How many "Horsey Ladies" are here?
I find that as I meet other middle-aged female cyclists, many of us are former horsewomen that have too little time nor finances for horses at this juncture in life.
I'm almost 45 and raised, rode and showed American Saddlebred Five-Gaited horses back in the late 1970's. I outlived my Five-Gaited mare, who I rode on trails for pleasure and spent a lot of time working her in harness. She lived to such a ripe old age that Alzheimer's had set in. I have replaced her with a 2002 Bianchi Boardwalk cross-terrain bike newly outfitted with racing rims and slicks. I am the team captain of MS Team FedEx Ohio and I ride on the MS 150 bike tours.
Any show of hands of present or former horsewomen here? Many of the "bikey-ladies" here in Ohio rode hunter-jumpers. Not too many cowpokes, though.
BTW--My Bianchi still has that Saddlebred "look" about her--she's a mare!
Hi Michelemarrano Meet your's southern sister
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michelemarrano
While I use the Bianchi for road riding, I picked up a Trek 28 speed MTB at a garage sale last year for $70--never been used!
We are also campers/RV-ers--it's nice to take the Trek on camping trips to tool around campgrounds and to some light trail riding--many of the rails-to-trails have ballast surfaces.
I know this is nuts---but I think of road riding in equestrian terms as "English" and mountain bikes a "Western"....anyone else see the same pattern?
Don't know you but we have to get together! Live in Cincinnati and show dogs which require horses as I show dogs in hunting events! Showing dogs also requires you to own a camper so you can be relaxed and rested for the weekend! We frequent Ceasar's Creek in the pet loop. I ride a Trek 1000, bf rides a Madone and best friend also rides a Trek. My very first ride was the MS150 left went from Wilmington to UD and back. Doing it again! Any way to get on your team? Or do you have to work at FedEx?
Jeni
my paranthetical name is (horseless)
I've been a lover and dreamer of horses from a very young age. I used to ride one of my neighbor's horses growing up, took official English riding lessons at age 12, rode western on the hills of Montana on vacations as a kid - finally learned 3 day eventing and show jumpers on a lease horse in my late 20's, early 30's. At age 34 I finally got my first horse, a Thoroughbred gelding who had just retired off the racetrack - his name was Supertariat, he was an elegant grandson to the famed Triple Crown winner, Secretariat. I then entered competitive show jumping for the next 12 years of my life. He was a horse of a lifetime. Supertariate died in 1999 ... "my life with horses ended that day" ... if you want to see the movie I made, let me know ;-0
Needless to say, I LOVE horses ... when I ride my bike, I pretend I'm on a horse. It's almost as fast going downhill but it's not a horse - I own a Trek 5.2 Madone SL ... I'm having a blast- I love to ride out in the country where horses can be spotted roaming the fields ...
~ m
What a great thread idea!
I've loved horses all my life, but have never owned one. I've drawn them in art since I was in the 2nd grade (my most horrific childhood memory is of my 2nd grade teacher throwing away my beautiful horse picture, drawn on the back of the class assignment I was supposed to be working on :p ). As soon as I could read, I would spend hours in the school library, finding and reading every horse book they had. I found Walter Farley and the Black Stallion series, and suddenly I had my own book collection started.
When I was nine, my mother finally caved and found a small local stable where I could take riding lessons. My first ride was bareback, then I mostly learned my horse(wo)manship skills on the western saddle. I absolutely loved English, and tried jumping (loved it!). After a couple years at that stable, my mom found a larger stable with more acreage and better facilities. The horses and instruction were better and my mom started taking lessons too (she rode as kid in England). We had alot of fun, and when money was tight, we would clean stalls and paddocks in exchange for the lessons. At this stable, my skills got better and showed a little with the school's horses (Novice/open jumping and English equitation classes). I still have all my ribbons. ;)
My mom would also scrape together money every summer to send me to a weeklong 'horse camp' in Hilmar, CA. Rascal Slough Ranch owned and operated by a wonderful lady named Linda Stevenson. I went for five summers in a row. Each year, we were assigned a horse based on our skill level, and by the last year I attended, I had advanced to Linda's most treasured horse, Jackrabbit, a gorgeous appaloosa (mostly quarter horse). Jackrabbit was true to his name -- he'd jump anything, and Linda would keep Jack and me for a few extra minutes to work on our jumping skills. The tallest jump I tried with Jack was an oxer set up over two barrels with crossbars. Jack was awesome...Linda would even put a racing saddle on him and gallop around the arena.
The closest I came to owning a horse, other than dreaming about it, was my mom and I almost leased a thoroughbred by the name of L.P. (short for longplay...he was looonng...perfect for me and my long legs). He was also a fearless jumper, and we had so much fun together. What stopped us from leasing was my step-dad changed jobs and we didn't have enough spare cash each month. I was sooo bummed. A couple years later, though, L.P. became sick, they couldn't put any weight on him, and then one morning they found him in the pasture. Sad. I loved that guy. He was a bay with a white star on his forehead. He was an failed racer that made it to the jumping circuit, and then eventually found himself at the meat truck. Thankfully, he was rescued and had a good life at the ranch.
One of my goals in life is to someday own a horse, and I'm stubborn enough to get there. But right now, my life is way too hectic and I don't even have time to take lessons like I'd love to. I tried a few years ago, bought new riding breeches and boots, but became pregnant with my second child soon thereafter, and then I've been too busy ever since. So for now, like you Maree, I am content to take my bike rides where there are horses. I found a Connemara breeding stable on my ride the other day. That one I had to stop for. The stable owner took notice of me sitting there out on the road and said hi to me as I finally rode off. I told her that her horses were beautiful, and I got a huge smiley "thanks" back. It's obvious that she loves what she's doing. I'll have to go that way again, for sure.
As a side note, I found that horses are truly in my blood. In addition to my mom riding in England when she was younger (she has lots of stories to tell), I recently found out more about my dad during a recent visit to the East Coast to see him. At one time, his mom owned 13 horses on their ranch in Maine, and would breed and raise them from foals. I got a few pics of my dad on a some of them. Awesome. ;)
Sorry for the long post. I can't stfu, pardone my francais, about two subjects: horses and bikes! :D :D I look upon my riding lessons and times at horse camp as a kid very fondly. Thanks for reading!
