Equestrians???

Welcome to those who are new!

I have to say that I love the elegant looking pictures of those of you who ride English. Although I've ridden both, I'm a gaming, trail-riding type of girl but have such respect for those of you who jump and ride dressage. Just beautiful!

Dancer and I love trails too!! I actually started out riding western when I was little, it wasn't until I got Dancer at 13 that I switched over to English... he's just not built for western lol. What kind of gaming do you do? I used to love barrels and pole bending! Dancer and I have done an obstacle course set up by our Richmond Mounted Police. It changes every year and has had some wild obstacles that are supposed to simulate what the police horses encounter on the streets. We've had to walk over mattresses, stand calmly while a firecracker is thrown in a garbage can (not a loud firecracker, just a fizzy one), walk through hanging pool float noodles, etc. The hardest ones for Dancer was having to stand calmly while being sprayed with silly string (we reared on that one lol) and having to walk into a line of police caution tape until we broke through it (he really didn't want to do that but I cant blame him, it probably looked like electric tape to him!).

I love this thread! It's so neat to hear about how other people enjoy their horses!!

I haven't done any showing, just playing around with my horse for fun with barrels, poles, etc. I've done a few "fun shows" where I used to take riding lessons, but that was years ago. It's hard to do much more when I don't have a truck and trailer :ohwell: Maybe someday!

Last year, I had to take a riding test for an instructor certification, riding English and it was hard. The horse, a Norwegian Fjord, was round as a barrel so my legs were super tired when I got done! I passed, though, so I haven't loss all of the English riding skills learned in college over 10 years ago!

LOVE IT!! Did you get TJ in Australia or did you bring him over there from the states? My boy is an ex-racer too, but he was too slow for the track so that career ended pretty quickly lol.

I bought TJ in Australia :happy: But I brought my warmblood over to Aus from the US to retire in a life of luxury.(he is 27 this year) :laugh: Everything is so much cheaper over here. :flowerforyou:

Anyone on here still about - Im looking for some horse riding frinds to add...I have 5 in the UK of all shapes & sizes...

Anyone on here still about - Im looking for some horse riding frinds to add...I have 5 in the UK of all shapes & sizes...

Yes. I'm still here. :laugh:

I don't ride...still too heavy at the moment, but own a race-horse (did own two but had to have one put down at the weekend

Sorry to hear about your horse. Been there and it's never easy. :frown:

Hello! I was wondering if there were many fellow equestrians out there I have two of my own. One is "Obie".... He is my retired 16,2h TB Gelding. I showed him in the Amateur Owners (3'6") for a couple years and retired him early. His old bones couldn't hold up to the wear and tare of the show ring week in and week out. "Santa" brought him to me Christmas of 1999. Best Christmas EVER! LOL Deena is my TB/WB cross by the sire Don Alfredo. She is my upcoming show horse and is an absolute doll. I bought her when she was 9 months old and she is turning 5 this year :flowerforyou:

Tango: So sorry to hear about your horse.

Lanfear: No, the US does not require riding helmets. Some shows/programs/clubs do require riders to wear them, especially youth under 18 years. Obviously jumping and other English shows require them as part of the uniform. The stable I learned to ride at required them for everyone, but then I bought my own horse and didn't wear one until I moved her to a new barn. I figured it couldn't hurt with her not being used to the surroundings; that was over a year ago and I still wear one when I ride.

For those who are new, I live in Minnesota and have a Mustang cross mare, 14.2h, 15 years old. I'm also a NARHA certified therapeutic horseback riding instructor.

It is so nice to know other poeple on here have horses...

I live in West Virginia, I have a 10 year old Saddlebred gelding named "what a bonus" we call him Rico at the barn. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I show saddleseat, next year I am planning on showing adult equitation.

Another rider here!

I am an endurance rider, so I log quite a few hours and miles. However, my body does get used to it so it's a struggle to find other activities to use as exercise. I also do gymkhana, and I ride horses for other people right now for $$ while I'm going to school.

I'm sidelined at the moment with my endurance mare, as she ripped her side open and isn't rideable for another six weeks or so.

I'd love to have more horsey friends! I'm looking to lose some pounds, but mostly tone...especially my back of thighs and butt! It's getting too jiggly! But no matter how much I ride, it doesn't seem to target those areas LOL

Hey I'm Hayley from Leeds, UK

I own a 14 year old TB x Cleveland Bay mare called Molly. We just ride for pleasure. She currently is on working livery in a riding school but we like to hack out. Like to jump every now and then but we're definitely not into competing.
The only change if noticed to my body with riding is more muscular calves grrrrrrrr (even popped the zip on the back of my lovely ariat boots!)