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Comment by Shirley on July 11, 2009 at 10:35am

To Susan...Aren't Haflingers beautiful. When I got back into riding at 53 it was a Haflinger sent to wake me up to my very tucked away passion and need for horses in my life. A friend bought him as her second horse and said I could ride anytime I wanted. I met Cheeko one afternoon and the next day I was back and called him from the herd of about 40 and he came from way over there...I returned the next day and I called Cheeko and he came from even further over yonder. I was hooked! We rode a few times during the early fall. Then we went on a cool breezy day and he was pretty full of it and more challenging then previously. We got back to the arena. I was whipped and started to get off to lead him to the stable area. He bolted??? Who knows why??? I sorta flew to the side and down.The saddle slid down his side and I went in the arena dirt. I can still see his feet coming down beside me and I rolled and he missed me. He headed to the stall area without me with the saddle under him. It was an adrenalin rush day. I was so afraid he was gonna get hurt or run to the road so I took off running after him with a major limp. He of course went to where he knew there was food and all was well. No real harm done but everything had happened so fast. A few days later on a brisk frisky day I was leading him to the arena and he'd gotten a little behind me. Suddenly the rope felt strange and I saw out of the corner of my eye his front feet in mid-air very close. A fella behind us thought for sure I was getting it in the head but again...no harm done. I headed on a search for someone to take lessons from. I ended up at a training barn taking lessons and turning into a sponge watching all the goings on of horse and rider training and bought my 3 year old horse from this great young couple and we stayed with them for three years while I drove 70 miles round trip most every day. My still adored little Hafflinger ended up coming to take some training with the same people and was so cute...such a pretty little high stepper. Now my QH (in the profile pic) lives just 7 miles round trip from me and after 5 years I'm still going to see him most days. Horses have a special way of soothing the soul and waking us up to many things. Now I just can't imagine life without horses. And that's my story of Cheeko helping me get a new start.

Comment by Linda White on July 11, 2009 at 8:37am

Hey Susan - I'm with you on the butt thing. My tush looks positively dainty on my Canadian. lol

Comment by Susan Hislop on July 11, 2009 at 12:35am

Oh and about small horses....My mare is 13.1hh and my gelding is 14.1hh and since I am 5'1" they are just right! Also I promised myself I would never ride a horse with a butt smaller than mine - soooo that leaves me with the drafty little Haflingers!!!!! S....

Comment by Susan Hislop on July 11, 2009 at 12:31am

Hiya!
well, here I am online instead of on horse! Tomorrow is going to be a beautiful day to ride. We have just moved and I am finally organized enough to get out of here and get back on my horse. My two horses, Wesley and Ilsa, love camping and riding in lots of different places. We have done some packing as well. Happy Trails, Susan.....

Comment by Susan Baudanza on July 10, 2009 at 1:35am

Hi all,

How nice to find this group! I am 50 and returned to riding about 3 years ago, having not ridden much for close to 30 years due to a busy aviation career. I never gave up on the dream of having my own horse though, and now have a wonderful 15 hh 10 yr pinto gelding. Dressage (low level!) and trails are our interests. Glad to "meet" other riders who are defying their age! Sue

Comment by Painted Horse on July 9, 2009 at 11:48pm

I'm closer to 60 than I am to 50. So I guess I fit here.
I ride tall horse. My geldings are all 16 hh and they are my preferred choice to ride. I have several mares that are 14-3 hh and I use them for my kids and as pack horses. I'm over 6 foot tall and feel like my legs hang below the below of the shorter horses. Plus I think I'm being more fair to ask a 16 hh 1100 lb horse to carry me instead of my 14-3 hh 800 lb mares. So far I don't have a problem getting up into the saddle on tall horse.

Comment by Linda White on July 9, 2009 at 8:13pm

Hi Ann;
I meant your discussion of training the donkey jack was interesting.
Also, laughed at your reference to being almost decapitated by trees. I remember one ride on a bigger horse, full gallop through the woods, probably 25 horses, and I saw nothing. I kept my head against my horse's neck to avoid the face whipping and trusted he could pilot us through the ride. After that ride, I was sure there was a market for riding helmets with hockey shields attached.

Comment by Ann Hatfield on July 9, 2009 at 6:56pm

Re small horses I have ridden horses of 16.1 and under most of my life. Most of those hovered around the pony size: lots of Arabs and Arab-crosses, Fjords, Icelandic. The older I get the nicer it is to be close to the ground. I admire the great big movement of the big horses, and will be raising some large mules as well as smaller ones, but the amount of feed, being almost decapitated by trees, the huge stretch to mount again on the flat, bigger trailer, bigger boxstalls, bigger fences and on and on. the little guys carry us as well, sometimes better

Comment by Ann Hatfield on July 9, 2009 at 6:46pm

Hi Linda,
When you talked to the mule riders what did they tell you about training?

Comment by Linda White on July 9, 2009 at 6:37pm

In the last few years riders on mules have turned up at a few of the fund-raiser rides I've been on and they make quite an impression! The ones I have seen are truly gorgeous animals. It was interesting to hear about the training side of it.

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