How many of us have or ride horses?

[eofelis]

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" ). 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)

[mimitabby]

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.

[chickwhorips]

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.

[Pascale]

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.

[ColleenT]

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

[Pascale]

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

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 -

[horsemom]

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

[eofelis]

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.

I rode a PF stallion once at the Kentucky Horse Park. He was amazing!

I had been starting to ride again with a friend who has a retired h/j/event horse, a Buduonny (sp?) a Russian wb horse. But my friend just smashed her arm up in a dirt biking accident and won't be riding much anytime soon.

[gnarwhal]

I must be in some kind of minority here not getting horse riding at all.
I have been on a horse, a couple of times many years ago and once about 2 years ago so it's not that i don't understand it from lack of exposure.

I just don't get why anyone would ride a horse at all. They're animals in their own right, don't they deserve not to be treated like slaves or beasts of burden simply placed here to do our bidding?

I really don't want to upset anyone or annoy anyone or have them think that i'm having a go about them being cruel or mean or anything like that, i just don't think people should ride horses and don't see why they do.

[ginny]

How have I missed this thread for so long? I have a nearly 7yo Morgan mare. I also have a nearly 3yo miniature burro. My mom tried to squelch the horse lover in me and wouldn't pay for riding lessons, but every time I have $5, I would go to the El Toro Marine Base and ride for an hour on one of their rental horses. I finally got a free lease on a beautiful King Ranch QH mare when I was in my late teens. When I turned 18, I walked down the road and bought my first horse . I bought a filly in college, paid for colic surgery, moved her to FL where she promptly died and broke my heart. I couldn't even look at horses for nearly 2 years. I didn't own a horse for seven years. I have had my mare for 2.5 years now and while we took a while to get used to each other, there is something about those big brown horse eyes that just melts me. I do love my bikes, and they won't share my secrets with anyone either, but I just am not that inclined to tell my bike my secrets or cry into my handlebars like a horse's mane. Also, my bike doesn't nicker at me when I go to the bike rack after work. On the other hand, my bike rarely bucks, and never spooks .

[lph]

I must be in some kind of minority here not getting horse riding at all.
I have been on a horse, a couple of times many years ago and once about 2 years ago so it's not that i don't understand it from lack of exposure.

I just don't get why anyone would ride a horse at all. They're animals in their own right, don't they deserve not to be treated like slaves or beasts of burden simply placed here to do our bidding?

I really don't want to upset anyone or annoy anyone or have them think that i'm having a go about them being cruel or mean or anything like that, i just don't think people should ride horses and don't see why they do.

I hope nobody minds the slight thread hijack, but this response had me intrigued. I love horses, owned one for years and have ridden for many years also semi-professionally, and I have never encountered this opinion. I'm not offended at all, just curious: do you feel the same way about all pets? Animals raised for food? Or is it the fact that horses are ridden that makes a difference to you?

If it helps, I can say that horses are extremely social animals who need a leader to follow and thrive around people and other horses. It's extremely hard to get a horse to do something it really doesn't want to, so for the most part I think horses ridden for pleasure are happy. I've ridden racehorses - think large, strong, high-strung and fast - and you definitely want to convince the horse that what you want it to do is what it wants to do...

[chicago]

yep I ride every week!!

Take lessons weekly and just this past weekend, my trainer gave me permission to come and ride my sweet Saddlebred Lady one night during the week by myself.. without my trainer, yay!!

I take the big quarter horses on trail... but I ride the Saddlebred in the inside and outdoor arena. Hopefully one day I'll be skilled enough to handle her on trail. My trainer says I will be there soon!!

[smurfalicious]

I just don't get why anyone would ride a horse at all. They're animals in their own right, don't they deserve not to be treated like slaves or beasts of burden simply placed here to do our bidding?

I really don't want to upset anyone or annoy anyone or have them think that i'm having a go about them being cruel or mean or anything like that, i just don't think people should ride horses and don't see why they do.

When I got my mountain bike four score and seven years ago my friend Lance, who is the definition of a buckaroo, laughed and said, "You've got a horse with four good legs, why would you get off him and pedal a bike?"

So I guess I could see why someone wouldn't understand riding horses. First off, there are several countries that wouldn't be what they are if it weren't for horses. Heck, my home state of Oregon might not even exist yet! Mail system? Modern transportation? Horses have been integral to society and man has treated them accordingly. Had people not seen a use for them, horses quite likely would have died off. Oh and unless you don't eat beef you'd be going without steaks were it not for horses. From feed lots to large ranches, horses can do things no 4-wheeler can.

I ride because nothing can compare to that bond, to progress and grow together. My first horse was a rescue and had been severely abused for years. Every "trainer" we worked with deemed him a lost case but I persisted. I "listened" to him and figured out how he wanted things explained to him. After months of work I polished him up and took him to a show. By that time I control his speed and direction with the slightest squeeze of my legs, or shift of my weight and on a bad day a tip of the reins. In fact, I could stop him by shifting more weight onto my butt. He moved out in a gorgeously collected frame with smooth, flowing gaits. His mane and tail were both gleaming long. He looked, amazing.

So the day before the show I was in the arena half doing a test run, half screwing around with other 13 year old girls. As I walked him to a stall someone who hadn't seen us in years approached us. Apparently she'd since us riding and looked shocked. "Is THAT Buddy?" She asked. Yep, captain crazy useless horse, in the flesh.

My current horse, PJ, has been with me since he was a wee lad. I can't say who is more amazing between the two because they've both been such a pleasure. Training PJ from the ground up is like nothing I've ever done. He is such a character! And he's packed with the two most important things can have, try and "want to." Oh and curious? He wants to check out and be into everything. I've been running barrels on him and he's so amazing. My trainer used to laugh at me when I'd get nervous. "That horse wouldn't let a thing happen to you! He's going to take care of you, and you're not going to get hurt so let him goooo!"

When he was a fidgety little baby I wanted to do something with him other than feed him and watch him grow, so I trained him for longe line, in hand trail, showmanship, and halter. He was so amazing at showmanship! It took just the slightest bit of body language from me to get him to walk, trot, stop, back, and pivot on his hind end. He was so good that even when we blew part of our pattern at a show I just kept smiling and made sure the finish was flawless and we placed VERY well.

He's been out sorting cattle on the ranch we lived on and an ex boyfriend's. Talk about a cow killin' beast. Sometimes he gets a little too into it. They say for horses that it's a chance to be on top of the food chain and for some that goes to their head. He's a mighty fine little roping horse too. The squirrelly cows that he really has to track seem to be his favorite, likes the challenge.

I dunno, I can get faster and stronger on my bike, but it's nothing like having a true partnership with an animal. Knowing that at a moments notice he toss my on my butt or take off with me, but he chooses to do what I ask is pretty special. I can upgrade old Candy all day long, bling her out in Dura-Ace but she's still going to be an old, heavy, steel bike. On the other hand I can take a horse that might not be going so well, and so long as they have the heart I can achieve some pretty impressive things.

My horse would go nuts if I wasn't out there doing stuff with him all the time. I'm sure there are those that could stand around forever, but we've been breeding for intelligence for generations, so most need to do stuff. PJ and Buddy both required constant challenges and new things. Once they "got it" it was time to try something else. Thus why both horses were started to drive and PJ will likely be finished in driving this summer.

I don't think riding a handful of times really qualifies one to assess what the whole horse thing is about. That's like me buying a department store "mountain bike" and riding it down a dirt road and deciding mountain biking sucks and trails should be for hikers only.

Anyway, my rant/ramble is over. Here are some fine examples of horses that are definitely partners, not slaves or beasts of burden. Warning that both of these make me cry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-7v8Ck1crg

I'd marry this guy for his beautiful seat and hands:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKQgTiqhPbw

He could ride my horses any day, swoon, swoon, swoon.

[LoriO]

I sort of keep in the horse picture through the model horse hobby (these are "little plastic horses" ). 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)

Surly, you may be familiar with my friend Morgen Kilbourn's work! She is an artist and does amazing resins. Her site is www.artbymorgen.com.



And back to the original question, I have a 23 year old TB mare named Lizzy who I adore! At this point in our lives we are both more then content to just goof off and trail ride and enjoy ourselves.

[MyLitespeed]

I use to have horses about 15 years ago, but after getting hurt badly on my last one, sold him and never looked back. This horse was a total nut case and I bought him on the advise of a friend. I just didn't know he was a nut at the time, should have gone with my instincts and bought a mare instead.

A gut feeling told me to NEVER EVER get on a horse again or I would DIE!

I have owned some great horses, two of which died from stones, that was heart breaking.

I love cycling and have never regretting not getting another horse, I figure it's just another faze in my life. It certainly has brought my husband and I closer together now that we have hobby we can share. I've made some great cycling friends and still keep in touch with two of my horse friends even though they have moved away.