Thread: Anything horse related

Hi everyone,

I have recently just started getting back into horse riding again and the lovely purple hugs mentioned about starting a horsey thread so here it is.

I have to admit that I am a bit pushed for time at the mo but I hope that all members with an interest can contribute something.

I know so little about all things equine so for me it is about trying to learn enough about riding and horse care to be able to eventually know enough to get a horse on loan maybe?

Daft question...

Does anyone know if there is a difference between skull caps that are described as for children/junior and adult ones cause I've only got a small head!

Thanks!! was meaning to come and do this! lol
Well, a bit of background on my horsey side...

As a child I grew up in SW London, and was from a lone parent family. So.. money was tight and riding wasn't avaialable without travel and great expense.
I always dreamt of riding and owning a pony. Even tried convincing my mum to let me own one and keep it on our balcony! we lived on the first floor! lol
At 15 I rode for the first time on an adventure holiday in Wales. It was fantastic! as i knew it would be. I rode another 2 times on holidays, a lesson and a hack. loved everything!

so... when i had Erin I warned my hubby i'd want to get her into horses.. and he just laughed!

June 2005 we visited a friend in Glasgow and went for a day trip to the Isle of Cumbrae, where they had pony rides on the beach. I asked my daughter if she fancied one but she shook her head... Then i overheard they were £1 and mentioned to my hubby how cheap that was. Erin pipped up if they are £1 could i have one.. as i have £1 of my pocket money left! lol

she loved it! bare foot riding with no stirups, in walk.
The next morning at my friends back in glasgow. she asked if we could go back to the beach! lol As she wanted to ride again! I said we couldn't go to the beach again as it was too far, but could look at lessons when she got home.

When I called.. i 'happened' to ask if they could take me.. at just under 17 stone. I was amazed when they said they have 2 horses capable of 'weight bearing' ok wasn't pleased by the phrase, but the rest is history!
Erin and i ride at a different school now, still have weekly lessons and took on a rescued 2 year old (he's almost 2) pony.... i'll attach some pics later!

Originally Posted by chicken on a mission

Daft question...

Does anyone know if there is a difference between skull caps that are described as for children/junior and adult ones cause I've only got a small head!

I have a 'traditional' velvet hat, as does my daughter as we couldn't find a skull cap style to fit us properly. My hat is technically a childs hat.. even though i have a big head.. Go figure!

The only advice i can give you, is don't waste money on the poshest hat unless you are a serious rider, and i mean every day for hours on end.. and get one fitted professionally at a shop you trust... and replace it if you have a fall, and have 'head contact' with anything such as a menage wall or the ground.

Ok.. time for cutie shots! in my eyes anyhow..
Click on them to make them bigger.
Peanuts - when we got him, 3 days after being rescued.. he was very very underweight.



Peanuts - first time out with the 'big boys' the shire he is with became his best friend! Opposites attracted i think. lol


Recent shot of myself peanuts and Erin

Peanuts.. having gained weight!

I'm in love with peanuts!!!!!!!

I am a horsey gal at heart. Bit of background: I always wanted to have riding lessons as young girl but my mum and dad said there was no point as they could never afford to get me a horse. (notbeing mean to parents here - i completely understand what they were saying)
I did get lesson for birthdays and other 'treats' but nothing regular.
When i had my daughter (2nd child) my husband needed to have riding lessons as he was going horse riding on his work conference and his silly mate had put down they were intermediates even though they had never even sat on a horse!!
We went along together and i've been hooked ever since.

Have owned (or been owned by!! ) a few horses, my favourite of which is ben a 15.1hh heavy weight piebald cob.

Am horselss at the mo and hoping to start riding lessons soon.
My dream come true would be to have my own house with some land, a couple of horses and lots of other animals to add to the zoo.

Originally Posted by boofaloo

My dream come true would be to have my own house with some land, a couple of horses and lots of other animals to add to the zoo.

lol wouldn't we all love that!! We have a dog, pony and 3 guinea pigs.. graham won't 'let' me have anymore! lol I am TRYING to talk him into letting me have a loan horse of my own, but to be honest.. our money is not guaranteed and i know it would be far too tight if we went down in money, we pay £23 a week for stabling for peanuts. So double that plus food, hay, straw, shoes/farrier, insurance.. bla bla bla.. just wouldn't work out. BUT WHEN i get to 10 stone.. i'm going to try to get under it, and then maintain till peanuts is 3 or so, and have a 'go' on him to see how i feel/fit him. he's growing still and hasn't got his teeth for a 2 and a half year old, so i'm hoping he'll make 11-12hh. he's 10.2 last measured. Fingers x'd he can carry me.. and if not we'll drive him in time.
Erin can bareback ride him.. for a short 30 second walk.. with no misbehaving. He's a great little fella, and has taken to his back roll and bridle really well.

Long reigning is next...

He sounds great!!!!

I have some piccies of Ben but i cant get them on here, theyre too big and i cant resize them. If anyone wants to see him pm me your email addy and i'll send you it.

I would like to buy again but timing has to be right. I start my nursing next september and think when i've completed that i'll treat myself. For now i will just get practising with the lessons.

I'd like to learn how to jump properly. I've had a go before but just gone with the horse and bunny hopped over tiny jumps. Wouldnt ever like to do anything big though - too scared

Lol i've bunny hopped too.. but not actually jumped.. Erin has though and i've never seen her so alive! lol She is not an overly bold child.. but reckon she'll be bold at jumping in a few years! god help my nerves!

If you have a look at Free Image and Video Hosting - Photo Image Hosting Site : Photobucket.com they resize them and you can choose to have a 'thumbnail' like i did with mine. All free.

perhaps in time you could get a share.. or 'help' for rides.
I have helped for the last year for rides, or just the experience initially. People are so friendly and welcome a helping hand... even a novice one!

I'm lucky at our yard, there is a 5 year old 16hh horse that his mum lets me ride him just for fun. She says it's good for him to have a different less experienced rider, and good for me too! only thing is he puts in a fly buck now and then.. so i don't push him as much as i'd like.. don't wanna be thrown in honesty!

OOps. it's huge!! Thats Ben. Excuse his mohican - he had been hogged in summer and i let it grown out for the winter along with his feathers.

He is such a beautiful boy!!!

This is floss. the naughty pony!! We rescued her and broke her in - in the process she bucked my niece off and broke her arm. oops.

She is now fully broken and lives with a friend of mine - her son loves flossy to bits and has won lots of pony competitions with her.

Ben is GORGEOUS!!! He reminds me of my last one, Rastas, similar in colouring, cheeky as they come and roughly the same size. He was a rescue as well. Friend of mine who keeps racehorses found him dumped in one of her fields. He had severe fly strike and was under weight. When he recovered he was just great. Never found a sweeter tempered horse, unless he wanted out and was inside or vice versa. Learned how to open gates!!!! Drove us all nuts.
But on the sad side I haven't ridden for many years following a severe back injury. My daughter has just started riding and is hooked. Hubby no longer rides due to time. Maybe I should bring up the subject and get something moving. I have access to a 5 acre pasture with loosebox that is never used. (belongs to BIL). I might just have to you know!!!!! Daughter really doesn't need tuition so the money I save could go towards horse. (you can tell I've been thinking about this for a while). Anyway, watch this space.

jackie

ooo Jackie. I'm not sure hoe you've managed to resist until now - do you live anywhere near me? I wish!!

Oh my what a handsome Ben. He is fantastic looking. I want I want I want .

I have a childrens skull cap. As far as I know there is no difference apart from size.

Chicken on a mission.... I knew nothing when I first got into horses. I looked after a friends shire x for a year. I did it to see the realities of looking after a horse. It was great experience.

I am 49 (shhhh) until 2 yrs ago I had never even sat on a horse. Now I am the very proud owner of Zoe. 14.1 Dales Pony. One of the best things I have ever done. Should have done it years ago.
I bought her in May 2005. I knew when I first made the phone call she was going to be mine. Being told she hadn't been ridden for months and was now as wide as she was tall hit home I think lol. However 5 days after I bought her we found out why she was as fat as she was......she gave birth to a gorgeos little colt. He now lives with my friend just a few miles away and is a handsome boy.

All the work associated with having a horse on DIY is great exercise. I cycle to see to her. Have to walk miles to get her in if she is at the top end of the fields..all uphill of course, add to that the mucking out in winter, lugging water buckets, hay, straw etc and it's a good workout. I can't get enough horse time. Next year Zoe and I along with my friend and her horse are all going on holiday to celebrate mine and my friends 50th birthday...we were born just 2 days apart. I can't wait.