Okapi42 Member

Oh, we trot plenty, too - but only on the roads. Forest lanes are for going "wheeee" :wink:

Haha, yes, it is rather unpleasant for the rider! Unfortunately, lungeing is right out - due to an abusive owner, he panics and attempts to attack me when being lunged, so it all has to be done from the saddle. Should be good for my own balance and core strength, at least... I thought it might simply be a fitness issue,…

Thanks, I'll give that a try - though we have problems with poles anyway. He always hits them, and will likely just try to jump a canter pole, the wee numpty... I took him for a canter on a grassy laneway the other day to get him to watch his feet, and he jumped every tussock!

Age: 29 Height: 165 cm Daily Calorie intake: 1490 cals + exercise, but try not to go over a hard cap of 1900 cals except on really heavy exercise days. Workouts: Burn an average of over 600 cals a day through a combination of things. I count my walking throughout the day using a pedometer, but not most of my other work…

I was practicing this yesterday and discovered that he does a lot better picking up the correct lead from a walk-canter transition than trot-canter. Have you tried that?

I'm watching Dr Who as a timer for a raspberry pie that I've got in the oven. It's an in-character DM bribe for tomorrow's D&D game - I play a druid, and I hand-picked all the berries in the forest...

Thanks, Jumpthemoon, but the hay situation has fortunately improved now... Today I noticed that his shoes have now been on so long there are cracks developing around the nails and the clenches are standing proud. It's always something. Maybe I should make a list and report the owner. Grrr.

Now that they're no longer in competition, perhaps you can ask the one you're at for a recommendation?

Best job I ever had was driving a horse and carriage for Santa - all the kids were so excited, and I got all the mince pies I could eat. Burned 'em all off, too - boy, was it cold out there.

Any chance it could be you, not him? I've been having similar difficulty, and my instructor made me hold the neck strap with my outside hand to make sure I wasn't jabbing him in the mouth.

*sigh* still no news on the selling front, but today, the owner was bragging about his "training methods" for a kid's pony that include thumbtacks in the bridle!

Looks useful, suzette! I'm currently converting a jockey skull cap into a medieval-looking helmet - nasal helm and chain coif - because even for reenactment, I refuse to ride without a crash hat.

I second the baby powder idea - I use it in my socks when hiking to prevent blisters. Never gotten one from riding, but it's never that hot in Ireland - and I have a sheepskin over a treeless saddle, very cushy!

It's probably got a disclaimer that it measures ml of *water* - a gram of water is a milliliter of water, so it's probably a button for lazy people. Ice cream is way less dense than water. You can probably find a conversion factor - the tubs are usually marked in both volume and weight - but if your serving is half a cup,…

Welcome, Terri! Good for you, getting back in the saddle. You go!

Because you're carrying weight and climbing? On my last hike, the altitude gain was equal to 300 flights of stairs with a 20-lb pack... I like this tool for calculating calorie burn. Remember to subtract your BMR from their number, though. http://hikingdude.com/hiking-food-supply.php

Well, actually, a stable where I used to ride made all their grooms wear helmets the moment they came in contact with horses, from the ground or otherwise. You might take your chances; I prefer to avoid the risks that *are* avoidable.

Today I'm a nerd because I just made a sheepskin cover for my saddle, the first step toward making full medieval barding for my horse - I still have the ambition of becoming a knight, just like when I was ten!

An hour and a half on the horse this morning, followed by an hour and a half doing longsword training in the evening. I'll become a knight yet!

Hi Wobbly, I live in Belfast, but I've moved around a fair bit in the time I've lived here. The Mournes are a nice choice, but my favourite place to live so far has been the Sperrins. This place is addictive, I was only meant to be here for a six week work placement, and that's nearly four years ago now!

I was flying back from Paizocon today, a little overtired and with gaming on the brain. I saw that the overhead luggage locker opposite me said "DC 17" and thought "hang on, it can't be *that* difficult to open" before I realised that was the seat number... :blushing:

I see this "the more protein, the better" thing everywhere, but I don't really see why. Just like the whole "lifting heavy is the only way to happiness" stuff. Sounds like just the latest fad to me. But I did ask you for advice, which you gave, so I might as well be properly grateful and try it. Unfortunately, H&B no…

Hmmm, I can give it a try, but that protein goal seems entirely unrealistic without "artificial" protein being added. Any tips, keeping in mind that I live in Northern Ireland, where the local cuisine is 101 uses for a dead pig, with a side of potatoes? Can't get things like seitan or even black beans. So upping my protein…

Oh, right, sorry. It's open now. The last few weeks aren't great, I've been sort of flailing, trying to follow conflicting advice...

I'm watching Doctor Who - the fourth doctor - while collating my chronicle sheets for Paizocon this weekend...

Hmmm, my BMR is 1530, apparently, so if I *net* that, I'd be losing less than 1/2 lb per week!

Thanks for the responses, everyone! I might have been unclear, sorry - the 1490 is net, not total. I usually eat an average - sometimes higher, sometimes lower - of 1800 cals. The dietitian told me to stay under 1700, but that seems *way* too little. I do weigh everything that doesn't come as an individual unit on my…

That's great, Singer - enjoy the fruits of all your hard work!

Hmmm, I suppose that's one solution, but it might look even sillier!

I stayed up half the night designing a logo for our team t-shirts for the pub quiz at Q-Con this weekend...