This is the first photo DH pulls out whenever he’s talking to anyone about me riding horses. I am a giant weenie about jumping, I’m really happy at 18” working towards 2’, my now retired gelding had other ideas. We won’t mention the fact that I got horribly left behind on the landing…
25 Likes
These were all SO fun to look at!
Me and my best boy schooling over some sticks 15 years ago. Classic teenager move with the blue eskadrons. My trainer hated me for that lol. He’s 28 this year. I’ve had him for 20 years:
I get to jump every once in a while now when someone is nice enough to share their horse with me. This horse jumps HARD. Always fun to feel that feeling. Have had the opportunity to hop him over some jumps since he was 4 years old (he recently sold as an 8 year old). Was super fun to be part of his journey. I love him:
32 Likes
I have “loved” every post on this thread. I love seeing “normal” folks riding on their horses. I don’t care how big or fancy anything is, it is just a joy to see this. It is a reminder that we do this for the love of our horses. Thank you, @Xctrygirl.
At the moment, my favorite pictures are of the old retirees. There is something so noble in their eyes.
My favorite riding picture is @onlyTBmares coming out of the ring. Mostly for the expression on her face. Again, it is happiness and joy for the simple act of going around a course, regardless of height.
35 Likes
I feel like I have one million and one photos, that I’ve taken or of myself riding, and I always have to rein myself in when it comes to picking favorites to share.
I’ve only owned one horse in my life, but I knew him from the time I was about 11 until losing him two years ago when I was 32 and he was 28. I didn’t buy him until I was 17 and he was 13, but we were together a long time.
He didn’t jump in the best style most of the time, and he was very particular about what and who he liked, but the last year I showed him before I stopped riding due to injury (mine, not his), he won 9 of the 12 classes he did on our local jumper circuit, and wasn’t first or second only once when I made him knock down the first jump of the jump off.
The first picture is just one of my favorites, the second is what I loved most - we could ride around and do real flatwork or with no reins, depending on how we felt that day, and the third is my favorite of him from our last show.
I was lucky enough to attend a college with a great riding program and lovely lovely horses. The first picture was my last ride before graduating on a jumper that I did some of the local equitation on and a handful of 3’6 jumper classes when I was able to show him. Seniors were allowed to sign up for days to come hack during final exams… no one said you had to use a saddle or stay in the ring!
The final picture (because even though I said I’d rein it in, this is more than I meant to share) is of a little horse that I was so lucky to get to show in our local 3’3 medal finals, where we were 2nd. The first time I rode him I thought “I can’t ride one side of this horse” because he didn’t really need your help. But once I learned to stay out of his way, I had total trust and confidence. I remember walking the course that day thinking to myself “man, some of these oxers look pretty big…” and he just put his “little birdie” wings on, as we called them, and around we went.
29 Likes
Never too many photos!
5 Likes
This is the one I’ve been pulling out lately. Only 1.15m, but this was the last show I did with a ruptured, herniated disc before going into surgery one week later. This horse is absolutely the horse I’ve been waiting my whole life for, and now that I’m recovered from last year’s surgery, I’m looking forward to moving up to the 1.20m and maybe 1.30m this year.
Can you tell how much I think of this one?
37 Likes
from mine and Matt’s first short course. I was terrified, but he never put a foot wrong and we ended up winning our division.
from a photoshoot we did with photography Kathy Russell.
31 Likes
Oooh on the topic of retirees, I have more to share
I lied in my other post that Sonny is the only horse who is never for sale. This old girl will never go anywhere. She was a great legged, back-cracking hunter in her day. A Congress champion, and multiple World Champion producer as a broodmare. These days she shuffles around my “cripple” pen, and teaching manners to the weanlings. I love her eyes, as you mention how noble they are. She’s wise and a saint, even if she was a “spooky bitch” in her show days. She’s my girl and I dread the day she can’t shuffle around any more.
Painting credit goes to Shelly Presley. Once I locate a tattoo artist who is worthy, it’s going on my forearm.
32 Likes
This one will always be my favorite. Just finished our tests at a schooling show, and I always let us go for a gallop on the XC field after we were done to reward him for doing the fancy prancing. This photo was taken by a photographer who was there with a friend, as an unexpected candid shot. One of my friends saw it on FB and tagged me. I’m very grateful. This wound up being our last show–some mysterious soundness issues waylaid us not long after, and we never quite got to the bottom of them.
This is a cell phone picture from a couple years ago. Rarely ride anymore but I do take him for long walks like a dog. Still my best buddy.
37 Likes
My current mare Summer, whose temperament was described to me as “marshmallow” when I was inquiring to buy her 
I was so pleased with how this photo turned out:
This is my newest purchase, from his sale pics.
I was so excited about him, being by the same sire as HH Azur, jumping like her, and having a sweet nature. Unfortunately he suffered a pasture injury so we are rehabbing and crossing fingers at this point.
28 Likes
Holy shit look at that reach on the half pass. Incredible.
4 Likes
41 Likes
It’s a real shame that Thermal doesn’t use the knees more.
3 Likes
This is a picture of my mare who I did the AOs and the regulars (when it was called that) with. She is a half sister to Touch of Class. I sold her to a young woman who recovered from cancer when I had cancer for the second time. She kept Bailey all of her life. We are still friends.
42 Likes
This is my trainer’s horse who I ride 3-4x/week, a grey Hanoverian by Calido I. This is the photo I show people to emphasize how tall he is. For reference, the bay horse is 16 hands!
And this is one of my favorite photos of my heart horse at a Halloween hunter pace. The best little Appendix guy who jumped the moon for me.
33 Likes
