Over 50 crowd

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Comment by slc2 on December 1, 2009 at 11:37am

Unfortunately, some of us don't have quite this much common sense, LOL, like me. I do believe I have some time ago crossed the line from 'somewhat normal' to 'what exactly were you thinking'.

My friend has a better excuse. She had breast cancer, and then I believe 4 reoccurances after that were fixed up. She was weak, sick and I'm sure wondering what the future would bring.

So what did she do? She went out and bought a very active, hot and busy 4 year old, GREEN warmblood, LOL.

And I think sometimes, that is just what a person needs to do.

Has it been perfect? No, not really. There was a crash landing and a broken collarbone when Precious sighted a deer, and some not so glorious show performances.

And I don't think my friend ever felt so alive, and so far away from hospitals and tests and doctors.

Comment by Jay and Kathy Whittington on December 1, 2009 at 9:23am

I would also love an indoor arena , but we are mainly pleasure riders and can't justify the expence. But we live in a very high snow belt area and I winter ride often. If you bundle up and put proper shoes on your horse, it is very enjoyable. I don't go galloping off through snow but quiet rides on the trails or side of the road are lovely in the winter. I put bells on my saddle ( okay, they are still there from hunting season ,and before that for the bears) and the snow is pretty and I love it. We got 5 inches here last night and I'm heading out now to ride. The suggestions to persevere with problems with your horse are correct I think. I have a mare that a few years ago ,if ridden alone would bolt with me or refuse to go forward. Bolting is my biggest terror and I would tense up do all the wrong things and usually end up coming off. For almost a year I only rode her in our pen. I finally started to do as people told me. Used my brain and not my gut. I relaxed stayed with her if she spun and asked her properly to slow to a walk. She did in short order and we are good now. I needed to get past my personal terrors and respond properly to her, before she would respond to me.
My two cents worth, Have a good day and enjoy the winter, it can be a great time to be with the horses

Comment by Jackie Cochran on December 1, 2009 at 9:05am

Two points from personal experience:
Riding a push button horse can get boring.
Even a push button horse can all of a sudden "break loose". For security there is no substitute to actively riding your horse every second you are on his back.
I also think that the horse thinks he is the leader if his rider does not actively ride. Over half of my falls have occured when I was trying to relax totally in the saddle, and my normally stable horse spooked at something inconsequential. Eventually I learned my lesson.

Comment by Sherry Cassetori on December 1, 2009 at 8:24am

way to go Chris there were times I wish I had a push button horse, but as I look at some of the other women that do, I realize am becoming a better rider, I am learning how to read my horse and react to his actions. What to do to stay in the saddle .

Comment by Chris Gloin on November 30, 2009 at 8:49pm

I have had some wicked falls off my green thoroughbred, and struggled with some confidence issues because of falls I am 57. I have learned to ride through almost anything now, but I am always riding - there is no not paying attention, and things are getting better -but I ride defensively - my leg is on and I sit up and I am very alert for changes in his body. You maybe need to work through this with this horse. I have a friend who rides a Canadian mare and she is an incredibly sensitive type. Sometimes I wish I had a more pushbutton horse -but this boy is what I have and I will do my best to help him become the best allround hrse he can be.

Comment by Jennifer Lamm on November 30, 2009 at 5:32pm

I have a very young horse. He is 4. I am a fairly new rider of 5 years... my plan is that for the last year, me and Oliver, we just hung out..... literally, in my back yard.... I always equate myself to a young girl with her first pony.... when I can do all the ground work that I deem necessary for him to be feeling that he can trust me, I am going to move on.... Next, bareback riding... with my trainer present.... for however long, plus long walks on a lead line..... next, I'll buy him a saddle... maybe in a year or two.... then, rides WITH my trainer who rides him now..... I made my entire life plan around this horse... I am 49 and he is 4.... if I live another 30 years and so does Oliver, then I will be happy.... I go super slow with him... I'd also be very afraid of anyone else trotting around me... I don't go near people or other horses at the moment. I kind of decide when it's time for the next thing... Oliver and I have grown so much in our relationship, and we don't even ride yet.... I would never ever sell him... nor would I leave him in my will. He doesn't like anybody else but his trainer... At the moment... so if I passon, he must go with Steve.. or come with me.... :) those are his options. :)

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on November 30, 2009 at 4:35pm

So true April....having an indoor would really solve a lot of riding problems for me too. I just have to be content with what I have until a time comes when possibly an indoor is in the works. With a hubby that doesn't agree with spending on these kind of items it's really hard to justify. Constant tug of war so to speak of different degrees.

Comment by April Keays on November 30, 2009 at 3:57pm

Well, I've been fallowing the numerous topics here so I may as well add my two bits worth.
I was concerned about what to do with my Appy if he outlived me, but that didn't turn out to be the case so that was settled. As for my Standie I would probably just give him back to Greener Pastures unless my boyfriend's grandchildren take an interest. Fortunately I feel I have a couple of options open with this one and am not too worried.
As for selling the youngster, personally I wouldn't, but it depends on how you feel riding her. I finally got out to ride yesterday after all the rain we've been having. Of course my Standie was full of beans he is only 4.
He was quite happy plodding along at a walk, but as soon as I asked him for more he started a little bucking. There was no intent on his part to try and get me off, he was just feeling good. Like most of us, we don't bounce like we used to so I did tense up when he started this and brought him back down to a walk. Probably not the best way to handle it, but I let him know that bucking wasn't appreciated and we continued on to have a couple of good gallops after that.
I've got to find a way to get out to the barn to ride more often, but without an indoor arena it's really hard this time of year. My Appy was a couch potato, the less I rode him the lazier he became, but Monty is the opposite so obviously I have to change my way of handling winter in order to give him what he needs.

Comment by Sherry Cassetori on November 30, 2009 at 2:16pm

I have my horse at a barn that has a trainer and breeder, She picked out my horse for me. He is young just turned six, when on the right rein he can get a little goofy, by this I mean all of sudden taking off , there was a time I would panic, because I have fallen off and when you have a horse that is 17.1 you fall pretty far, any way my trainer has gotten me through it now when he tries it I know just what to do , before I would fight with him with the reins, get all tense and just fall apart, Now I just sit up bend him around my leg and stay in the circle, best thing I have ever done was to stay with it. Keep working on it. Like Cindy said it does take a while to do this, but once you do your riding gets to be more relaxed and so does the horse. I too have a hubby that is not into horses. My horse would go to my tainer and her husband, they treat my horse like one of theirs that they raised from a baby.

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on November 30, 2009 at 2:02pm

Wow! Ladies lots has been happening, I have been following along with not much to say until this point. First I too have been wondering what to do with my six horses when I pass away and even thinking of letting them all go do to the work involved and my lack of fitess. I too have a hubby who is not interested in horses and all that is involved, so that road has been lonely except for the kids interest in them over the years. Now they are grown with their own families, some of the grands are interested in horses but not a lot, another grand is on it's way and I have my hopes. Lately I've been questioning can I hold on, will I be healthy and limber enough to teach the child and others? I'm sure some of you can relate. So I too am considering putting stipulations in my will concerning the horses, unfortunately I am the trainer so finding someone to will them to is going to be difficult. Regarding the topic of selling the young horse...it would not be in my nature to do so, I would definitely given her a chance to prove herself. Selling a horse that has bucked is a difficult thing, she now has learned the beginning of an evasion tactic, that has to be fixed and the only way to do that is while your healing go over the scenario and what aids or responses you should have done, you mentioned not paying close enough attention, next time you ride make sure you do and ride through it. She will most likely be nervous around you, don't let that shake you proceed quietly and gently from the ground up step by step till you get to the point where you came off and ride through it. This could take days, weeks, months for me it's been years due to the trauma on the horse I am fixing. One more thing, make sure you have a trusted friend, trainer, coach with you to talk you through the hard spots. Something I don't have and wish I did, the fixing wouldn't have taken so long. God bless, I'm praying for wisdom and safety for you.

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