How many of us have or ride horses?

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Originally Posted by ColleenT

i see a lot of horsey Avatars. i have a 14 yr old Appaloosa, the best horse in the world. i love him to bits. in fact i might just get my butt to the barn and ride him.

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I am an equine tech, so I do not get on horse back much anymore. I rode thoroughbred race horses for awhile, dressage and of course, a lot of western riding. My dh and I have worked numerous cattle ranches where we would be on horseback 9 hours a day sometimes. I worked in an elk camp that was 21 miles in on horse. Took 8 hours to get in. I have worked as a trail guide on Maui, taking people on horseback thru the pineapple fields and rain forest. There is more, but I will not bore you no more :D So, I do have a lot of experience with horses, but mostly work with them on the ground now. So, if anyone has any horsey questions, fire away. If I don't know, I will ask my boss. Of course, an equine vet. Crazy enough, I worked cows on horseback until I was 7.5 months pregnant! Anyway, the only saddle I get in now is my Bianchi one:D

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Originally Posted by KSH

I rode a guy who was dressed like a horse... saddle, reins, etc... in a club last weekend.

Does that count? :p

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Did he have chaps and spurs too? :p

Sounds like that might have been a crazy night!

OOOOH... soo trying to be good.....

sooo hard to keep mouth shut

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Originally Posted by roguedog

OOOOH... soo trying to be good.....

sooo hard to keep mouth shut

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I know what you mean! KSH's comment can go so far with what she said...:D

I pretty much lived and breathed horses for 20 years. I haven't done any horse stuff for about 7 years now.

I had my own horses from 1985-1995. I first had an 18 year old Appy gelding, Felix, who was given to me. I lost him to colic a year later:( He had lots of parasite damage , maybe from poor care when he was younger. Then I had a retired Stb pacer gelding, Shaw, for a short time. Not a bad horse, but he didn't work out for me.Then I had two: Sam a Morgan (I think, no papers) and Sijin, a BLM Mustang filly I adopted. Later Sam got a new home and I just had Sijin. I lost her to colic when she was 8.:( :(

After that I just rode other peoples horses. I never bought another one.

I worked at various farms in NE Mass. (Where I lived at the time). My favorite place I worked was Groton House Farm in Hamilton, MA. They raised a few babies each year. I had fun working with them.

I only rode for fun. I only went to a few small shows and a few pre-novice horse trials. I took some dressage lessons sometimes.

Four years ago or so I finally sold off the tack I had. I had a nice Crosby Prix de Nations saddle that I loved. But I wasn't using it. I bought a nice road bike (still have it, the Surly Pacer) with all the money I got from selling off my tack. I'm a student now and I'm more interested in hiking and bicycling. I don't have time or money for horses.

I do love to ogle the horse I see out on my rides. One place has a couple of Fresian horses. I've also seen a Haflinger and a Fjord. I mostly see QHs and Paint/pinto horses. I see lots of mules here too.

Last winter I went for a ride with some folks. They had some nice Morgans they used for trail riding. I went out on a ride with them. I got to ride a nice mare, Fooler. We rode out on some BLM land that mtn bikers also use. I had a nice ride, she was a nice horse, but when I saw someone mtn biking I felt a bit envious! I was just sitting on the horse getting sore knees and no exercise! I never thought I'd be envious of someone that was not riding a horse!

I sort of keep in the horse picture through the model horse hobby (these are "little plastic horses":D ). It's like model trains, but with horses. Creating miniatures. There are some amazing artists that are sculpting horses and casting them in resin. I've been doing that since 1981. I was very involved in customizing and showing in the 1990's. I've done little with that since I've been in college, but I hope to get back to it someday. I still visit modelhorseblab dot com regularly. It's a forum like this one. (I actually call this forum "girl bike blab" when I'm talking to my bf, he understands what I mean):D :D

how sad that your last horse died so young. even traumatic.
I just donated my last saddle to an outfit which helps disabled children
by letting them learn to ride horses. I kept it (and even oiled it) for 25 years before I finally admitted that I'd never use it again.

I'll have to look at your horse model website. I draw horses. If you put a pencil in my hand, I will draw a horse. I am "famous" for this at my office.

use to ride all the time as a kid. brother had horses and so did my cousin, but i didn't. every year i asked for a horse, but never got one. my dad said i wouldn't take care of it. little did he know.....

i did a bunch of speed shows and others of the like. then moved to phoenix and had no more horse friends. though right before i left to move up here i met some. would ride as much as i could, even if it ment getting up at 0400 to ride. actually just got an email from the gang. the horse i use to ride doesn't have a rider anymore. poor girl. my friend doesn't trust anyone else on her besides me. awe... i'm missed. hopefully i can get down and ride when i go and visit. i know the riding boots and spurs are missing me in storage. i know i'm missing them.

saw my old riding instructor when i went back to wisconsin to visit. got to ride one of her horses around the arena for a bit. my sister-in-law just snuffed me. said even though i hadn't been on a horse in a few years, i still had perfect horse posture. you can take the horse from under the girl, but you can't take the girl off from on top of the horse.

I have two Paso Finos myself (Nanci, I can't believe we don't know each other).

My mare is hysterical - she has enough personality for 3 horses, I swear. She's so much fun.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~pasos/july21.jpg

Beautiful. Aren't Paso's on the shorter side?

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Originally Posted by ColleenT

Beautiful. Aren't Paso's on the shorter side?

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Generally 13.2 to 14.3 - I've known larger ones. I also know tons of men who are over 6' 2" who ride them, so it's not a really big issue (more mental on the part of the rider usually). My mare is 14.0, and I'm 5' 0" so she's perfect for me. Plus there's no kidney jarring!

But all horses are great - :)

I ride endurance---50 and 100 mile cross country races. I have 7000 miles in competition in over 25 states. It is a hoot. Though it is a race, most riders are out there to enjoy the trail and acquire miles and good times. I have ridden on historic trails including the pony express (did 950 miles of it one summer- 50 miles a day) the Mormon trail, the Continental Divide, the Arizona trail and more.

I got a mtb because both of my mares are on 'rest' for the summer due to minor tendon injuries, one has been competing five years and one three. They are fat and shiny and roaming the pasture on vacation. They are bay arabian mares, 15 and 10 years old. I also have a 6 year old mare and a 3 1/2 year old gelding - all arabians, which is the primary breed used in endurance.

To learn more about endurance, go to AERC.org

I am a director and chair of the Horse Welfare committee for the AERC - American Endurance Ride Conference, which sanctions and keeps records. You can go the 'rider history' page and search my name and find my entire lifetime record.

I love my horses, but it has been nice to take the summer off and learn mtb skills- I am really enjoying it.

Ride on-

Laura Hayes

I own"ed" a 6 year old 1/2 thouroughbred 1/2 quarterhorse palamino gelding. I rode hunter/jumper and have been riding since I was a little girl. Been through several horses.

Unfortunately, about 2 weeks ago I sold him. This season I had to make a decision whether I wanted to continue riding horses or continue training for triathlons. Well, I made my decision and he is now owned by the sweet girl who had been 1/2 leasing him for me through the summer (while I was out on my bike!!!)

Roshelle from Milwaukee

I'm so glad that i am not the only one with a bike and horse habit..i love my horse, he's a doll.

I've always had horses, and have 4 right now, baby on the way. We board horses, trailride and I compete in endurance (or DID until gas went up last summer.) Ty, here in the avatar, is my endurance partner, and soul mate. Really.

This thread is supporting my suspicion that my interest in horses led to my enjoyment of biking. There are lots of similarities - wind blowing in your face, going fast, enjoying beautiful scenery, and having freedom! Like many others, my first love was horses. I began riding at age 6 and with the support of my family rode for many years. I was really serious and did pony club, dressage, jumpers, foxhunting and three-day eventing up to the intermediate level. Soon I had to decide between college and horses and college won out. I did ride for fun at a local barn for a few years but I have really traded my saddle for my bike. I haven't sold my saddles or boots yet, though!

Though I love biking, I do miss the companionship of the wonderful horses I had growing up. It is hard for some people to understand that horses really do have personalities! They are such a joy to know. My DH has no clue... It is so hard to explain...