The doc feeding Barbaro a carrot . . . he is a really handsome boy, with that sweet not-quite-formed 3-year-old look . . . the doc says he really seems to understand that something's wrong and everybody's trying to help him.
Posted on 05/29/2006 4:17:11 AM PDT by beyond the sea
I knocked off for law school and pregnancy . . . my OB made me quit in the fourth month - he said he wasn't worried about hurting the baby but about ME getting hurt due to changes in my CG and balance . . . he was right of course. I didn't really get back started again until my oldest was 7 or 8.
But when I climbed back on it was as though I had never been away. I will warn you, however, that while my muscles remembered what to do they were not physically ready for the effort, and I really overdid it the first time out. I was way too interested in finding out what I could still do - lots, but I could barely walk for a couple of days afterwards . . .
AAM can help me on this one . . . I think when you start a jump, you lean forward over the horse's neck. Am I remembering that correctly?
I tell you what, a friend of mine put me on her Friesian a couple months back. It was SO much fun, even though I didn't get above a trot, but I couldn't walk right for two days.
Got the opportunity to ride a four-star event horse the other day, he was strong through a combination and I did a little half-halt at number two - and he thought I meant to STOP. So he did. I went forward of the saddle and fetched up on his withers, but I always say it doesn't count if you don't touch the ground . . .
Riding in the rear seat is always the safest option, especially on a horse you don't know.
My Friesian-owning buddy laughed when I got up on Sam (the Friesian) - she said she'd have known I used to ride, because I turned my toes in.
I did manage to roll off Sam the first time I rode him. My friend's sister (who's probably six inches shorter than me) was on him before me, and we forgot to lengthen the stirrups.
Once I got on, I figured I was only gonna be on for a little while so the stirrups didn't matter. And then Sam started to trot.
Imagine (if you will) posting with stirrups six inches too short.
I went off forward and to the right, and my friend said it was a gorgeous fall - I landed on my upper back, rolled, and bounced upright. (She and I used to fight out at our Festival, and she credits combat training for teaching me how to fall.)
1. Have your horse in rhythm so that you can count the canter strides. Count down to "two-and-one-and" will get you to one-half stride before takeoff.
2. One-half stride out, rise in the saddle slightly but DON't lean forward yet. All you're doing is getting your weight off the hindquarters so that your horse can place the hind feet for takeoff. Keep the leg on and light contact on the bit so you don't get a last-minute shutoff.
3. When you feel the horse's hind legs place for the takeoff, rock your balance very slightly forward and let the horse's forehand rise underneath your chest. It's not really leaning forward, more letting the horse come up to you. The bigger the fence, the faster this all happens, and you do wind up kind of throwing your butt up in the air on a big takeoff in order to catch up with Dobbin. But I don't jump the big stuff as a matter of course, no more than 1 or 2 fences 3 feet or bigger on any given day. Big fences are hard on older horses' legs, and you can work on details like approach, turns, pacing, etc. on a 2 foot fence just as well as 3 foot or bigger.
4. You can grab a handful of mane about 16 inches forward of the withers, or you can follow the bit with your hands. When I'm in the field, I do a strong crest release, running my hands well forward, so that the mare has complete freedom with her head and neck to balance. In the show ring, I would keep more of a contact with her mouth, but there the jumps are properly spaced and you're in a confined area and jumping at an easy speed.
Yeah, when my daughter fell off after jumping a grid (the horse - who died a couple years ago at age 43, still full of buck - put in an extra jump for luck after the grid) she hit the ground like a bag of wet cement. That's when I sent her and her little brother to aikido classes to learn how to fall . . . it worked, she now falls very gracefully.
Good stuff to hear!
The doc feeding Barbaro a carrot . . . he is a really handsome boy, with that sweet not-quite-formed 3-year-old look . . . the doc says he really seems to understand that something's wrong and everybody's trying to help him.
Wow, you make it seem so complicated. As an old foxhunter myself I figure that if the horse and I are still alive on the other side of the fence, it was a good jump!
Just kidding. That was a good explanation for her.
Shortly after returning to the New Bolton Center stable after his operation Barbaro was doing just fine according to his vet ... the reason the vet was optomistic? Barbaro was 'nickering' at the mares ... just as you would expect from a healthy three year old stallion.
Reader's Digest Condensed Version: "SIT BACK AND HANG ON!"
Guess I've been spending too much time at hunter shows . . . they like a little polish. But, seriously, the biggest compliment I have gotten in a long time was from a non-riding mom who was standing outside the ring during a jumping class. She pointed to my mare and me going around and said to somebody, "The rider doesn't look like she's moving at all." The person standing next to her said, "That's the point!"
Of course, the fact that my mare canters smooth as silk and jumps out of her stride means that I don't HAVE to move.
Thanks for the posting,and thanks for having the nads to stand by it.Good story.
Sorry, horse people just have this tendency to start talking horses (and hunting, and hounds), and NOT STOP EVER. We hijack a lot of real-life conversations too!
For you...photos of happier times for this wonderful colt. Barbaro wins the Kentucky Derby.
Barbaro wins the Florida Derby. Sharp Humor, on the rail, was 2nd.
He was undefeated going into the Preakness and was never beaten by another horse. Only by injury...and that hasn't beaten him yet. Maybe it never will. :)
I don't know too much about horses ...... but to me he looks like a real sweet, somewhat timid (maybe because of the circumstances he finds himself in) fellow.
I love him .....
God bless the doctors ...... and God bless you folks who know and love much about these beautiful animals!!
LOL ..... "nickering" sounds good.
;-)
LOL ..... "nickering" sounds good.
;-)
LOL
I guess it's not the same as this.....
The Sundance Kid... auditioning for his job as a GUARD at the silver mine trying to impress with his shooting:
"I do better when I move."
LOL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.