Can we have an adult re-rider support group?

[pony4me]

No snot is good news! Hope he continues to get better.

I’m in for a long season of hand walking since my 13 year old TB is on stall rest with a coffin bone stress fracture and collateral ligament injury. Best guess is that he will be sound for flatwork after 8 months to a year off. That leaves 56 year old me with horse show withdrawal pains. I’m still taking a lesson or two a week, and the barn is nice enough to let me ride a sale horse instead of a schoolie sometimes, but it’s just not the same. My TB was my friend and show buddy for four great years. Finances prevent me from leasing another horse at this time, and TB needs lots of extra care and attention so I need to be taking care of him anyway.

[TarheelJD]

Yay for good news about Dublin!

pony4me – sorry to hear about your boy’s injury. You’ll take good care of him, and ya’ll will be back at it again before you know it. At least you have some other horses to ride in the meantime, even though I know it is not the same

Like spacytracy, I am living vicariously through all of ya’lls riding stories, since conflicts prevent me from riding again until the first weekend in January. So keep 'em coming!!

Hope everyone is surviving these last hectic few days until the holiday!

[Opus1]

Random question: Do any of you don makeup for shows? Just curious. I know I didn’t back in college at IHSA shows, but then again, we had some girls who did. But now I can’t remember if it was for the hunter portion, or if it was done just for the Western Pleasure classes and they happened to have it on during the hunter shows …

(Sorry. I was in the Hunter Princess thread and it was something I’d been wondering about. Just because I loathe makeup, but I’m also frightfully pale with blonde hair …)

[mepkkg]

I wear my normal day makeup when I show. The usual foundation, powder and mascara though I skip the eye liner because it’s likely to smudge when I sweat. I think it depends on how comfortable you feel with/with out it. I’m no prima donna but I do always put a little something on before I leave the house.

[TarheelJD]

Like mepkkg, when I wear makeup for shows, I wear the same as I do for every day running around (which isn’t much for me). Concealer, powder, blush, subtle eyshadow and mascara, lip gloss. But truth be told, half the time I am running around like crazy on show days, and I end up not having time to put any makeup on.

[CVPeg]

Sorry pony4me - how disappointing. 8 months - ugh. Hang in there!

spacytracy - great! crossing fingers it will stay away…

So it took just 3 months of ownership for B to be lame. Pulled a shoe in the stinkin’ mud in the pastures. Not lame, but didn’t want any more sucked off. Stayed in this weekend until blacksmith came on Monday. Had a great ride afterwards. Text message yesterday (wish they would call - no cell coverage at my house and I could have made time) that he wasn’t going to get turned out as he was off. Speculated that this crummy rainy weather is arthritis promoting, and that he might just get better if he moved around. Stocked up in his R hind when I got there, but not bad. Walked him for 15 minutes today. His gait picked up. Then tried a trot and to the left he was really off.

No heat anywhere. No flinching when flexing. His R hind had gone back down afterwards. Going to try to stretch him out at a walk over the next couple of days, and if nothing improves, call the vet. The barn is very cold and damp, and hoping this isn’t going to be par for the course this winter. But really have no other options in my remote location for the immediate future.

Gee - at least I’m not alone having to take a detour…!

[Dewey]

[QUOTE=mepkkg;6034154]
II’m no pre-madonna but I do always put a little something on before I leave the house.[/QUOTE]

So do I. Not much, just a little something.

By the way, I think you mean “prima donna.” This phrase means “first lady” in Italian, and originally referred to the leading lady in an opera. Please forgive the correction. I thought you might like to know.

[mepkkg]

[QUOTE=Dewey;6035139]
So do I. Not much, just a little something.

By the way, I think you mean “prima donna.” This phrase means “first lady” in Italian, and originally referred to the leading lady in an opera. Please forgive the correction. I thought you might like to know.[/QUOTE]

Whoops good to know!

[BonneAmmie]

I always wear makeup to show! I always have some vague idea that maybe the judge will be thinking “gosh they were all awful today, but that one lady just looks so nice…” I wear a little less than I wear to work, just do a little powder plus blush, eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick (no gloss for me, gloss + ring dirt = bad times) And obviously a mountain of undereye concealer because getting up at 5am hurts more than it used to!

Also I tend to think if I didn’t wear makeup it would scare the children. I don’t need a pony kid looking at me and going “are you OK???”

[Opus1]

Thanks, y’all!

I typically don’t wear anything at all, but I may break out some basics for any B or C shows.

==

Pre-madonna made me giggle. In a good way. Pre-madonna, Madonna, and post-madonna. I think one could definitely work those into a conversation about makeup. “Just whatever you do, DON’T go all post-madonna. It may work for Lady Gaga, but it just won’t work with you.”

[spacytracy]

I do. Call me vain but I like to look decent in pictures. And the difference of makeup/no makeup is quite shocking on me. I dont wear much, conceiler bronzer, and mascara, most of the face stuff slides off by 11 am anyway.

[CVPeg]

[QUOTE=spacytracy;6035643]
I dont wear much, concealer bronzer, and mascara, most of the face stuff slides off by 11 am anyway.[/QUOTE]

:lol: Me, too… And what I think is scary, is helmet head! :eek:

Hey, great news! B has had a miraculous recovery! Got on him today to quietly ride him since he was so off Wednesday - we hoped it was the weather. Well, today felt cold to me, too, but he was alert and eager going to the indoor. The walk felt fine. Then I couldn’t even get once around at a trot without a buck or a squeal. Had to turn him out to let off some steam - flew around the ring for several minutes, and of course had to walk him with that winter coat! Gotta love 'em!

Everyone have a lovely holiday!

[jaslyn1701]

I am happy to report that sometime during the last week, Finn’s brain was located and returned to his head. Today was one of the really nice rides on him. He did not even move when I mounted - which I attribute to finally getting the padding right as he still lacks some top line muscling.

He was relaxed, he was “there” and responsive to my requests. We even managed leg yield at the trot (it’s difficult because I sometimes lack brain to body communication).

Just for fun -we jumped a x rail! Now sometimes this goes really well, and sometimes not so much - like when I tense up and apply the leg of death to him. That’s when he charges the itty bitty jump, clears it and tries to gallop away - not canter, gallop. Today was one of the really good ones. Horse happy, me grinning ear to ear!

Pony4me - sorry to hear about the stall rest - is it a good thing that it’s winter and not glorious perfect for riding spring???

Spacy - glad to hear Dublin dodged the snot glob!

Iechris - glad to hear the brain was not lost - just misplaced! Good job!

As to the makeup question - whether I wear any depends on several factors: Heat & humidity and how much my hands are shaking. The one time I tried to apply eyeliner pencil at a show, it looked like it had been done by a 1 year old with a big Crayola.

Merry Christmas to all us re-riders! May your day be joyful and full of pony hugs!

[spacytracy]

Jaslyn - I’m glad you had a great ride! I bet that felt really satisfying.

Dublin is feeling great. So great in fact that he’s been a total a-hole to handle. I told my trainer this last night and she said “Good!”. I knew what she meant (glad he’s feeling better) but I’m kind of scared to handle him because he’s been such a turd.

I posted on “off course” but if you guys can give me any tips on how to get him to stop running through the gates, into his stall, Id appreciate it!

[Opus1]

spacy: If I had any sort of advice for you, I’d totally share it. Unfortunately, my experience is limited, at best.

==

I think I just found a way to increase the amount of saddle time I get each week. Unfortunately, it will require me to use an additional trainer. I will be speaking with current trainer about this Monday.

It’s basically a weird working hours/days coupled with distance from the barn problem and has nothing to do with her personally. Potential new trainer is in the city where I work, whereas my current trainer is 80 miles from work and 50 miles from home. So, that being the case, I’m thinking/hoping it will be a non-issue.

Fingers crossed. I really love my current place, but I know I’m progressing at a snail’s pace because I can’t ride as much as I need or would like.

[jaslyn1701]

I feel like a really bad horse mom! My attempts to keep Finn more comfortable inadvertently backfired! As I said before, we are working on muscling on his top line - when I bought him, you could put knick knaks on the “shelf” between spine and the top of his ribs. It’s much better now, but still needs work.

So, in an attempt to lesson the bulk of pads, I got him one of those foam whither pads. It was not until yesterday and today that I made the connection between the foam pad and our mounting issues. No foam pad either day.

Two days in a row he has stood like a stone while I mount! And has been a joy to ride - no bit chewing, no bit leaning. No Mr. Pissy Pants - just my good boy.

Now, I have a confession to make: I have cantered Finn only a few times. Somewhere, somehow, my brain decided that if I did “that” he would just run away and I would not be able to stop him - ever. Logical - not by a long shot.

So, today, I cantered on the left lead - a whole circle. Was it pretty - nope. My left foot slid all the way “home” in the iron and I was pretty bouncy - but we, as in Finn and I, did it!!!

[jaslyn1701]

I feel like a really bad horse mom! My attempts to keep Finn more comfortable inadvertently backfired! As I said before, we are working on muscling on his top line - when I bought him, you could put knick knaks on the “shelf” between spine and the top of his ribs. It’s much better now, but still needs work.

So, in an attempt to lesson the bulk of pads, I got him one of those foam whither pads. It was not until yesterday and today that I made the connection between the foam pad and our mounting issues. Foam pad is out!

Two days in a row he has stood like a stone while I mount! And has been a joy to ride - no bit chewing, no bit leaning. No Mr. Pissy Pants - just my good boy.

Now, I have a confession to make: I have cantered Finn only a few times. Somewhere, somehow, my brain decided that if I did “that” he would just run away and I would not be able to stop him - ever. Logical - not by a long shot.

So, today, I cantered on the left lead - a whole circle. Was it pretty - nope. My left foot slid all the way “home” in the iron and I was pretty bouncy - but we, as in Finn and I, did it!!!

[CVPeg]

Congrats, Jaslyn! I am looking forward to the day when I can canter B without bucking and racing. What I would give for one time around the ring! We are still walking, walking, trotting, trotting, trotting. And now that this week has divulged that his tentativeness (is that a word…) appears to be arthritis, we have that under control and we are back to full speed! Had a fun ride in solitude this afternoon, with lots and lots of changes and mental games. He is actually tucking and using his hind end! Whoo whoo!!

I left the ring so thankful for this horse, and this year - one that has returned me to my life’s love of riding, and the “belonging” feeling that comes with it.

Here’s to the re-riders of COTH. May we all have a lovely 2012!

[shelliblue]

Happy Holidays Re-riders!!

I am working on my goals for 2012!!

:winkgrin:

[iechris]

Happy Holidays!

Got rained out this week and woke up this AM with a stomach bug so I think tomorrow will be out too. Crossing my fingers for Tuesday.