Get a chance to ride this weekend?
Guinness80
Posts: 39 Member
Anyone else get a chance to go out and ride today? We got to enjoy some time at the local trails earlier today and it is just so refreshing to be in the saddle. Makes everything else better.
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I got to ride yesterday and today. Yesterday was the rodeo with a bucking bronco who has learned that he has to listen to ME.
Today was much better when he remembered and he gave me some nice engaged, through and round trot work.
I hope we can keep it up, weather permitting!
Pip0 -
Couldn't open the link for some reason but glad you got out there!
I did a little - just walking / trotting for a week until she is 100% clear from the vet. yesterday we were out in the big field and we both just wanted to run... but...we just walked. She was pretty bummed! I actually felt bad so naturally she got an entire bag of carrots...0 -
I did - I am one happy camper too. I rode Scout. My little 13.1hh gelding. He carried me with no problem. It was my first time on his back and he was a perfect gentleman. My daughter has done a good job getting him started. We just walked and trotted a little.
I had told my daughter if I get on and his legs buckle I would get right off. I got on, he was still standing so we tried a walk, then a trot.
This is the whole reason I have been loosing weight. I can't wait to get on again. Unfortunately it won't be until the weekend, unless my schedule clears up one night this week.
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Pip - a rodeo is never fun when you aren't wanting one, but glad you got him listening.
MissMissle - the link was just a pic of the trails were were on. Nothing big. Not sure how to post pics here.
Luckypony - how great that must feel! I just started my boy Guinness this spring and its been amazing. My horse is also one of the big factors in my quest for weight loss.0 -
Guinness: so glad you got a good ride on the trails!
MissMissle - hope you get the all clear soon!
Luckypony - I have been wondering how your ride went and was hoping for an update from the other thread. That's great! Sounds like you are on the right path!
Pip - good job on the rodeo riding. I always feel so accomplished when I am actually able to stay on and make them mind me.
My usual lesson horse had an abcess on his mouth burst open, so I hacked him a little, then rode a different horse for my lesson. He was wonderful! I am now scheming on how I can do a part-lease on him. I jumped an entire course of crossrails for the first time, and it felt awesome!!! And I only almost fell off once. :blushing:0 -
Ladies, I was actually SO very proud of the rodeo. It's a huge victory for me not panicking, and pushing him through it. My trainer and I knew this was coming (he's been being recalcitrant for a couple of weeks) but the hope was that it would happen next weekend when the clinic master came in. I did it alone, we came to an understanding and NO one got hurt
I hope everyone continues to enjoy their summers with the horses. They are the best thing in the world for sanity.
Pip0 -
Guinness: so glad you got a good ride on the trails!
MissMissle - hope you get the all clear soon!
Luckypony - I have been wondering how your ride went and was hoping for an update from the other thread. That's great! Sounds like you are on the right path!
Pip - good job on the rodeo riding. I always feel so accomplished when I am actually able to stay on and make them mind me.
My usual lesson horse had an abcess on his mouth burst open, so I hacked him a little, then rode a different horse for my lesson. He was wonderful! I am now scheming on how I can do a part-lease on him. I jumped an entire course of crossrails for the first time, and it felt awesome!!! And I only almost fell off once. :blushing:
That is great! Good for you, you should be very proud. I love the way I feel after a good ride. They talk about exercise endorphins, I have never felt those, but the endorphins from that perfect canter, or riding through a rodeo, or jumping a full course...those just can't be beat.0 -
Ladies, I was actually SO very proud of the rodeo. It's a huge victory for me not panicking, and pushing him through it. My trainer and I knew this was coming (he's been being recalcitrant for a couple of weeks) but the hope was that it would happen next weekend when the clinic master came in. I did it alone, we came to an understanding and NO one got hurt
I hope everyone continues to enjoy their summers with the horses. They are the best thing in the world for sanity.
Pip
You have every right to be proud. That is a great accomplishment.0 -
Guinness: so glad you got a good ride on the trails!
MissMissle - hope you get the all clear soon!
Luckypony - I have been wondering how your ride went and was hoping for an update from the other thread. That's great! Sounds like you are on the right path!
Pip - good job on the rodeo riding. I always feel so accomplished when I am actually able to stay on and make them mind me.
My usual lesson horse had an abcess on his mouth burst open, so I hacked him a little, then rode a different horse for my lesson. He was wonderful! I am now scheming on how I can do a part-lease on him. I jumped an entire course of crossrails for the first time, and it felt awesome!!! And I only almost fell off once. :blushing:
Woohoo for jumping! I REALLY hope I can get to a full course of some bigger jumps by summer's end...but I'm also not getting my hopes up - taking it day by day, it depends on where my horse is, I feel like I scared her a bit from my lack of confidence jumping....so, I can only expect her to give me what i give her....just got to keep working!
I have a ten mile breast cancer benefit ride (google MA Ride for the Ribbon if anyone wants to donate LOL) that I'm doing with my BFF - a 2 year cancer free survivor next Sunday - I'm pumped!!! Shy will be getting some entiinflammatories the day before and the day of, just in case her back gets a little sore... trying to build her up day by day till we get there!
We should do a little riding challenge for the month of June! Screw planks... anyone in for a half seat challenge...add 30 seconds a day? The kids at my barn do full 1.5 hour lessons jumping non stop with no stirrups, i'd be lucky if I can make it around the ring twice in a half seat with stirrups!!0 -
Ladies, I was actually SO very proud of the rodeo. It's a huge victory for me not panicking, and pushing him through it. My trainer and I knew this was coming (he's been being recalcitrant for a couple of weeks) but the hope was that it would happen next weekend when the clinic master came in. I did it alone, we came to an understanding and NO one got hurt
I hope everyone continues to enjoy their summers with the horses. They are the best thing in the world for sanity.
Pip
So glad you were able to handle it yourself! It helps build more confidence in the future, doesn't it?
I'm waiting for my upcoming rodeo. My mustang has just started saddle training this spring and there always comes that time when they feel the need to test and I'm just waiting for it.0 -
Half seat would help me with my lower leg issues. I just don't have time to ride everyday.0
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Guinness80 - I was thinking the same thing. I wonder when he will buck. He is young, I am expecting it.0
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My daughter and I got to get out this weekend for a trail ride. It was a nice ride....except when Sox saw the horse eating donkey in the neighbors yard... he danced around and survived luckly (and I stayed on) :laugh:0
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Those darn horse eating things out there! I am so looking forward to this weekend and a bunch of horse related fun. My horse's girlfriend is no longer lame, so I am hoping in a couple of weeks she is fit enough that we can go back to trail riding. I am enjoying our arena progress, but it is really better for the horse if he cross trains.0
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My daughter and I got to get out this weekend for a trail ride. It was a nice ride....except when Sox saw the horse eating donkey in the neighbors yard... he danced around and survived luckly (and I stayed on) :laugh:
We had a broodmare who was so afraid of donkeys she jumped out of the fence to get away from them!
I haven't gotten to ride in the last week plus until yesterday, and didn't get to jump b/c I don't trust that horse (my usual is still not doing well). He got a little spooky on me, but I got him through it.
I am envious of those of you able to ride and jump without stirrups--I am nowhere near ready for that, but my legs are slowly getting stronger. Tip for the day--don't take a 7 year break from riding! After 9 mos I'm still struggling...but getting better. If I could talk my husband into letting me buy or lease one, then maybe I'd improve faster!0 -
I am envious of those of you able to ride and jump without stirrups--I am nowhere near ready for that, but my legs are slowly getting stronger. Tip for the day--don't take a 7 year break from riding! After 9 mos I'm still struggling...but getting better. If I could talk my husband into letting me buy or lease one, then maybe I'd improve faster!
Do I hear a "No Stirrup Novemeber" in July coming on? I did it last year for lent....bailed out this past November...and then again this past lent :-(. I'd like to do it again because even though it sucked and it hurt and my rides were shorter and i felt like i was going to fall off...i felt really, really good at the end of the month.... I just need some accountability partners!0 -
Fingers crossed about going riding tomorrow at the trails. I tried to ride my mustang the other day and he bucked me off something awful. Not typical for him at all, but he is still green. My back is starting to feel better so I'm trying again tomorrow if the weather permits. Lets hope for no repeats of the rodeo!0
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I am envious of those of you able to ride and jump without stirrups--I am nowhere near ready for that, but my legs are slowly getting stronger. Tip for the day--don't take a 7 year break from riding! After 9 mos I'm still struggling...but getting better. If I could talk my husband into letting me buy or lease one, then maybe I'd improve faster!
Do I hear a "No Stirrup Novemeber" in July coming on? I did it last year for lent....bailed out this past November...and then again this past lent :-(. I'd like to do it again because even though it sucked and it hurt and my rides were shorter and i felt like i was going to fall off...i felt really, really good at the end of the month.... I just need some accountability partners!
I would like to try "No Stirrup November"0 -
I can only do" no stirrup 20 minutes in a lesson" HMMM, I guess I need more core don't I?0
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Hmmm... I can probs do no stirrups for an hour...BUT i'd just be walking and sitting trot haha!!! Maybe we could start a challenge group. Day 1, 5 minutes no stirrups at a trot...then move up? I was riding yesterday and I felt really weak - I'm hoping its just from my sun poisoning.... but even cantering in my half seat was pretty difficult. My legs also have been feeling very weak - I know "no stirrup work" is the way to go! But its so haaaaard - even yesterday i was screaming at myself in my head "why don't you practice your damn halfseat!!!" Did I? nope....0
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How do you do the no stirrups? Do you removed them completely from the saddle or just kick your feet free of them? And do you ride western or English? How does the no stirrups help you compared to using stirrups?0
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I just take my feet out of the stirrups. Brego doesn't care if they hit his sides as we go. I am working on learning dressage. The no stirrups makes you rely more on your core for balance and stability. With stirrups you have a platform to brace against.
I am getting seriously addicted. I just signed up for another clinic this weekend with the trainer who makes me sweat and huff more than Brego does.
By the way, aren't horses the most forgiving creatures? I am working on getting stable in the canter and poor Brego gets defensive because I suck and bang on his mouth. But the the next day he puts his mouth right back in my hands and says "You aren't going to bang on it again are you?"
Pip0 -
I wouldn't mind going no stirrups in the arena, but I'd be too scared to try it on the road. There's too much heavy traffic in my area and my horse is just skittish enough to make it really dangerous. I ride my horse without a bit, just a noseband. She responds well to it, and I don't do any sort of competition riding where I'd need one. That way I figure I don't worry about tugging at her mouth too much. I suck at the canter too, I just flop around all over the place. They are forgiving creatures!0
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+1 on the forgiving creatures part. There's many times Im frustrated - with her, with myself.... for the past month we've been going through this 'thing" where she won't, and I mean WILL NOT jump - and by jump I mean a 12 inch vertical she could walk over backwards while sleeping with a broken leg blindfolded upside-down.... then the next day...she goes over it.... but...it doesnt feel like it did 3 months ago, she rushes, and feels nervous, and lifts her head...
My trainer's at a loss. She's so sensitive that "cowboying her" or whipping her over it really doesn't help the situation - she just gets frazzeled and hangs on to it for days.... Anyway, my point is the other day I wasn't expecting her to jump and was sitting back. She jumped it, I managed to lift my hands, but forgot to lift my body, slammed on her back, flopped all over the place, and probbaly yanked her face off. And then she just went over it again. I mean -Ii think I would buck myself off....but they just keep on going. Its amazing. it's their best quality...and biggest downfall...like most animals...their trust and forgivness can land them in some aweful spots.... but thats too much sadness! On to the fun talk!
So when I gave my stirrups up for lent I literally handed them to my trainer and told her to hide them, so I wouldn't be tempted. She gave them back to me for lessons only. At this point - I think I would just keep them on my saddle and cross them over the cantle so they don't hit her sides - but some horses really couldn't care less about them hitting their sides. I ride english. Doing no stirrups helps so much... I really don't feel like I balance off my stirrups at all, in fact, there are often times Im cantering and In my head Im all like "man, Im awesome, Im not even using my stirrups!". then, I drop them, and realize Im completely off balance, leaning to the right and totally, 100% using them and depending on them!
Letting them go makes you sit deeper, sit up taller, stay balanced, stretches your leg / heel down, and just develops way more core stregth. Im telling you the day I took them back after the 40 days let I felt like a rockstar. My seat and leg were awesome. Granted, I didnt drop them again after that and I went back to my old ways....
I was advised by my vet not to post the trot without them because she has back issues - but posting without them is a great form of exercise. I supplement and since I cant post, I do sitting (which is easy on her because she's smoothe) and half seat. I can probbaly only do halfseat half way around the arena right now (if that, and it's embarassing to the point that I wont do it if there's certain people out there...) - Id like to be able to go a couple times around. I see the kids lessoning jumping 3 foot jumps without them and their equitation is flawless. They are fearless and beautiful riders... In the canter it helps me actually SIT (something we hunter / jumper people sometimes forget to do...) and really stretch my leg down. You can't "flop" withought them because....well... you will fall off! it really teaches you balance!
Alright, Im going to drop them today. I'll just do a couple times around and build up from there.... accountability partners! let's go!
PS I also just purchased a Dr. Cooks Bitless bridle. I can't compete in it...but I wanted to give it a shot because one of my biggest worries jumping is that i pull on her face... even though I dont...the fear is paralyzing and keeps me from letting her gallop to the fences. that thing is great! I love it! i got some weird looks in it....but she seemed super happy in it too. Good investment. It makes me happy to see people riding their horses without bits.0 -
I can do a posting trot no stirrups during a lesson for about 10 - 20 minutes, depending on how tough the instructor is being. I could not do a two point or half seat without them. At least not a pretty one.. I think Chico would be okay for no stirrups. Scout is so easy going he probably would not care, but he is 3 and he could act up.
I love my ponies but Chico is not so forgiving. Get in his mouth too much, legs in the wrong spot, well he makes you suffer for it.0
