My first horseback riding lesson plus random pictures

[4dogs3cats]

Originally Posted by Dekka

You can post in a western saddle...And as a dressage rider the stirrup length is fine for me (tho I have no problem hiking them up to jump either).. what gets me with western saddles is how far they put you away from the horse. I like to feel my horse (but they were designed that way on purpose.. horse feels less of you too) and what they are 'thinking' in the muscles.

If I ever just wanted to kick back and ride trails (and for some reason didn't want to ride in my dressage saddle) I would go Aussie. The horn on western saddles makes me nervous, unless you are roping I see very little purpose and much danger. A good friend of mine broke a rib when a horse partially fell on the horn, and I know a few people who have gotten hung up on the horn when doing an 'unscheduled dismount'

Also the stirrups are safer on english and aussie saddles. If you fall and get your leg caught the stirrup has a chance of sliding off the stirrup bar. (the stirrup bar is an 'L' with the open part facing back and the stirrup leather just sits on it)

I think I may have ridden english ONCE when I was a lot younger. When I did lessons and trail rides, it was all western. But then again this IS Arizona lol. I rode a 17 yo blue black egyptain arabian mare that was SO much fun. I'll have to upload some pics. I did the barrels and the poles and had a blast!

When i was 15 I would go up to the ranch every day at 4am and get home at 2pm. I miss it every day, and once I have some extra money, Im going back.

[Pops2]

Boston Banker

i have been told by real cowboys that the draft crosses are safe like a mule or a donkey. that is they may decide not to work but they won't do crazy stuff or try to kill you on purpose. my experience w/ them was that they were more stoic & less flighty than a hotblood breed but still dangerous when they chose to be.

[Fransheska101]

I want one!!! now!! <3


I didn't think donkeys were so darn cute!

[Fransheska101]

lol in all seriousness though, im still loving arabians. I dunno, maybe its because those are the horses Im used to seeing. but I love em', those big eyes, they are just beautiful! like little ballerinas

[BostonBanker]

Boston Banker

i have been told by real cowboys that the draft crosses are safe like a mule or a donkey. that is they may decide not to work but they won't do crazy stuff or try to kill you on purpose. my experience w/ them was that they were more stoic & less flighty than a hotblood breed but still dangerous when they chose to be.

Well, I know Dekka will jump in here and correct me, because she's had better experiences with drafts than me, but

My experience, from a non-cowboy, but tons of riding and teaching lessons, point of view, is that people put WAY too much stock in 'drafts' (or quarter horses, or paints, or whatever) are "good for beginners". There is a ton of variation in just about every breed, especially when you throw something else in there like in a draft cross. Cross a quiet draft with a good tempered quarter horse, and you may very well get a decent "husband horse" as we refer to them. Cross a draft with a thoroughbred, you may very well get something as hot and prone to spooking as your average thoroughbred, but as hard-headed and difficult to get a response from as a draft.

Drafts can be nice, because many of them (far from all) tend to be very think skinned, and perhaps a bit thick headed. Many will ignore pretty much anything you tell them, which is good if they have the right idea about what to do and are just ignoring the random bumpings of a novice, but not so good if you have one that decides to just do their own thing regardless of whether it is a good idea. The ones I've met just tend to be...dull to any guidence by people. It's pretty hard to teach the response they will get to their commands if the horse doesn't respond to anything.

For my money, a GOOD, non-working bred Quarter horse is the way to go for a novice. But there are exceptions to every rule.

[sillysally]

It would be tough for me to pick out one breed that is good for beginners. I have never trained or anything, but through 6 years of horse and pony 4-H, 10 years at a boarding barn and dealing with lots of friends horses in between I have seen horses from many breeds at both ends of the spectrum.

The first "full sized" horse I rode as a small child was an arab named Horizon. He was fantastic. I trail rode with my aunt, controlling him on my own down roads without an adult riding double, etc. On the other hand, my friend had an arab in her early twenties who would prance and jig her way through every trail ride you took her on, every time. We have a paint at the barn that was bred for and trained in western pleasure. She is quiet as can be when you are riding her but a complete spaz on the ground.

We were actually very lucky with my quarter horse mare. We got her when I was 8 or 9 and she was 4. I had had horse camp and lessons, but was still a kid and my parents knew very little about horses. She had been through 4 owners in her 4 years. However, while she could be a bit stubborn and "mareish" at times, she turned out to be a very good trail horse and surprisingly safe for a young rider.

The only experiences with a breed that has been somewhat consistent has been with warmbloods. The trainer at the barn I used to work at used to breed warmbloods and occasionally train other peoples' warmbloods. We also had warmblood boarders over the years. Honestly, there was only one warmblood whose personality I really liked (he was one of my favorites). The other ones always seemed kind of distant or disengaged if they weren't throwing a fit about something. I'm sure there are some nice ones that I have just not had the pleasure of meeting, and I wouldn't pass up a nice warmblood if I were looking for a "sport horse" type, but the ones I've met were just not so nice.

[Dekka]

Hee hee BB

I do love the part draft for schoolies. IME I like them better than the quarter horses.. BUT that is because most of the quarter horses I see are built less for going properly than most of the draft crosses around here.

But no they are not all safe. We had one, had a puppy dog temperament.. Now stop and think.. would you reeaaaallly want a 17.1hh 1800 pound puppy?? He was afraid of nothing, sweet etc. But if you annoyed him he could be down right dangerous. I remember introducing him to the longe, he got up on his back feet and came at me. He would spin and kick. Couldn't care less about corrections.

He was handsome, athletic, and easy ride (felt very warmbloody) etc. But not for beginners. He was my fave draft cross too. He was percheron X Tb. I tend to associate that kind of behaviour with the Belgian crosses.

Dragon..


His son Lunar.. who was sweet and all the nice things people say about draft crosses (he was 1/4 draft 3/4 tb)


His daugher Twitch.. who was more than just a bit opinionated but had a great work ethic. (1/4 draft, the rest arab and andalusian)

[bubbatd]

My first was a Morgan ....very nice boy and good size for a girl .

[Miakoda]

Originally Posted by Fransheska101

lol in all seriousness though, im still loving arabians. I dunno, maybe its because those are the horses Im used to seeing. but I love em', those big eyes, they are just beautiful! like little ballerinas

Well, if you ever find yourself in southeastern Louisiana and no place to go, give me a call. You are more than welcome to come groom and ride my Arabs. And then, I can take you to a magical place that I call "my friend's barn" where over 80 Arabians (mostly Egyptian, but some Polish as well) frolick over 200 acres.

[Fransheska101]

Originally Posted by Miakoda

Well, if you ever find yourself in southeastern Louisiana and no place to go, give me a call. You are more than welcome to come groom and ride my Arabs. And then, I can take you to a magical place that I call "my friend's barn" where over 80 Arabians (mostly Egyptian, but some Polish as well) frolick over 200 acres.

careful what you say! i just might show up in lousiana! lol that sounds heavenly!