[QUOTE=Dewey;5932784]
Yeah, there aren’t many choices for men, are there? Have you tried emailing the manufacturers?[/QUOTE]
Yes. Royal Highness makes my favorite budget breech, but it is only in one color (some brownish color they call taupe) and does not have a full seat.
I wrote singing its praises and asking for more color choices (tan/beige/white/rust) and a full seat.
Not a word back. 
Well, that’s a bummer. It’s irritating, isn’t it, that they didn’t respond–and not good business practice, I would say. Maybe you could find the name of the company president and write again! You never know.
Tarheel, I don’t know a whole lot about QH bloodlines either, but I have heard that SBB babies can be difficult although they usually turn out to be worth it. This one I’m riding is as sweet as can be and very affectionate. I just want her to be more confident.
We have made progress, though. She used to spook at everything, even while being led. Once while she was in the crossties, the wind blew my cap off, and she had a heart attack. That kind of thing she takes in stride now.
So…back to the OP, I got to ride a different horse last night since my girl is off and wow. Flopping fish syndrome.
What is it about riding a new horse that my adult brain just can’t seem to adjust to? I don’t remember having this problem when I rode schoolies. But now that I have my own, the couple times I’ve gotten to ride someone different it hasn’t been pretty for the first lesson!
[QUOTE=spacytracy;5935238]
I have a show on Sun, doing 2 dressage tests. I am SO nervous. I cannot for the life of me memorize my tests!!! Any tips???[/QUOTE]
Most of the lower-level tests are symmetrical or mirror-image; you do things in one or more directions, usually followed by the walk work, and then do them in the opposite way(s). First, I note which direction I turn off the centreline after my entry at A and then I try to memorize the overall pattern, e.g., turn left, trot circle at …, change diagonals, canter in the corner, trot transition, free walk across the diagonal and then the reverse. Once I have gotten the overall pattern down, I memorize the specifics… e.g., which letter to do the trot-walk transition.
Once I have it committed to memory, I will visualize the test in my head over and over again, including what I, as rider, need to do where, and also practice it on foot. I may also walk the horse through the pattern. I do like to run through my memorized test in the saddle at least a few times before I show it.
Can you have a reader? Although I always memorize my tests, it is handy to have a reader present in case you forget a movement and to give you more confidence in general. Although I will ride the test without a reader if I am confident in my horse and with knowing my test, since I find my tests are more flowing this way, if I have any doubts or am nervous, I will ask someone to read for me.
[QUOTE=CVPeg;5933474]
OGP - sorry you’re having to move, but the new place sounds to die for!
Pancakes - outstanding! So excited for you. Sharing can be a great way to own a horse. I’m kind of hoping if I get B in good enough shape in time, that perhaps I can find a junior that would like to share him as well. I had so many good to me as a youngster when I couldn’t have my own horse, I’d like to return the favor.
Sorry, about the beau, Iechris - I just recently ended 4 years w/ my SO. We’ll have to have a toast together in spirit![/QUOTE]
Congrats Pancakes!! When I started my lease (half) my riding really improved. Just the extra ride or two a week really helped!
CVPeg & Iechris can I join your toast? Like another poster said more time for horses!! Ending a relationship is what put me on the path back to horses!! So wishing good things to come for all!!:winkgrin:
So I’m riding my two horses but I have to confess that I just love my older TB. I want my young TB to go just like my older guy. I have never ridden a horse so fun to ride-ever. I was going to change his show name to “Consider It Done” but then I had to retire him from jumping due to ringbone. He was so easy and game for anything and still is.
I realized just today that the swelling in my older TB back left ankle was actually swelling from his hock. I found some swelling and a little heat in the hock. I debated having is hock injected last June and Ive decided to inject his hocks, I really love riding him and want to be able to hack him lightly for awhile.
My baby is happy and really goes nicely for being so young-I just need to connect to him. I know he and I have a long journey ahead of us, I just so love the older guy… I need to spend more time with the baby.
Edited to add: I’m struggling with Mr Stolen, I doubt we will make it, and yes, that was a huge factor in getting the second horse.
[QUOTE=stolen virtue;5941773]
So I’m riding my two horses but I have to confess that I just love my older TB. I want my young TB to go just like my older guy. I have never ridden a horse so fun to ride-ever. I was going to change his show name to “Consider It Done” but then I had to retire him from jumping due to ringbone. He was so easy and game for anything and still is.
I realized just today that the swelling in my older TB back left ankle was actually swelling from his hock. I found some swelling and a little heat in the hock. I debated having is hock injected last June and Ive decided to inject his hocks, I really love riding him and want to be able to hack him lightly for awhile.
My baby is happy and really goes nicely for being so young-I just need to connect to him. I know he and I have a long journey ahead of us, I just so love the older guy… I need to spend more time with the baby.
Edited to add: I’m struggling with Mr Stolen, I doubt we will make it, and yes, that was a huge factor in getting the second horse.[/QUOTE]
Oh, no, Stolen, we’re here just in case…!:sigh:
But you did the right thing! TWO horses will take your mind off what ails you!
I almost know what you mean about the old guy and the young’un. Although it’s been 25 years since my old guy moved on to some young Medal/Maclay rider, I kind of took it for granted that all horses have the canter he had - it was to die for…
And then I realized… B - well, with all his issues - I had never felt him canter comfortably the few times I have - until we were in the field last week, and he was full of beans - he gave me a couple strides in place as he couldn’t hold still, they were lovely - there is hope…!
Sure, Shelliblue! Here’s to you, too! (We’ll have to have a time and place where we can all raise one together virtually!:D)
Remembering First Aid!
This weekend, B has a booboo! Went to the barn yesterday. He was turned out Friday, and yesterday morning he had a nice gash down the front of his cannon/pastern which skipped a few inches and ended up with another small scrape down to his coronet band. Looks like he and someone in the pasture were rough housing a bit too much.:uhoh:
So now, as a rerider (reowner?), I am recalling/relearning my first aid. Cleaned it off and put ointment on it. Today, it was swollen. OK, OK, next…?:eek: Soaked it, it went down. Walked him around, went down some more, and frankly he wasn’t lame on it at all. Did some gentle flat work. No problem. Soaked it again, AND… I remembered how to wrap!!!:yes:
At first I started to think about it, and then said, “no, if I just do it, I think it will be fine.” BO just called & said it was impressive!
And you know what else? I could stay in a squatting position, I didn’t creak, and it didn’t kill my knees, or my “musculls”! Yea! (Funny, how when you get old, little things make you giddy… Oh, TarheelJD, we’re getting good at dismounting on our postage stamp sized mounting block! ;))
Had a great ride with my best barn friend yesterday. Sunday is trail ride/jump field day for us. Started off with a nice trot down one trail, then to the jump field for some cantering around, the headed off to the big trail that partially goes along the rode. Ah, yes… this is where the fun began…
Friend’s horse is in the lead, she is usually pretty brave. My horsie can be a bit spooky and has been ridden out more in the months I’ve leased him than he probably has in his entire life. Got past the farm equipment fine and then my friend’s mare just stopped. Would not go forward. OMG there is a party in the next field over. Now, my question is does this party involve dove hunting, target shooting or fireworks. Appears not. Horsie takes the lead and is a champ, friend’s mare follows but still is offended by the party.
Get along the road and all is going well, footing is super deep so we are walking, field was just harvested. All of a sudden FIVE yippy little dogs charge across the road straight at us and we can hear bigger dogs barking. Friend dismounts voluntarily, I join here. Dogs do not make contact and then go away. So, now we are on the far edge of the property along a plowed under field. No where to remount. I don’t know how to mount from the ground and I’m not going to try to learn on a 16.3 hand horse. So, LONG walk back to the jump field past all the hay fields.
Now I’m tired and manage to take three tries to find something I can climb up on to mount. Do get back on and do some more canter work in the field.
Horses said: Best.Trail.Ride.Ever! Especially the part where they got off and walked. LOL!
KateKat- hope your horse is all better soon!
Hey all. Back to report on the show. That. Never. Happened.
Could not load the horse - for 6 hrs I tried. I tried every method in the book short of drugging him.We did nice, we did ugly. We did in between. It was a total failure. My trailer is a 7’ step-up.
So a fellow boarder comes back from trailering out and he walks right on. Hers is a 7’6" ramp load. So we retested, and he was hesitant but got on within 5 minutes.
So. Do I accomodate him, and find a bigger trailer, or do I make him get on the darn thing???
The problem is, he is NOT a horse that responds to alot of pressure. So the more you put on him, the more he escalates. I cannot muscle this horse!
Thanks Shelli, CVPeg!!! I am so excited. We are getting the specifics of the lease nailed down today and I am going to ride tomorrow. 
I am really excited to get my new helmet too, an IRH ATH SSV (that’s a lot of letters). I am going to shop around online for breeches too. I’m still pining away for the Ariat Heritage but at $90 a pair I can’t quite justify it at the moment, especially when I just took on new car insurance payments over from my mom to the tune of $370/mo. Ugh. I can’t wait to see what extra rides a week does for my skills. Right now I need to just get back into it and develop the muscles, the reflexes, etc. again, but eventually I’d like to start jumping again and work toward a longer term lease. Because of my student loans owning a horse won’t be in the cards for some time, but I need to have fun and maintain my sanity in the meantime.
Getting horses back in my life has made me forget how much I wanted to get back into the dating scene. Isn’t it funny?
CVPeg, it sounds like you did a great job tending to your guy It comes back! Cold hosing and wrapping. Glad your horse isn’t sore at least. Tis just a flesh wound!
Stolen, you will come to connect with your baby, I’m sure. It’s not going to be the same relationship as your older guy, no, but they each fill a different spot in your heart.
Now that summer is over and we have stopped whining about the heat, the sweat, the humidity, peeling off sweat dried clothes, and the flies, (Florida) it’s time to whine about the time change last weekend.
At best, I get to ride 3 to 4 times a week - darn that job thing that keeps Finn in house and feed! Thanks to our switch back to Standard time, it will be 2 days a week period - weather permitting.
And it’s not just the people - I got to the barn at 7:30 last Sunday morning to feed. The ponies eat at 8. Looks like I had about half an hour to visit, piddle around, etc. Not so. Every horse in the barn was giving me the death stare - it’s 9:00 - where in hell have you been? We are starving! Nothing like a barn full of crabs! Since we had been to a show the day before, the show ponies were blanketed and wrapped. My thought had been to spend some of my “extra” time removing blankets and pulling wraps. Being somewhat smart, I got the point and dropped grain and then removed the clothing.
Pancakes - when do we get pics??
CVPeg - good job taking care of your boy!
Stolen - it takes time. When I got Finn, he wanted none of that warm and fuzzy stuff I wanted to dispense. He has since learned it’s pretty cool to have a maid come and brush you and hand out cookies. Slowly, that relationship is transferring to the saddle as well. It will come!
I hear ya about the time change! What a bummer. Luckily I get 4 days off a week so I can ride 2-3 times a week in the lesson and I can choose what time I want to ride usually. At least the weather is better down here now!
It was GORGEOUS this morning when I went out for a ride. 77 degrees, sunny, breezy, dry. The mare is an 8 year old, 15.2 hand QH named “Dash” with Dash For Cash bloodlines. She is dead quiet but has a lot of go too. We are going to be working on bending and corners, especially to the right. We also are going to work on going nice and soft and collected, which she can do when we both are communicating well with each other. When I get stronger and more effective with my leg and when using my hands will be less thought and more feel, she’ll go better. Her canter needs a lot of work – she gets very heavy on the forehand and disorganized and is gogogogogo! I have blisters on my inside of my ring finger today Time to break out the gloves! Dash is a sweetheart though, and I love just taking time to pet her, groom her, and give her peppermints.
As promised, some pics! Hopefully when my coworker/co-leasee comes we get some more action video/pics.
Action video from the day I tried her out with the trot
I go back tomorrow and then have a lesson on another horse on Thursday
Pancakes - she is beautiful!!!
Those pictures of Dash are adorable!
And I know what your mean about loving to spend time fussing over her. I love that, too. I always come back from the barn in a great state of mind. The horses are so good for my mental health.
I had a lovely ride this evening, too. Beautiful warm evening, and the green QH mare did the trot poles and jumped the boxes with no fuss at all. What a good girl!
Hey guys, coming on to get some reassurance/advice, whatever.
Since Sunday, I feel absolutely horrible about the situation (read a few threads up). I feel I failed him, I pushed him too hard, etc.
The BO said that for the first time since she had him, he would not come out of his stall when it was time to get him for turnout. I, however, have had this problem with him from time to time, he plants his legs. He does it sometimes in the pasture too when I’m leading him in (BO says she occasionally has this problem too). But of course I’m feeling guilty.
Anyway, tonight I’m going up to just spend time with him, probably to make myself feel better that he doesn’t hate my guts.
Sorry for the rambling, I feel so terrible about the whole ordeal.
Spacytracy, you’re feeling bad because your horse wouldn’t load and now he is pouting? Is this correct? Is he a youngster? Did someone treat him cruelly while the loading fiasco was going on (not that I can imagine that you would)? If not, this is his problem, IMO. Don’t beat yourself up about it.
Getting on a trailer and going somewhere is a part of his job. Every time a horse at our barn has a hissy fit about something that is part of normal goings-on, our BO says to the horse, “Time to work for a living! Get over it!”
Of course, he is a lot bigger than you, and you really can’t make him get on the trailer if he is determined not to. But you didn’t make an unreasonable demand, and if he refuses to be trailered, his usefulness to you (or any other rider) is severely limited. Rather than feeling guilty, you should be figuring out how to trailer-train him before the problem gets worse. Now THAT I can’t really help you with, but I am sure someone on this forum will have some helpful suggestions about dealing with a horse that won’t load.
Good luck! You’re a great horse owner, and he’s lucky to have you! Remember that!
No. I don’t feel I did anything severe. I had a lunge line through the trailer and around the window, applying light pressure. I also had a driving whip behind him. At no point did I hit him with it. Most of the time I just waved it behind him. He blew up, flew backwards, reared and broke the line. I then got ANOTHER line, lunged him a little, and tried again. Same thing happened. With 2 lines broken, I gave up because NO amount of work was going to make this happen and I didn’t want it to escalate into someone getting hurt. This was after 5 hours of first patience, then a bit of force (a butt rope applying light pressure, no dice), then hours of patience - food rewards when heading in the right direction. Bucket of grain inside the trailer. The most he would get in is front feet. We had another horse loaded in the other side.
BO thinks its truly a too-small trailer. He is 16.2 and the trailer is 7’ height. Yes, its snug - but this would have been the third time riding in it.
At the end of the day, he loaded onto another boarders larger trailer. So if I could, I would practice loading him in that for awhile. As it turns out, I’m not going to be able to because I’m having surgery in 2 weeks. He is being trailered home this weekend and we’ll work with him on getting him on a friend’s trailer (also bigger and roomier). After that he’ll have a break from trailering/riding, so I’m hoping the time off to relax will leave us ready to tackle this problem come spring.
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