Hey Chris! It's all a journey, and the approach you are taking sounds like a sound one. No point in rushing and overfacing yourself or your horse. My philosophy is about making sure the horse is happy when I'm with him, whether I'm working with him on the ground or in the saddle. If our relationship is built on trust anything is possible ... Good luck on your journey together :-)
Comment by Chris Gloin on April 23, 2009 at 11:48am
Hey Dorothy I grew up in Aurora, now live in Scarborough, and keep my horse east of the city near Brooklin. I am currently looking for a new barn
either east or north.
I know about nerve problems. I have always been a gutsy rider, even when I went back, but lost nerve in the winter when my horse spooked halfway across the arena and I came off hard-fractured coccyx and index finger. However, I thought long and hard about it - kept doing ground work with him, and rode schoolies for a bit to help with nerves. I am now back riding my own boy. I knew I was going to have many challenges because he was green green green when I bought him, however the rewards are amazing. He is more balanced all the time, willingly reaching the bit at times and rounding without coercion, responding to seat aides, and a joy to ride. I bought him because he was cheap-he had been ill, and had abcessed front feet, seriously underweight. I have taken my time with him, his feet are in excellent shape now, and his weight is good. I never could have afforded a horse this good normally, so the year spent bringing his feet along has been good. I have free jumped him, and longeig over small cavellti now I will have a fiend jump him to start as I am a fairly green jumper myself.
Comment by Elaine Martin on April 23, 2009 at 6:49am
OOPS sorry I should of said that I live just north of Barrie Ontario.
Comment by Elaine Martin on April 23, 2009 at 6:47am
Hi I have just joined the group and I own 4 horses, unfortunately they are not in a pasture outside my window so I cannot see them every morning when I wake up, but they are at the farm were i grew up so I do see them every day.
Have not been riding much as my oldest son and his girlfriend (who are in the picture) have not been available to ride with me and it is no fun riding by your self. My significant other is not a horsey kind of guy, hopefully one day he will come riding with me.
Comment by Jenny Hiscox on April 23, 2009 at 6:38am
I'm envious of you for that! I kept mine at home until moving back to Ontario (from the Maritimes) 5 years ago, and it is my goal to do so again.
Hi Ive just joined the group, havent riden much in the past few years kinda lost my nerve my youngest is having riding lessons and thought it would be good to get back into riding a few months ago. came a cropper from my old boy (guess I wasnt paying attention) because I have rope reins I took all the skin off one hand took weeks to heal kinda lost my nerve since then.
decided I need to fight the fear and purchased some riding gloves ( a new thing for me) and getting back on him this weekend weather permitting.
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