How many of us have or ride horses?

[MillieNZ]

She's a 14 yr hannovarian. and she's pretty much the 'The special one horse of a lifetime'

I've had her since she was 7 and we've competited in Show jumping & eventing for 5 years.................. i then put her in foal and decided to buy a bike to amuse myself waiting for the foal.................... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ............so now Millie lives a life of luxury and hasn't been ridden since last year as I'm way to busy riding my 'other love of my life' my Ruby Millie doesn't care less as long as I reguarly feed and pamper her !

We're moving to the States some time next year and sadly I have to leave her here the cost to ship her is horrendous and then the cost of keeping them over there is way more expensive than here in New Zealand , from what I've found out, what it'll cost me to keep Millie here a month is about what it would cost a week in California ! Ouch....................Still she is going to stay with a very good friend who is going to breed from her, so a reasonably happy outcome......

My Ruby bike on the other hand will be packed and coming over with me !

[Biciclista]

just for giggles, how much does it cost to ship a horse?

[MillieNZ]

$12,000 NZ dollars

which at current exchange rate is about $6000 US to either SF or LA....

Oh and that's just the flight over........

[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 .

[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.

[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...

[tulip]

Why would anyone have a dog, for that matter? Take it for walks on a leash, make it guard your house, and obey you? Horses, like dogs, have been part of human culture for thousands of years. Neither are much "necessary" for transportation, guarding sheep, hunting anymore, but they are part of us.

I grew up riding and had a horse when I was a teenager. I haven't ridden much since college, though.

[ginny]

I can say for sure regarding my Morgan mare, that she simply WON'T do anything unless she's pretty sure it's in her best interest. She is the kind of horse who could find herself in a very bad home due to her stubborness. She's a fighter, and would probably stand there and fight to her death in the wrong hands. For this reason, she needs a kind alpha human. It's imparative that I'm alpha with her, but it's also super important that she understand that I have her best interests in mind. Given that (very close) relationship, this mare would move heaven and earth for me. This is the kind of partnership you need to win at any competative equine sport. A 'beast' or a 'slave' won't give his/her best. The best horse trainers know this. Look at Hap Hansen and Suzie Hutchinson, they have had incredibly long careers in the show jumping world with a few remarkable horses and in Suzie's case, her horse Woodstock competed on the west coast show jumping circuit into his 20's. I personally saw him turn himself inside out to get out of a bad spot the two of them found themselves in. A coerced horse wouldn't do that for his rider. He would pull a stop and the rider would kiss the dirt. Certainly, you are welcome to your opinion that horses shouldn't be ridden. They are very happy being lawn ornaments, but many horse owners, and many competative riders and a close and caring relationship with their horses.

[gnarwhal]

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...

I don't feel this way about companion animals and if horses were kept as purely companion animals then i doubt i'd have this problem. But animals for food...well no frankly. I don't think animals should be food, nor do i think that people should use animals for our own gain/pleasure.

I have two failry close friends who keep horses and to be honest it really causes me some problems because when i've been up their farm to meet them i see them interacting with the horses. I like horses, they seem nice friendly animals (most of the ones i've met anyway) but i've seen my friends slap, kick and shout at the horses just to get them to move or go where they want them to. Now fair enough if you "want" an animal to do something and it won't do it there's not a lot you can do, but there's no real need to lay hands on the animal. Also i don't think you can invest in them human emotions and human ideals. My friend will often say "I took X horse out and she wouldn't jump she was being stupid all day long" a horse cannot be stupid by the same measures as a human can, nor can a dog or a hamster or a bird.

[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!!

[tulip]

I don't feel this way about companion animals and if horses were kept as purely companion animals then i doubt i'd have this problem. But animals for food...well no frankly. I don't think animals should be food, nor do i think that people should use animals for our own gain/pleasure.

I have two failry close friends who keep horses and to be honest it really causes me some problems because when i've been up their farm to meet them i see them interacting with the horses. I like horses, they seem nice friendly animals (most of the ones i've met anyway) but i've seen my friends slap, kick and shout at the horses just to get them to move or go where they want them to. Now fair enough if you "want" an animal to do something and it won't do it there's not a lot you can do, but there's no real need to lay hands on the animal. Also i don't think you can invest in them human emotions and human ideals. My friend will often say "I took X horse out and she wouldn't jump she was being stupid all day long" a horse cannot be stupid by the same measures as a human can, nor can a dog or a hamster or a bird.

Sounds like you need new friends. Seriously, no one should be kicking animals. Nudging, moving, okay, but not kicking.

[kermit]

My Litespeed-I think you are my long lost twin. I too have had horses, two jumpers and competed for years. Still have friends that have made it their profession, one actually in the Olympics twice. I myself have been hurt badly by horses. First break at 17, three weeks before high school graduation, thrown off an ex-racehorse learning to be a hunter. He threw me into the railing made out of telephone poles. Broken hip, broken back and collapsed lung. The worst part was graduating high school in a wheel chair. Fast forward, a few minor spills, horse trips at take off at a jump, I fall, horse lands on my head, a few stitches. Took a long break, after selling my jumper to pay for school. Eight years ago, got the bug, started riding for free for a trainer and found a bargain. A ten year old warmblood, been there, done that, jumped anything. Was used at several lesson barns and the owner didn't want him to teach forever. Perfect fit, well let's say that horses are TRUE creatures of habit. He learned to take advantage of the kids and was having a bad day. Turned around on me, kicked me in the face and elbow. Four operations in two days, orbital bone fracture and major plastic surgery. Rods in elbow. Bought a road bike and never looked back. I look at any expense for cycling as cheaper that a horse anyday. Really miss it but, my karma is way off when I'm around them.