So, anybody ride horses?

[Duamuteffe]

I'm an eventer, although I haven't been an active one in a while. I apprenticed myself at 19 to an eventing farm with 60 horses in upstate New York, and worked for a few years grooming, tacking, and doing all other horse-related chores in return for room, board, and riding lessons. They're a great bunch, I consider them family, and their summer camp is first rate- I should know, I've taught for them a few times. I graduated to training horses and people, and since then I've done the whole gamut of equestrian jobs, from plain old mucking to managing whole facilities, but I'm happiest when I'm teaching both people and horses. Cross-country is my favorite pastime, but I am diligent about my flatwork, too, as it is the foundation of all riding and communication with the horse. Riding is my art form and my main vocation, though I haven't been active in the past couple of years since losing my own beloved gelding in 2006 to a pasture accident- the first two years I couldn't bear the thought, and the two after that we hit some rough financial spots and couldn't afford it. Soon, though, we'll be in a place where I can look for a horse again, and get that big missing piece of my life back.

So, anyone else?

 

[DanOK]

I rode horses all the years I was growing up in the 50's and 60's. By then farms were for the most part completely mechanical so most kept horses for the kids. My first horse was a Dartmoor pony mare which I received for my 8th birthday. I have no idea where my Dad found her as I had never heard of the breed until I got one. She was a little over 13 hands tall and 5 years old.

Could not have found a better beginner horse for me to have. Gentle, well behaved, and well balanced. "Lady" had more sense than I did sometimes. Generally rode western, just bareback if I was going out to the road to get the mail. We did have a small cart she would pull with me and my little sister. Nice to think of her again.

 

[Dustinl]

I amateur team-roped in my 20's and up until about 5 years ago. I want to start again real bad. Now that I have a little land and a horse barn, I may pick it back up. Hauling to ropings across Texas was abouth the most fun I have ever had.



DL

 

[DolimiteB]

I've never ridden a horse, but have maintained an interest since boarding school where all the girls that were "out of my league" were on the eventing team. When I'm in the US I live in Charlottesville, Virginia and I'm told they have some great barns.

Is it hard to learn how to ride a horse? Expensive?

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

I'm an eventer, although I haven't been an active one in a while. I apprenticed myself at 19 to an eventing farm with 60 horses in upstate New York, and worked for a few years grooming, tacking, and doing all other horse-related chores in return for room, board, and riding lessons. They're a great bunch, I consider them family, and their summer camp is first rate- I should know, I've taught for them a few times. I graduated to training horses and people, and since then I've done the whole gamut of equestrian jobs, from plain old mucking to managing whole facilities, but I'm happiest when I'm teaching both people and horses. Cross-country is my favorite pastime, but I am diligent about my flatwork, too, as it is the foundation of all riding and communication with the horse. Riding is my art form and my main vocation, though I haven't been active in the past couple of years since losing my own beloved gelding in 2006 to a pasture accident- the first two years I couldn't bear the thought, and the two after that we hit some rough financial spots and couldn't afford it. Soon, though, we'll be in a place where I can look for a horse again, and get that big missing piece of my life back.

So, anyone else?

Downhere horses are mostly for girls. My daughter is crazy about horses (like I am about horse brushes ), and she rides for about 4 years now.

 

[TulsaLhorn]

My brother is a horse trainer and was TYRA state champ team roper once Cody Ohl moved out of youth rodeo. My brother and Dad had a Doc O' Glo mare and an Easy Jet mare that were the brood mares for the horses they raised and sold. The best man in my wedding was my brothers team roping partner and went on to become PRCA rookie of the year bull rider in 1991 (or 92 i dont remember). But you couldn't melt and pour me on a horse. I spent my youth building hot rods, racing motocross and water-skiing while my family and friends rodeod. I roped for a little while, tried steer-dogging and got on a few bulls, but I prefer the predictability of a machine. These days, I try to keep my kids off the horses when I go back to Texas, as I would rather they get the bug for something else than rodeo (currently they train in Judo and wakeboard).

 

[Duamuteffe]

I've never ridden a horse, but have maintained an interest since boarding school where all the girls that were "out of my league" were on the eventing team. When I'm in the US I live in Charlottesville, Virginia and I'm told they have some great barns.

Is it hard to learn how to ride a horse? Expensive?

Well, er, how much does a car cost? How good is its mileage?

When you say ride, it can mean a lot of things depending on your desire. Some people just want to sit upright and not fall off a horse on a trail ride. Some people want to rope cattle. Some people want to hurdle large wooden obstacles at a high rate of speed. These things vary in difficulty and invested time.

As far as riding costs, It depends on where you are, what you want to do, and how you want to do it. I realize that's vague, but it can be narrowed down given some specifics of interest and location. It also depends on your goals, and also on the trainer, and the location. If you want a primer on finding a good barn, I would be happy to expound at length.

As far as difficulty, again, that's subjective. Like any sport or artistic endeavor, acquiring the basics depends on patience, practice, time, and having a good teacher. Some people pick up the basics very quickly, others take longer to get them down. Once you've got the basics, you find that advanced riding, in any discipline, will take more of your time, more dedication, and more patience. You will also never run out of things to learn.

 

[DolimiteB]

Well, er, how much does a car cost? How good is its mileage?

When you say ride, it can mean a lot of things depending on your desire. Some people just want to sit upright and not fall off a horse on a trail ride. Some people want to rope cattle. Some people want to hurdle large wooden obstacles at a high rate of speed. These things vary in difficulty and invested time.

As far as riding costs, It depends on where you are, what you want to do, and how you want to do it. I realize that's vague, but it can be narrowed down given some specifics of interest and location. It also depends on your goals, and also on the trainer, and the location. If you want a primer on finding a good barn, I would be happy to expound at length.

As far as difficulty, again, that's subjective. Like any sport or artistic endeavor, acquiring the basics depends on patience, practice, time, and having a good teacher. Some people pick up the basics very quickly, others take longer to get them down. Once you've got the basics, you find that advanced riding, in any discipline, will take more of your time, more dedication, and more patience. You will also never run out of things to learn.

I just want to ride around on it...trail riding I guess. I don't want to jump over things or rope other four legged animals while I ride it.

 

[Duamuteffe]

I just want to ride around on it...trail riding I guess. I don't want to jump over things or rope other four legged animals while I ride it.

PM sent.

 

[Too Tall]

I had my own horse thru Jr. HS and HS pleasure riding, some hack events but mostly enjoying the freedom to do my own thing after yrs. of formal training in the ring. She was a tall quarter horse and smooth like buttah. I jumped her bareback (with a saddle pad) to the horror of the stable crowd he he. After college I worked out cross country horses for a local stable and for the last 10 yrs. nada. I keep a set of stirrups "just in case" handy.

 

[Matt R.]

I have a few times. Especially fun on the beach. I discovered that guys aren't anatomically designed to ride horses without training though pretty quickly.

 

[Geeno]

When my two girls were in their early teens, and all though their High School we owned two Quarter Horses that they showed here in North Georgia. I would walk and trot with them, but nothing more than that. My oldest daughter did very well with the last horse we owned, then we sold everything.

You ever hear the saying..."There's something about the outside of a horse that good for the inside of a man..."

 

[ImaWestie]

Sorry to necro a really old post.
My brother is currently on a "long ride" across Mongolia on local ponies. He's been at their annual cross-country race - the one where they had to recently raise the minimum age for a jockey to 4 years old!! due not to jockeys falling off and getting hurt, but it getting noticed by international media.

 

[ImaWestie]

I remember national 3-day eventing championships in Canberra, late 1980's - first time the course was used on Black Mountain - the first four or five horses all got tangled in different jumps, there were people in equal numbers calling for guns, firearms and "another" ambulance....

 

[Duamuteffe]

Man, I wish I had some photos of my falls- I've had some doozies. In some ways they're more fun to show off than the pics of when one is doing it right

 

[furious1]

I played polo for quite a few years, and hope to again when tie & money permit. Great sport, only slightly less dangerous than cross country (I've got the scars to prove it ).

 

[Neuromancer]

My father used to raise thoroughbred race horses so there were always quarter horses around to be ridden, pretty much grew up riding in the 60's & 70's...spent plenty of time mucking out stables...but I probably haven't climbed into a saddle in about twenty years...

 

[gaseousclay]

i've been horseback riding a couple of times many years ago but that's it. I do love horses though. I commented to my wife yesterday how I think I would enjoy working on a horse ranch

 

[Duamuteffe]

i've been horseback riding a couple of times many years ago but that's it. I do love horses though. I commented to my wife yesterday how I think I would enjoy working on a horse ranch

It is a lot of fun. It's not a way to make money, though (the old horsemans' joke runs, "How do you make a small fortune with horses? Start with a large one.") and it is a ticket to hours upon hours of backbreaking labor, but still, it can be enormous fun if you have the right group to work with.