That's awesome! Do you know what retreat? Maybe I've heard of it. I'd love to get a summer job guiding trail rides or something, I'm sure the tourists would get old after a while but riding all day in beautiful country would rock :)

Wow, I had no idea about any of those books, I'll have to check them out. The oldest age range fiction book that I've read was called Blind Beauty- about a blind steeple chaser. I really liked it, but it was still geared towards younger teens (not that there's anything wrong with that).

(Just read your second comment) 

Oh wow, I hadn't thought to even do that! That's awesome, I'd love to go for a ride with you! We'll have to get in touch closer to that time :)

Yup, you never know I guess. I have a feeling I'll be pretty busy here this summer though, so maybe it's just as well.

Drop me a line when you get up here, we'll see if we can do something on a long weekend :)

I definitely just put holds on the books you suggested, I'll let you know what I think :)

And yeah, I will totally check out the forums! 

Well, my plan is moderately insane to be honest, but it's literally what I've wanted to do since I was 7.

If all goes as planned, I'll own a property and train out of it as well as rescue some horses, board some (depending on size of property), and give a few lessons here and there. I'm hoping to find a couple of younger girls (teens) who love horses work (cleaning stalls, feeding, grooming, etc) in exchange for board and/or lessons because it's what I've had to do before, and there are times when my family couldn't have afforded lessons or boarding if I hadn't. 

Pretty specific, I know ha ha. How about you?

Lol, where would we be without inspirational moments? Thanks, by the way. I have never doubted that I could do it, partly because doing what I love is like a million times more important to me than doing something that pays well. 

I think it's great that your friend is on the same page as you like that! Maybe you could write up my business plan...? Lol. Anyway, unfortunately (for me), my best friend has totally different plans, even though I know we would be able to make a ranch work together if she was on the same page as me. She wants to be a director, all Hollywood and such. But she doesn't want to leave Colorado to do it, except for the years at NYC... I'm still waiting to see how that one works out, but I do hope that she succeeds. 

I suppose so, ha ha. I don't think I know of any non-horsey people who wouldn't think my plan sounds crazy :)

That's a good idea, I'll look into it. I'm sure CSU has some sort of business management class that I could take, I'll have to ask around. 

thank you very much Ashley, you're really kind

stay in touch on my blog: www.iconadeironchi.blogspot.com tomorrow I will upload some really interesting news for riders..you'll see

x

Gaia

Hi Ashley! Thank you for the welcome) I'm very interested in equine sport in USA) In Russia it is not so widespread as in Germany and it is quite ezpensive to keep your own horse in Moscow. But Russian universities greduate very good specialists in this ares)) Tell me more about your Paco. How old is he? When did you buy him? What do you do with him now? Dressage, jumping?

Excuse my mistakes))

Thank you.  This is a great site, I'm really enjoying all the international info from people with the same interests.

Gina

Hi

I love dressage and jumping.  I have a 5 year old performance quarter horse filly now that I want to event with and do 2 phases and dressage and jumper shows and clinics with.  Basically just have a lot of fun with her and progress in my riding.  I board at a barn that doesn't specialize so you get people riding western, racehorse trainers, jumpers, eventers, pleasure riders, you name it.  It's pretty good - keeps down the drama - and I have several very advanced, nice instructors available to help me if I want.

You"re western aren't you?

What you do sounds pretty great.  Ive always admired the equitation riders,  theyre pretty amazing and having a really good position sure makes all your riding easier.  I love dressage too and Im really enjoying Jane Savoies little explanations.  Shes terrific and very easy to understand.  Id love to go in a clinic with her.  Im not familiar with the vaquero training.  It is similar to the classic dressage where they slowing progress until the horse is capable of doing all these incredible things that look totally effortless and are unbelievable beautiful?  Im going to have to google it.

yea that will be the day :))))

Gosh Ashley, that video is amazing.  No wonder you want to do it. 

I'd love to see it live!

Hey there!! I am still trying to find my way around and I don't have much time but thanks for the tips!! One of my horses is a reg quarter horse named Red dee invester (barn name Sonny) He is 20 years old now and somewhat retired to trail riding! And my other is a rescued 4 year old Appaloosa, Maximus ruff (barn name Max) Who I am just starting and so far so good!! I have a stable just outside windsor N.S and have 7 horses here altogether!!

I am really enjoying this so far hope we can chat again sometime

Kim

Thanks Ashley!!

Sonny has been a wonderful horse,I am very blessed to have him and my app and him get along famously!!

He can teach him so much!! I have never started a young one and am way out of my element,But I do have a wonderful step daughter who has been riding also for many years and is much younger LOL so she is gonna help with the riding part!! I have spent alot of time on the ground work and so far so good! I got on him last fall and he was pretty good, But I ran into a little additude and need someone with a little more confidence and a little better balance to push him through it,Thats where my SD hayley comes in!! She is coming this sat to work with him> ( should be interesting ) I will keep you posted!

Kim

Thank you. I'm sure I will.... there is always so much to learn. I will definitely take a look at everything and see what i can find. :) And well she is only young. So as of right now I am putting miles on her and doing some natural horsemanship with her with the help one of our trainers. but she is starting to learn both disciplines of both english and western riding

Thanks Ashley!!

I will definatly keep you posted I might have a few questions for you Lol!! This should definatly be Interesting!

Hey ashley !

Did you enter the bucas contest yet?? I think I got a little carried away!! :)

hello, I shall check out the site more and try to find my way around it!! Yes he was my horse, grade B show jumper who I hunted her in UK. Sadly he developed accute ringbone and had to be put down last year, but I have many fond memories. You could turn him into a 6ft hedge with wire on a 10 meter circle and he would pop it, jumped for fun. He was one hell of a horse.

I used to be an endurance trainer and rider in UAE for many years for one of the big boys now in UK looking to move again as not good here!! How about you?

i bought him here from a family that travelled to kentucky to buy 4 of these lovely horses. they have sons they thought would ride and who haven't the interest, so they sold two of them. i think i got the best of them.buford%20at%20rivendell.jpg hope this pic goes through.

Thanks Ashley,

Hopefully I can add something fun to the community..

It looks like a real fun site. I just have to spend the time and look around...get the feel :)

The "boys" are....Rebel, the App, Socks is the bold face Paint, Shodac is the Black & White and Levi is the Mini Donk. He is a trip! Always happy and keeps the big guys on their toes. I got him last year out of the PA kill pen. So sad :(

Thanks so much Ashley! I will soon share some fun news with you all.

I am a professional photographer and recently I have discovered my passion for photographing horses. I will be featured on an equestrian website! Best, Manuela

So nice of you Ashley! You are such an interesting young lady, I just read a bit about you!

Thank you for the forum suggestion as well.

I look forward to becoming an active part of this community and hopefully it will support me while expressing my love for horses through imagery.

It is good her in Belgium. I am searching for a contacts in the US to do some bussines with.

I worked for a copple of stables and now i do for my own. I do not like the mentality of some people with horses ;-)

I believe in honesty. I think it is the key to a good "relationship"

Her is the site of the stables. Maybe you enjoy to see stables in Belgium. www.manegesthubert.be

Your friend in Liege, is he a rider too? Maybe I know him. Belgium is not soo big :-)

Sorry for my faults in typing in English.

Speek you soon. Grtz