not really the "Conformation Hunter" type, so she didn't place. But she behaved like a star and stood still patiently for 30 minutes while my friends braided her mane and tail for me! :-)
I was very proud!
Are you doing much riding over the winter? | |
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Posted: 1/30/2007 10:28:47 AM | Good for you! I think anything to do with respect to shows are great experiences for the horses!
I own a Thoroughbred! Giant guy 17.1 hands dark bay and very flashy! He gets lots of attention when we go to events.
I ride 4 to 5 days per week all year round. Some nights I ride 3 horses and just love it! I would rather be working the horses than hitting the gym any night and it keeps my abs in shape! LOL
I keep my horse at a stable with an indoor arena that is heated so that I can ride all year round. How about you? Only summer/spring riding? | |
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Posted: 1/30/2007 11:43:44 AM | I'm in the same boat, I board at a barn with an indoor insulated arena. I'm not doing much riding at the moment cuz my youngster is only going to be 3 yrs officially at the end of June - so she's still kinda young and growthy. I ride her once a week or so, sometimes I don't ride and just practice ground driving, free-jumping, etc... gotta mix it up or else she'll get restless, she's one of those horses that learns fast and needs to be constantly challenged or she'll be bored and get destructive or pissy. 
Is there a big English riding (Dressage, Jumper, etc..) community in Calgary? I know that, for example, here in the Ottawa area there's virtually NO Western riding/shows... is it the opposite out there in cowboy country..? | |
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Posted: 1/31/2007 8:08:06 AM | Hello:
That sucks to only be in the saddle once per week. You must really miss it!
Yes we have a large equestrian community here in Calgary and other areas. You could basically show all year round. Our English circuit is just as big and as busy as the western circuit which I think is cool!
You can get your horse involved in everything if you like we have so many options!
I did a weekend riding clinic with a Level III Dressage trainer this past weekend. I do one every month until she can come to our stable on a regular basis! It is good to get my guy out in a trailer/stay over night at a different stable and be around positive encouraging riders! It motivates me to want to ride better.
So from now on I will be riding with no stirrups to develop my seat. That includes walk/trot and canter! LOL Wish me luck! Midnight is getting better and better and really start using his hind end properly.
Looky here I guess we can both talk horses all day! Now only to meet a man with the same interests as me in horses! LOL | |
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Posted: 2/1/2007 6:32:46 AM | lol.. yup, I guess this'll be more of a chat thread then... :p
That's funny you should say that, about finding a guy who likes horses - I have never felt the urge to date a guy who's into horses. I actually really like introducing newbies to my horses and the horse world... it's so fun to see them go from tentative and clueless to confident and knowledgeable, don't you think? :p
It reminds me of the Bambi movie (when he's learning to talk), when the guys suddenly point at something and they're like "that's the... girth, right??" and they're all proud of themselves when they get it right!! LOL! It's so cute! :p
I'm going to try and get into Dressage with my filly, I think... ;-) | |
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Posted: 2/1/2007 5:12:46 PM | LOL yes I have introduced a couple of boyfriends to the horse scene! It is nice when they enjoy it! I'm hard core into it though and some people don't understand my commitment -have you ever experienced that?
I say to him "what is the difference if I went to the gym a couple hours per night?". I think it is because he does not understand the work involved when you own horses. I love it and would not change a thing! I left one boyfriend of 3 years as he said him or the horses I said sorry babe the horses have been in my life since I was 3 year sold! So you gotta go! LOL Anyway that is another story!!
Dressage for your filly will be sooooooooooooooo good!! Are you experienced in dressage? If any questions don't hesitate to ask!!
Sherry | |
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Posted: 2/2/2007 7:27:30 PM | Ok guys, I have to break up this chat so this thread doesn't get deleted!!
I'm the proud owner of a *beautiful* QH x Arab named Mexically, Mexi for short and Mex when she gets cranky ;) . She's my baby girl, turned seven and has a canter to die for. She was abused before I got her and bred way way to young, so her and I have had a few conversations! She jumps 3'6 consistantly, and schools 3'9, I have the QH hind end and the Arab lungs to thank for that. Right now we're still working on some emotional issues she has, I'm a huge fan of herd dynamics and how well they work when trying to communicate with your horse. Nothing worse than to see someone saying 'back up' and clucking at their horse at the same time! Mexi and I are working with another pony, Skippy... he's a shetland/miniture/heinz 57 something, but what a doll! He's an interesting case too, never touched by humans before we got him, so I can get into his head a little better using Mex to coach him.
I've trained, coached and worked in just about every barn in my province, and love every minute of it!!
After Midnight~ good for you girl, get rid of those stirrups!! Any rider worth her weight knows the value of riding without stirrups. Don't cross them, take them right off the saddle - the buckles may (or may not, depending on your gear) get in the way of the natural lie of your leg. Once you get used to no stirrups, get rid of the saddle, I was pleasantly surprised how much my jumping improved bareback (low jumps, like, 18inch -2ft, I still need my two-point!). Plus, lets be honest, riding bareback is fun! See if you can get a friend to lunge you, I'm sure you know how helpful that is when you really want to work on your position.
Thank god for all these beauties! What would we ever do without them ? | |
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Posted: 2/3/2007 5:36:16 PM | Katherynne WELCOME to the group! LOL!!
It sounds like you have a gem in Mexi! I love the hot blooded crosses! They make such awesome horses and are ALL heart and very willing to try try try.
Just hold in there with her abusive past. She will learn to trust you. She is in better hands now and they know when they are treated right and looked after. It is wrong to abuse - I really would enjoy kicking some so called horsemens'/horsewomens' behinds!
It is funny that you mentioned about the lungeing. Just today my girlfriend and I lunged each other with no reins and no stirrups. Wow it was just an amazing time!!!! I could not believe how responsive Midnight was to my seat. My friend did not even have to do anything just hold on the lunge. I will try and do that every couple of weeks.
What is the equestrian community like there? | |
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Posted: 2/3/2007 8:01:17 PM | You're right, she is a gem, just a little rough around the edges!!
Isn't is amazing what we can learn from our horses? Mexi and I have very similar personalities, something that got in the way when we first started working together. But, teamwork is all about compremise, isn't it? Push and pull, and a little bit of leeway in the end.
She trusts me now, which is awesome. I remember when she finally did trust me, we were ground working in the indoor, she was a riled up and cranky, and I gave a little - you could see the lightbulb go off over her head! She was just like 'oh... this human won't *force* me to do anything'. Her issues lie with other people, she's not a fan of others trying to touch her if I'm not there. She's not vicious or anything, she's just used to having to force her way with others and if I'm not there to tell her other people are ok, she can be intimidating.
Lunging is an amazing way to learn. Most of my students have 2-3 lessons a week, and one of their lessons is always without stirrups or on the lunge with nothing but their seat. It works wonders when they are learning to jump, and need to be able to compress and open up their position - the looseness you feel through your hip and leg with no stirrups should be easily carried over into jumping, lunging keeps the oil in the gears ;)
Oh goodness, there are horses everywhere here. Mostly hunter/jumper, but dressage is making a comeback as well. It's nice to have a good balance, that way we all learn more. I prefer private lessons and training horses myself, so I'm not big into the group lesson barns anymore, now that I feel more confident in my own work. I'm thinking about going out to Calgary to build my barn in a few years, what's around out there? Going to the Chrysler Classic this past July at Spruce Meadows hooked me!! | |
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Posted: 2/6/2007 4:04:56 PM | Well, I can't let you English people have all the fun!!! I was fortunate enough to learn english as my first disipline when I was 6. When I was 9 I started riding a morgan/QH for a girl who had no time for him anymore. He was an ex show horse. Western riding, reining, western pleasure and stock seat equitation. Unfortunetly, with my little riding experience, we just trail rode. LOL I had George until I turned 16 and was then the proud owner of my first reg. QH gelding. I never looked back. That big bay 15.3 hh monster (I'm only 5') taught me alot. Both english and western. I had the pleasure of taking clinics from dressage, hunter/jumper, and western trainers. If your from Canada, you would recognize the name Leslie Reid. I rode with Leslie and her dad Doug, when Leslie still rode western. (I just aged myself. LOL) If you know any western trainers, I remember Jason Grimshaw when he was just a little shit in gumboots. LOL
I totally believe in the "taking the stirrups away routine" as my trainer did it to me and my sister. She would make us do a whole one hour lesson that way. UGHHH Best thing she ever did. It pains me to watch the newer riders (into their 2-3 year) that still have horrible seats and hands. These kids nowadays, just don't care. I am not a trainer, nor am I a coach, but I do know right from wrong and I just cringe. I wanna be mean and take "their' stirrups away!
My life has always been evolved around horses. I was a hot-walker at Hastings Park in Vancouver and worked my way up to groom. It was an experience I will never forget. (wish I could) Some pretty awful trainers out there. Anyways..............................
I now share a beautiful APHCC/QH with my 17 year old daughter. We've had him for 4 years now and my daughter does reining on him. For you english people that don't know what that is, it's western dressage. It's absolutely amazing to watch. The next Olympic sport!! To break up his routine, he gets to go chase cows but he likes the trail rides the best. I truly believe that after every workout session a horse deserves a reward, and a trail ride is the perfect ending to a perfect ride. I know, I like to babble. Horses rule! men drool !! LOL LOL (well some do) Happy riding, stall cleaning, coaching, training etc. | |
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Posted: 2/7/2007 7:47:07 AM | This is so cool, my thread is actually surviving amongst the sea of Hockey and UFC threads!! LOL!! 
I just moved my mare to my friend's barn (which is only 15 minutes away) and I will be breeding her this year.. been trying to get her in foal again for 2 years now, and no dice. Hopefully this year she'll catch!! I am breeding her to a gorgeous 16.2hh Oldenburg stallion that's in California.
Meanwhile, I took my 2.5 yr old filly out on her FIRST HACK EVER on Saturday!!! She was fantastic!! No spooking, no misbehaving, no bucking, nothing.. she was awesome.. and she really seemed to like it! Which I'm not surprised about, really, cuz like I said before, she thrives on learning new things. I was soooo proud!! This is my first homebred, that I've raised and trained all by myself! I must've done SOMEthing right, cuz she's a model citizen!  | |
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Posted: 2/8/2007 11:10:00 AM | | Well, to all the riders out there, glad you enjoy the sport. Are there any people involved in the sport of standardbred racing? We breed about 450 mares a year, have lots of babies and some of the best stallions in North America. So how about it? Any one out there have some stories to share? | |
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Posted: 2/8/2007 8:08:10 PM | * I hear you about the bad trainers. I see it every day and it is very sad. I think it is inhumane to the horses to have riders on them like that but lets look at these bad trainers.....they would rather have their students going over jumps in a very unsafe way instead of proper flat schooling. What the heck? How the hell is it better over the jumps when you cannot even ride the flats. Harsh bits in their mouths, hands all over the dam place, flopping up and down on their backs, spurring constantly!
* Reining - yes just like dressage! I had so much fun when I rode a very experienced reiner. I thought I was in heaven!
* I have heard lots about Ms. Reid and Mr. Grimshaw! Small circles!! I had no idea Leslie rode western! Too cool!!
* I'm not very familiar with the Standardbred racing circuit as I am with the Thoroughbred racing circuit (I have re-trained two ex racers). I do think the breed is very talented as riding horses, good minds, most of them seem to have substantial size which is what I like. I rode a pacer one time and it was a little odd as I naturally wanted to post in the trot but oh so dam smooth!
Do you need some help at your stable?? That is a huge operation you have! I would gladly shovel manure against the wind any day vs going into the office like I do now! ;) | |
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TMRPR
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Joined: 7/5/2006
Msg: 16 | |
| Paging all Equestrians!!
Posted: 2/8/2007 8:34:07 PM | | well I have a few horses they aren't the fancy show type but they are all Quarter horse and all heart. Buddy and Wrangler are my 2 good ropin and rodeoin horses but I always have 2 or 3 prospects on the go. I never had much to do wiht all the fancy stuff but I love to talk about all kinds of horses with all kinds of people. So ride on | |
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Posted: 2/8/2007 9:06:02 PM | Howdy!
I grew up riding horses. I started when I was 3 and a half and now I'm in my mid thirties. I've never owned my own horse, someday maybe. I've tried english but there's not enough saddle there to support me as I have balance issue so I've ridden western most of my life. I love the smell of a horse barn. Currently I'm volunteering with a theraputic riding program...helping to get the horses ready for their classes...I've had a good chuckle on a number of occassions when someone who obviously isn't a horse person says 'oh that smell, it's awful' and I turn around and say 'What smell?' I've followed the rodeo curcuit here in Ontario for a number of years now living out of suitcase in the back of my truck. I've also gotten involved with the sport of team penning.
Nice to meet ya'll
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Posted: 2/8/2007 9:42:12 PM | im not a rider but through an ex gf discovered that horses are awesome!!
she started to teach me to ride and i jumped a few times(although not on purpose lol)
her horse is a tb that was trained to race but didnt make the track like 16.3 chestnut. sweetest horse ever but he loved to jump and me not really knowing what to do(first time riding) he took advantage of it lol, jumping over some fences up to 3'9''. lol gf was surprised i actually stayed on and actually said that i had good form lol.
i dont own a horse :( but want to get one sometime soon
probably a clydesdale cuz i love them!!!!!! | |
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TMRPR
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Joined: 7/5/2006
Msg: 19 | |
| Paging all Equestrians!!
Posted: 2/9/2007 1:40:06 PM | | cowboypenner do you volunteer at PARDS,just wondering,I used volunteer there in Grande Prairie,Alta. | |
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Posted: 2/9/2007 2:53:19 PM | Just thought Id drop a little not in here, and I know rodeo doesnt count
But for those that might be interested, there is a British Rodeo Cowboy Association that does cattle penning etc with western trained horses.
Also a QH association and various local groups in the UK
I know a couple of people in the BRCA, but I travel to germany to the European Rodeo as they have broncs and bulls. Stupid laws in the UK dont allow this
Anyone want any info drop me a msg | |
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Posted: 2/9/2007 4:39:01 PM | | TMRPR:No I don't volunteer that PARDS. I volunteer with the Durham Therapeutic Riding Association. They run their program out of a place called WindReach Farm which is a little 109 acre farm south of Port Perry Ontario. | |
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Posted: 2/9/2007 7:44:10 PM | Sens~
Congrats on your filly!! It's so much easier training babies than horses that have learned bad habits from others (I say this with a grain a salt however, my reputation is built on 'problem horses' that really come from problem riders/owners). Have you found out what she loves yet? Once you do there'll be no going back. My girl loves running on the beach, that's what we do after a high jumping session or an instense flat ride (like without stirrups!!  ) when both our muscles are tight. A good run on the beach solves it all. As much as I love warmbloods, no one I ride with can outrun my little QH/Arab.
Does anyone know if I can register her at all? I've heard that crossbloods can be registered with the AQHA - but I can't track down the info. If I can, I'd like too, if only for breeding purposes.
Aww, don't be callin ourselves english/western/racers - we're all the same breed peoples! (I may be primarily english, but my kind of cross-country demands my western gear!) | |
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Posted: 2/9/2007 8:20:47 PM | hey Katherynne!
I'm not sure if there's an actual Quarab registry or not, but if you're just looking for breeding purposes cuz you'd like the foal to have papers, you can get her inspected and approved for breeding with the Canadian Sport Horse Association or Canadian Warmblood Association. My Saddlebred mare was inspected and approved with the Canadian Sport Horse Assn and therefore I was able to register my filly as a Canadian Sport Horse (cuz her sire is also approved with that registry). :-) | |
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TMRPR
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Joined: 7/5/2006
Msg: 24 | |
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Posted: 2/10/2007 8:35:33 PM | | I don't know for sure but I highly doubt you will get an Arab cross into tha AQHA. But I could be wrong, I am a die hard QH man so I may be just hoping. | |
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Posted: 2/10/2007 10:59:27 PM | Katherynne:
Not exactly sure where your at but here's a couple websites to get more info on possibly getting your filly registered. She sounds like an awesome filly and I'm hoping one of these site's are helpful.
http://www.arabianhorses.org/registration/reg_rules.asp#1002 (already on the page that shows the requirements to register)
http://halfquarterhorseregistry.com/ (this site seems fairly new as I've never heard of it before)
http://www.cahr.ca/about_cpar.htm (again already on the requirement page)
http://www.ahaec.on.ca/home.asp (this site I'm not a 100% sure on but hopefully it will help)
and last but not least, to get lots of opinions and help with any horsey questions you might have or just to talk to other horse lovers, theres www.dreamhorse.com Lots of great people there and there other forums linked too it.
Anyways, hope that helped some.  | |
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