Comment

Comment by April Keays on April 10, 2010 at 1:31pm

To sic2; You hit the nail on the head. A lot of what you said can relate to my life right now. I don't have children, but I am still working and do have an elderly parent who is becoming more and more dependant on me. I'm lucky if I get up to ride once a week. I have never been able to affored my own property so have always had to board so it makes it more difficult.
Still, the run 4 K just about every morning and do a lot of walking so I think I'm doing what I need to stay in reasonable shape, plus stretching every day. Again though, a lot of that is to insure that I can keep on riding. Thank goodness I have a horse and a dog in life to keep me grounded and on the move!
It's also good to know that I'm not the only one dealing with this stuff. I used to be fearless on a horse and wondered what was wrong with me to have lost that edge. What you had to say certainly makes sense.

Comment by Tracy McDermott on April 10, 2010 at 12:05pm

My 2 cents,
I always rode a hot horse, if there was a bad one I rode it. I've hit the dirt and had some flying lessons. Now truthfully I'm 60 and I just want to be a tourist ride around with a camera and look up, pointing at natural things and contemplate life and the pleasure of it.
This week I'm retiring my 25 year old Pure Polish Arab, (both parents imported and used as stallion for 2 years), to his reward pasture. Over the 20 years I rode him, he was the king of hot, no fear, a champ bought by a man that accidentally killed himself and I bought him from the estate. There was no way on this earth I could have afforded him except the family had no idea and just wanted him sold.
That said... he kicked both of my legs, fell on me 3 times, didn't like children, got way overexcited in any group over 2 horses. I rode him in every situation, discipline and saddle, with from 2 to 130 riders, for 14 years we had my dog on a leash with us (he NEVER kicked the dog, only me), overnights, camping, trails where you can see heaven around every corner.
I would not trade any of the last 20 years but now... Pre-diabetic, arthritis, both shoulders re-built, nerve damage in lower legs (from being smashed under my 'Flame'). I know the changes and agree the more I ride and take the time for self care the better my quality of life is. It's not easy but it is necessary, very necessary. If you don't take care of yourself who will?
Career, children, family obligations, hearth, home all of it does not live in your skin, you do. Find a way to be happy in it and keep riding. I believe the therapeutic value of loving, grooming, riding and feeding a horse is salve for my over-used bones. Although now I have a super calm Tennessee Walking Horse (smooth - smooth gait) that is insulin resistant (like me!!) so we can't graze together but we head up into the hills looking for heaven every chance we get.

Comment by April Keays on April 9, 2010 at 6:35pm

Wow, what a mixxed bag of comments this time around. I also love to do dressage, but my first pleasure is trail riding, that's my therapy. But I love the learning aspects of dressage, and really getting to feel "at one" with your horse. I havn't had much chance to train Monty over the winter with no indoor, but we have been getting out on the trails and he is doing well. As I mentioned before I am intending to get him into the green classes for re-trained Standardbreds this summer and I am really looking forward to it. First time I've actually looked forward to showing in years and years and years.

As for the fear aspect of riding, I can truely relate. I don't know why I have developed fear in the saddle as I have never been seriously injured while riding or anything like that. But as i have gotten older and my achs and pains have become more cronic the fear of having a fall has almost become crippleing in itself at times.

Still, like all us stuborn over 50's, we just can't stay out of the saddle. I guess it's just a matter acknowledging the fear, face it, deal with it and get on with your ride. Just don't do anything stupid out there! And YES, I also wear a helmet all the time, even when I'n riding western.

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on April 9, 2010 at 5:48pm

Welcome Justice! :-) Talking about our older horses.....Tracy, the puncture wounds were round and looked deep, very little bleeding if any just serum. No scratches like claws or even sticks, no puncture type wounds on the upper lip or lower, but definitely wouldn't let my touch his mouth. Only one side of the lip is hanging, not as much as it was, it's been about 2 weeks now. Seeing the vet tomorrow for teeth floating, maybe he will see something else.
Shirley: I sure agree with you about how humans can learn so much from horses on how to live in the human herd. Those instincts they have and are so true to have been there for millions of years. Talk about 'don't fix it unless it's broke'. There are just too many people in the world now who need homes, which is why the expansion into the wildlife's habitat. Who knows what the solution is. We can set up reserves for them but inevitably it will not be enough. Those of us who have our "place in the sun" are okay. But what of those coming up who don't, as humans we need to change how we live in our "herds". Better quit before I rant, sorry guys :-)

Comment by Colette Sossaman on April 9, 2010 at 5:27pm

Shirley, sorry it's taken a whole 24 hours to get back to you. And I have to make it quick, as I have a student here in 10 minutes.
OK, PSG: Prix St George, dressage level after 4th Level.
3P's : Piaffe,Passage, Pirouette.
MP3's: similar to an iPod. Please PM me (private message) and I can explain in detail. It's my online training product and if I talk about it here it would be advertising. colette.rltg@gmail.com. Love to hear from you. Happy Riding!

Comment by Brenda Pantling on April 9, 2010 at 8:57am

Trail riding....and I don't just mean hacking in an open field here anthough even that is a start....is very good for the rider too. Mental relaxation, learning to trust the horse (it goes both ways), bending to avoid branches helps develop flexibility, balance, just learning to deal with the unexpected so YOU don't tense up and make your horse a basket case.

Comment by Shirley on April 8, 2010 at 4:55pm

Jan & Colette, Yeah!! Some soul sisters!! I don't think I gave the wrong impression, but just to make sure that I didn't, I think dressage is great.!! I was at a training barn for three years and even though western and dressage were both taught there, the majority of serious riders were dressage riders. A very few of them did arena work and trail work but most had the idea that their horse would freak out if taken riding away from their home area.. most did not go anywhere but stall, arena, and pasture.
That was sad to me. But I love the ideas that you promote to be well rounded and well trained. Now that I'm finally breathing and therefore relaxing more I hope my riding skills will start to snowball off of all the lessons and reading and DVD's I've done. I have always tried to ride with my seat and legs rather then their mouth and my horse is pretty sensitive to body language so I'm hopeful. As the relaxation comes into the picture, I'm able to use my whole body more and I love that communication and my guys response. I think it would be so great to be able to read their minds to know what they really are thinking. My guy has been so patient with me for six long years and him so young. To say the least my adrenaline is going now that I think things are coming together for us.
Colette: I'm glad you decided to chime in, your knowledge will be such a benefit to all and you sound like a fair person. I will need help with some of your abbreviations though. I have little education in dressage terms but am always glad to learn. You sound like a very interesting person to be around. PSG and 3P's and mp3 are not familiar to me. I have many friends that do dressage...more then western riders but maybe they haven't shared these term with me. The trainers at my previous barn did allot of training for an Andalusian breeder and we always had one of three of their studs at our barn for training. They did have a pasture outside that they took turns being outside. These would have a ways to go to head out on a riding trail but maybe if that was done with them part of the time they wouldn't have been so excitable. (I don't know how else to describe) They showed very well behaved but I do not know the levels etc. that they had achieved. But they were eye candy and so amazing to watch when they were being shown. I know that dressage horses are much happier with their show jobs when they have the recreational aspects in their training also.
Thanks for the encouragement too. I have already experienced the importance of who you trail ride with. My first two trail rides were wonderful. I went with my show horse trainer and a few experienced trail horses and people aware of my newbie status. All went perfect even when a deer jumped out right at the edge of the trail Then I went on a camping trip and got bucked off cause a bunch of people came galloping up behind us and my guy lost his courage and I wasn't prepared with the knowledge or experience to help him out. That was my last trail ride. Closest thing to it has been a few short rides down a lane at the farm where I board. Right now I'm leading him down the lanes to the wooded area behind our barn. I will hop on and ride this route when this all feels comfortable. I'd like to think someday we might do some dressage too. A naturally collected horse is so awesomely beautiful!
Looking forward to hearing more from both of you....and many more!

Comment by Jan Jollymour on April 8, 2010 at 4:00pm

Hi, Shirley and Colette:

I couldn't agree more. What's the point of all the dressage training if you can't ride from point A to point B safely whenever you want to? If my dressage horse is truly schooled, it goes where I want it to when I want it to and how I want it to.

Every horse should go hacking on trails, it's wonderful for fitness, but mentally and physically. But then...I believe every horse should be turned out every day, as mine are....

Comment by Colette Sossaman on April 8, 2010 at 3:37pm

Hi Shirley, I've been reading posts here for just a month or two, but yours has inspired me to pipe in.
I'm a professional Dressage Trainer with 35 years experience and also have developed a series of mp3 riding lessons endorsed by Jane Savoie.
All my horses trail ride....where better to test their dressage training? I just got done trail riding my Andalusian stallion who is currently training at PSG level, and the 3 P's.
I totally agree with you that many dressage trainers do not see the benefits of trail riding and cross training. It's unfortunate for the horses. They are so much brighter and happier going down the trail working transitions between the gaits and within the gaits then they are going round and round a dirt arena.
I compete my horse in open dressage against all the other breeds(predominately Warmbloods) and we do very well. He's never ring sour,because he's only in the arena once or twice a week to check our accuracy. Keep up the good work you're doing with your trainer,, and stay in the arena until you and your horse are really on the aids and have a clear and large vocabulary of communication. Then when you do start trail riding make sure you are with a company of horses that are seasoned veterans out there.
Maybe one or two other horse and rider combo;s to go with you and give you and your horse security. It will make all the difference in the world.

Comment by Shirley on April 8, 2010 at 1:21pm

Hey Justice! I hope you enjoy Barnmice as you look around and see the variety of interests that are shared here.
I didn't start riding till 53 on my then 3 year old QH that I adore.
I also was never athletically inclined so never knew I could bounce, I always thought I would break. Not sure why except I wasn't very coordinated. So, I've taken some hard falls but kept all bones in tact but I bruise lots of pretty colors and I heal. Those have come to be inlightening moments cause I've realized I'm not so terribly fragile and I have a bit of courage that I didn't know I had. Each time I've gotten back on I feel braver. But I've also looked at different trainers and taken lessons to be as safe as I can be and I always wear a helmet these days but not a safety vest. I do deal with fear issues as I get tense and forget to breath but I see that as being brave....seeing the risks but doing it anyway. I just started lessons with a lady that has training in therapeutic riding and she's helping allot. She encourages me that we can be out on the trails by early fall. My gelding is now 9 and I'm seeing a self=confidence that has not been there before. That is encouraging too. It's so cool to feel and see him relax when I get into the deep belly breathing mode. I feel his muscles relax, head drop and he's good at moving out and going further withou wanting to stop. Feels GREAT after six years of struggle. My new trainer says he's been trying to take care of me and now he's starting to feel like I can lbe the leader and he doesn't have to. That idea feels right to me. But, it's been a great interesting learning voyage. We've also worked on alot of ground things that I've loved and he seems to like to. Some people call them tricks, I call it great communication. Some people pooh pooh that stuff and I'd like to see them get their horse to respond to them in any similar way. Sorry, I get a little defensive sometimes about this stuff. I feel the same way about trail riding. The dressage people seem to think that's for the poor riders with no skills when in reality if you can do well on the trail with your horse without them freaking out that's a big achievement. So is learning dressage. Ideally some of both skills done properly with a horse would be a well rounded horse life.
Did you say how old you are? The emotional adrenaline of being around horses helps me to feel better emotionally, physically and mentally.
At my stable I see such a huge difference in what people can do that has nothing to do with age. One has MS, one is heavy with knee problems, one has difficult female issues and blocked vericose veins, two get migraine headaches & one has vertebrae problems in her neck that causes tingling and numbness. These people range for 16 to 49 years old, most are right around 40. I try to remember that I'm fortunate to be this healthy at this age. I guess that fact pushes me on while I still am able.

Want to share what you've been up to and what kind of things you do to enjoy your horses? Love to hear horsey stories!
Keep Horsin Around~~It is a Grand Voyage!
Shirley

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