The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread

[HairOfTheDog]

Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?

A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. We may not ~always~ have a lot of activity, but when we do, it will be fun. I will put a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!

I will also develop a ping list for horse threads that are of interest. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.

I am hoping this thread will be a fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.

[HairOfTheDog]

Nope.... I hope you have a nice positive restart with him... no forgetting to bring the camera. ;~D

[Beaker]

Hello all!
Well, I'm back, and my ego feels itty bitty.
I have one word for you:
Ow. :-)
Pictures coming soon.

[CindyDawg]

Oh no. What happened?

[Beaker]

Let's just say I was in for a good butt-kicking. My instructor was excellent, but it's a hard knock realizing that everything you know to be right is wrong. But I haven't been on a horse in a couple of years.

My face is red, but she put me on a lunge line. I haven't been on a lunge line in ... I don't even remember. But I'm going from huntseat to dressage, and she said I had a classic huntseat position. She said the lunge line was so that I could work my muscles back into shape. I don't know. Let me give it time. I haven't had a lesson in years, so I must have/did pick up some bad habits.

One thing that I must say, is that her barn is very clean, and she treats her horses exceedingly well. She said many times that all she cares about is that the horse is happy. Which is wonderful.
I just hope that I didn't give her the wrong impression. OK. I'm going to go hide under the bed now. But first some pictures.

[CindyDawg]

Ahhhhh. We are talking about hurt pride here :') S'k. I can emphasize real good with you there. lol. Funny, I've never been on a lunge line. My instructor close but kept hands off from the first lesson. Probably because I was in the round pen where 7-8 months later I end back up :'( Sounds like you had fun though. I don't know how old you are but you look young in the pictures so hopefully you won't be too sore tomorrow.

[HairOfTheDog]

Little stiff are ya?

Or is it just the ego that is bruised? :~D

I look forward to the pics!

[Beaker]

Pictures!!!!
The horse that I rode was a 13.2 chestnut welsh pony. (I'm a tiny person. I'm not even five feet tall.) His name was Banjo.

Tightening the girth. A very nice butt shot.


My only closeup. Pay no attention to my lousy riding! :-D


A far shot. Sorry, the camera had no zoom.

[HairOfTheDog]

(I'm a tiny person. I'm not even five feet tall.)

Gosh - I wish you were closer and could ride my pony!

The second pic - your stirrups look short if you are trying to re-train yourself into a deep seat for dressage!

So did you sign up for a schedule of dressage lessons with her so you'll be riding frequently?

[CindyDawg]

I just looked at your home page. LOL

[Beaker]

Little stiff are ya?
Oh a wee bit. :-) :-)

Or is it just the ego that is bruised? :~D
Oooh.. that too. But I'll get over that right quick. No worries. Hahaha. :-)

[Beaker]

I know, I love that picture.

[CindyDawg]

Yeah, when I saw her, I though, there is "Pony" a rider:')

[Beaker]

The second pic - your stirrups look short if you are trying to re-train yourself into a deep seat for dressage!
That's the hunter part of me that I have to knock loose. :-) The trainer didn't correct it, but I can bet that she will next time. :-)

So did you sign up for a schedule of dressage lessons with her so you'll be riding frequently?
Indeed I did! Once a week, which is about all I can afford right now. But hey! That's so much better than nothing, and I'm beyond thrilled. :-)

[HairOfTheDog]

That will be good. I'd love to sign up for lessons to clean up my style again too... sometime....

[CindyDawg]

Dressage just means riding without the jumps, right?

[Beaker]

My instructor close but kept hands off from the first lesson. Probably because I was in the round pen where 7-8 months later I end back up :'(

Hey, don't worry about it. I kinda jumped in to this thread, so I'm not entirely sure what's going on, but did you have a fall? If so, I can fully relate. The first time I fell off, I ended up getting trampled, and I was so afraid after that, that I almost quit riding, and I actually had to switch barns because I was that scared.

[HairOfTheDog]

No.... it's a discipline all it's own, not related to jumping. Dressage is to english riding what figure skating is to ice skating. It is a high schooling discipline that attempts to collect and perfect the horse's movement, and the relationship of rider to horse. At the higher levels, with the advance movements that are perfected in dressage, it looks like a dance.

If you have ever seen the Spanish Lippizaners perform, they are the example of advanced dressage.

[Beaker]

I don't know how old you are but you look young in the pictures so hopefully you won't be too sore tomorrow.
I know, I look really young. :-) I still get offered kids menus at Friendly's. It's a pitfall, but hey
Oh, I'm a gonna be sore. My muscle spams are having muscle spams. But I'm happy. :-)

[HairOfTheDog]

Here is a real good site with animations of many of the classical dressage exercises.

Halt@X: An animated guide to dressage

[Beaker]

. Dressage is to english riding what figure skating is to ice skating.....

Very well said. I was trying to explain it to my boss today, and well.. she just didn't get it.
Her exact words were: "What do you mean you dance?"
I am so excited about being able to finally focus on this discipline. It's something that I've always wanted to do, and it's what I started out doing. Hunter/jumper just isn't for me, because I have no depth perception.
Now I just have to unlearn everything... :-)