Horsemanship
My retirement dream was to teach horseback riding. However I "lost" my lesson horses this past summer. All 3 had to be put down for various reasons. Horses kept me sane during the last 10 years of my career. And losing my horses almost broke me last year. However we now have 2 new wonderful horses in our lives. I am prepping them for their job as lesson horses. But I am finding that my focus is changing. Simply working with children teaching horse communication on the ground has been infinitely rewarding. I found my passion in life- and love to share it with others.
My new riding buddy may be leaving sooner than I had anticipated. It has been wonderful having someone else to meet up with almost daily. Really appreciate what I have learned from her. Able to take Gus out today briefly by himself and Duke simply whinnied loudly at the barn- but didnt run around like crazy. Now that we only have the 2 horses it changes the dynamics of the herd.
Wow, where did the past 2 months go. Was able to take riding lessons when I visited my father in another state. It was wonderful to pretend I was a rank beginner, and ride 5 different horses. Still terrified to canter however on horses other than Flash. So sad, now that he is gone. But now he is out of pain and in the realm after death.
@barncat Heyyy! I know your feelings and understand them as I have worked with many in your situation. The main thing to remember is that Flash was your friend and will always be with you inside your heart, willing you on. Have you ever tried working on the lunge (longe) lead? I am not sure how you might call it but the instructor stands in the middle of the paddock with a long line attached to the horse's nose band. They control the speed and movement of the horse and you basically can just go along for the ride. This takes away any fear after the first few seconds as the horse cannot run off, but they will gently move forwards to a canter on command.
I have used this a lot and find it really works. What do you think?
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@MistyMagic- great suggestion. While I was visiting my father out of state I found a FANTASTIC facility that only does lessons. The last day she did just that with the horse. It still freaked me out as he went into a canter - he had a lot of liftoff on his front end compared to Flash. But I did at least a 1/2 circle. Plan to return to this instructor about every 4 months. Oh and visit my family at the same time.😄🐴🐴
I rode 4 different lesson horses in 6 different sessions. It was awesome.
@barncat
Wow, where did the past 2 months go.I have no idea lol it's nearly Christmas then New Year !!
Listening - One Step At A Time!
Boy are my horses spoiled, they think life is rough if they dont get out for a romp every several days. Took them to the field couple days ago- Nothing like seeing a retired racehorse gallop across the field. Hard to believe he is not rideable. Today put them on a new set-up to walk both easier. So back to the barn to keep out of the rain.
Hello! I just found this thread. I'm a horse enthusiast as well - work at a small boarding facility and own one myself. I do a lot of trail riding (though winter has made that less frequent), as well as horse camping, and am looking forward to teaching (and learning) new things with my mare (like jumping and side passes and a nice long list of both 'skills' and 'just for fun').
Nice to 'meet' other horse people on Cups!
@wildeheart5283- I am a senior rider, so never learned to jump. Would have loved to learned when I was younger. Right now my horse adventures include keeping them warm and dry as mother nature tossed us so real winter weather. Rarely get snow where I live but it snowed again last night!!
I am always on the search for the perfect horse. An easy going confident guy on our trails. And most important, able to leave his buddies at the barn.
Well, gotta go out and tuck in the guys for the night.
Thanks for your response. Look forward to hearing about your horse adventures.
@barncat
I mostly ride with 'senior riders', so I'm the young'un of the bunch (though I'm almost 40 myself).
It took quite a bit of work with my mare, but we do solo rides now, too. She's the anxious sort, so we had to spend a lot of time on bonding before she was willing to leave her friends. She's still more anxious about riding out alone, but once we get away, we have a grand time.
Winter. Ugh. I'm pretty far north, so the 'worst of winter' for us is below -30*F temps and wind chills. So yeah, definitely keeping horses watered, fed, and sheltered is a big thing! And then grabbing a ride here and there when the temps decide to go above 0* for a change!
Oh, and both my mare and I are the curious, adventurous sort (or she is at least once she has confidence in her human), so all the new learning will be good for both of us (and our relationship)!
🐴🐴@wildeheart5283 - I realized about horses being herdbound the hard way. Now am much wiser to the process. Your temps are way colder than ours. Back to the 40's and rain. Rode Gus from barn to the field yesterday.. He is such a good boy. Going to look at another horse this week. Crazy, I seem to get my horses this time of the year. Miss a good WTC horse, Gus is a TWH so he paces when excited.
@barncat
My girl is also a TWH. She has a gorgeous running walk, but also throws in all kinds of other gaits just to keep me on my toes! At one point, I had someone take a video of me riding her, because I was so incredibly confused as to what her legs were doing. Turns out, she walks, trots, paces, running walk, canters (both an excellent rocking horse lope and a more extended ground-covering canter), and gallops.... AND makes up her own 'gaits', as well as 'cycles' - over about 6 strides, she's go from almost a pace to almost a trot and back to almost a pace (all while technically being a running walk, just not an even one). She also thinks it's fun to piaffe when she's not getting to run home, as well as canter in place when I tell her we're not cantering.
@wildeheart5283 wow those temps are crazy! Can I ask though, have you ever heard of laminitis being a problem with freezing temps? If so do you just keep them in or wear boots etc?
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@MistyMagic
No, I haven't. We had a mare with cushings who was a high founder/laminitis risk, but it wasn't a greater risk in winter. She was on a set amount of hay, so couldn't eat at will. It was harder in the winter to balance the frigid temps (she had shelter) with her inability to eat all day and night, but that was the only way winter affected her laminitis, as far as I know.
@wildeheart5283 it sounds great! I used to teach a lot of exercises to bond, I especially loved lying down next to my friends. and we did a lot of de-sensitization exercises for retired police horses that needed extra help to regain their confidence.
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@MistyMagic
Excellent! I want to start working with her on desensitization. Thus far, it's seemed more important to strengthen our bond rather than introducing scary stuff. And it's not like she freaks out a ton over unexpected things on the trail. This fall, she was definitely concerned about a hiker walking with an umbrella (which means umbrellas are on our list), and lately she's become convinced that someone who lives back one of our riding areas is a horse-eating human. But she's generally pretty good-minded and even when she does spook, it's quite manageable (and typically completely understandable). A couple weeks ago, we had a grouse fly up when we were literally 2-3 feet away, and all she did was move to the other side of the trail. (And we were solo that day, which means she was even more anxious than when she's with her friends.)
@barncat I think in my past I have cleared more jumps than my ponies 😂 and 'touch wood' I got out unscathed apart from a bruised ego and intense embarrassment.
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@MistyMagic- maybe someday I will learn little jumps. Once my hubby's horse started over a large log, and he said "dont jump" --- all Louie heard was JUMP. He cleared the log, and my hubby tumbled off in an undignified heap. Horses reality does not include negatives.
@barncat ohh poor hubby!
Do you canter? If you do then think of jumping as being similar to that rocking motion of a slow canter, maybe try poles on the ground and canter over them and see what I mean? ( of course safely etc, just a suggestion)
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@MistyMagic- I cantered a lot on my TWH ( put down September) His canter did not have a lot of elevation because of his hock problem. I was intending on looking at a gelding for lease today but had some emergencies at home. He is western trained and videos show a slow jog, and lovely western lope. Crossing my fingers that I can reschedule a visit to see/ride him soon. He has the HYPP gene, but never had an episode.
@barncat Lets hope you get to see him soon then :)
I used to ride English, and also side saddle (very posh lol) and have only tried western on our english trained horses so they weren't very good at neck reining. I suppose the lope is far more civilised for any length of time than the up down up down up down hahaha!
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@MistyMagic- She rode him to the top of the field, mistakenly didnt have hold of him as she put her dog into the truck --- next thing I knew is Gus was galloping back down the gravel road towards me and Duke in the field!!! Talk about herdbound. I just had to laugh at them. He hates to be separated from his buddy. I ended up getting on Gus, with Duke loose in the field. Something I havent done yet. But Gus behaved himself well as we neared the top of the field with Duke galloping back, turned him to face Duke. SOOO glad he doesnt bolt after his friend. It was 5 stars for Gus. Always finding something to work on with horses. Happy Trails.🍀 🐴🐴🍀
@MistyMagic- we finally checked out that horse. Gorgeous, but oh my. He also was insulin resistant and had an episode of laminitis in Dec. So passed up on him. So sad for the owners.
Still looking for my next horse!!
@barncat Thanks for the update Barny, laminitis is such a difficult one to manage. I have lost horses to it before and it is very painful, so I am glad you passed on this one.
There is a special horse out there for you, I am sure!
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@barncat You've been in my thoughts lately and I hope things are going better for you 💙
@mytwistedsoul- same here - been thinking of you too. Situation is better, growth often is painful. And lets not even bring up change!!!❤️🐴🐴🍀
@barncat Hey :) I'm glad things are better. You're so right! Growth is painful and change - boy I suck at change lol
@mytwistedsoul- Change is hard for sure. Lately I find uncertainty even more unsettling. 🐭
(there are rats in the hayshed - cute but make a mess)
@barncat I think it's unsettling because we don't know the outcome - what if the change takes things from bad to worse instead of making things better? That's my way of looking at it 😬
Yeah they are cute but they do make a big mess and they can do alot of damage. I don't like bait - too many other animals can get sick that way if they eat them but I've heard alot of people swear that little sacks of mothballs all over a hay barn can help keep them out or snap traps - which yeah it probably sounds cruel in some ways - but I think they're cleaner than bait and little critters draw snakes and I hate snakes lol
Mmm - lovely morning conversation lol! Who's ready for breakfast? 😁 I hope you have a good day 💙 carrots and cookies to the boys
🐱RATS- it was a little bird caught in the glue trap today. Loosened it and sent him on his way. I like the mothballs idea. Definately dont use any toxic substances - need a barncat again.
Sending you horsey hugs from Gus and Duke. 🐴🐴
Thought I'd take a little bit of time to reflect on the past couple of weeks. Out of town to help a friend. Miss my horses (of course). Found a dude ranch fairly closeby, that Ive wanted to book a vacation. And also met another equestrian who gives lessons on her horses. It was great to at least get in the saddle on another horse. Big takeaway, my horses are such mushballs. Their temperment and acceptance of strangers is something I expect. But not all horses are gentle with new people. 🐴🐴
Getting ready to fly home today. Did go on a trail ride that uses same property as the dude ranch. What a beautiful different terrain than my home. Rode a draft cross, big solid, surefooted gelding. Realized how addicted I am to riding. Instead of being sore after an 1 1/2 ride, I felt great. Best in weeks.
@barncat Oh, that sounds wonderful! So glad you had a great ride. It is amazing how different terrain changes the whole ride.
Have you ever galloped on a beach with the waves crashing in?
What's your favourite place to ride, or a fantasy place?
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@MistyMagic- favorite place to ride is on the back roads to Beckys property. Havent been there on horseback in a long time. My fantasy ride would be to return to White Stallion Ranch for a week of trail riding and lessons. Or some of the many riding vacations listed. Perhaps Iceland on their own gaited horses. I did ride along the beach in New Zealand many years ago. And Flash loved to go into the water. Never did get to take a trip to the ocean with him. 😥