Does anyone else ride?

Lounge
21

Hi all!

You will never guess what I did yesterday! I joined my dd’s vaulting class.

Neither of us had ever been on a horse unless you count the pony rides for dd when she was little but we both wanted to learn. A friend of mine had so much good things to say about how vaulting classes were helping her dd with coordination, balance and confidence so I thought I’d let my dd give it a try. I don’t think either one of us had a clue as to what we were getting into.

So every Sunday, we head over to the stables and dd (who is trying very hard but kind of inching along) bravely gives it her best shot.

I’ve been watching from the sidelines, taking pictures and itching to give it a try, too. I figure, hey – if I can climb on the back of a horse with just a fancy harness and a saddle and flip around like a gymnast, I can do almost anything.

So yesterday they brought out one of the bigger horses (a gorgeous Friesian named Jorrit) and another mom and I got to take the class. Amazing! I did almost everything that the girls are doing except mount from the ground (I have very weak leg muscles in my left leg from my Achilles tendon repair) and a move called switch to the neck (which I can’t seem to wrap my mind around to save my life.) The move requires one to end up sitting on the horses shoulders facing his rear and then switch back.

But I got up there and went around the ring a few times and did most of the other basic moves including standing up although I did that at a standstill.

Man, it was so cool. I can’t wait to try it again! And I will, next Sunday.

Anyway, thanks for all the good advice.

Jess – I’m thinking of buying a case of those hand and foot warmers. Between my riding and my ds outdoor wilderness skills classes this winter, we are going to need them. I’m also going to be hitting up ebay for some winter riding apparel.

Puddin – sorry about your horse. Appaloosa’s are gorgeous. I’m sure you must miss her a lot.

I haven’t had much experience yet in the speed department. Us older folks need to work a lot on balance first. When I take my lessons in the saddle I’m only up to a trot. I trotted last night in our vaulting class but that’s as fast as I go for now.

Well, time to wake my dd up and get her ready for school. Catch you all later.

Susan

22

I never was able to ride horses (other than fares and such) when I was a kid. My mom owned horeses as a teenager but we never did!

I married into a family with horses. My FIL used to be a rodeo clown (ya know the one that hid in the barrels and taunted the bulls and horses?). My husband used to ride (he lost a lot of weight this way) with a rodeo cowboy, Mike Waters. I rode here and there when I dated my hubby and when we got married I got pregnant right away!

My FIL divorced my hubby’s mother and married another one who loves horese. Karon (my step-MIL) and I ride all the time. They have since sold me one of their horses, Vandal that I ride. My inlaws have built an arena in the back yard. We ride barrels and chase calves! They have just bought a colt (18th months old) that we are working with.

So in short, I ride (western) alot. I love it. My horse is sorrel colored, although one day I will have a golden palomino. Vandal is a registered quarter horse. We are part of the AQHA riding program where we log our hours. We are currently signed up to ride in both christmas parades in our area (purely for fun) and hope to ride in a couple grand entries for some of the local rodeos in the spring. We are always on the look out for a good trail ride and I would love to, one day, go across a couple states on horseback!

~danielle~
PS All my tack and wear is in pink!!!

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A rodeo clown – how very cool. I love your pink tack!

Vandal looks so much like Texas, the horse I’m learning on. He’s also a sorrel QH.

I’m learning English but here in CT that shouldn’t be too surprising.

Thanks so much for sharing!