20 replies to this topic

[VanAlma]

Oh yeah, I came off my gelding at the end of the ride because I wasn't paying attention.....

I had a wonderful ride today. A woman from work has been wanting to ride forever so she finally came over and I tacked up Bubba and she got on Leisa. It was cloudy but warm with a beautiful breeze and the birds chirping. I decided to stay close to home "just in case" and ride around my neighbor's huge field. This was the first time Bubba had ever been out with another horse so I asked him not to dump me. Can you say, foreshadow? He was great. He tried to flirt with her, but when I didn't let him get close he got over it real quick. Granted, he pretty much followed wherever Leisa went, but I was fine with that. He's a green 5 y/o with low mileage so the more good, solid miles the better. I can work on the technicalities as we go. Leisa could have cared less if there was a pack of wild dogs coming after her. She was out on her walk and no one was going to interfere. She was amazing with Crystal, who has ridden but doesn't really know how to ride in a techincal nature, if you catch my drift, but loves to get on, drop to reins and turn around and chat the whole time. Needless to say we had a blast. This pretty much sums up the hour of riding ...       I LOVE that kind of riding, but I should have known better. I really let my guard down on a very green horse.

Well, I have 3 dogs who go on walks with us and go in and out of everything and don't think to ask me first about how it might affect the horses. Well, they say most accidents happen close to home. I could see my house and out of nowhere, my stupid dog comes out of an old barn and scares Bubba. He didn't bolt, don't get me wrong, but he has a massive leap and went up then out and litteraly he got out from underneath me and I was standing in stirrups that were out in front of me. I knew I was done for and dropped. I landed on my elbow, heard my neck crack (don't worry) but nothing really happened bad. He took a few steps trotting and then was like "well, what do I do now?" That fall was my fault. I should have know to pay more attention around a building with blind spots.

I told Crystal I had to get back on and we had to do some more riding to end the ride well. So, I got back on him and we went another 10 minutes or so around another field. We came up on my other mares. He got cute, did some dancing, I ended up getting off before something else bad happened but it was quite uneventful after that. He didn't want to leave the girls.

I had a wonderful day today and now have found someone else who wants to ride with me. I ride with a man down the street who has good horses to take a greenie out with as well, so am happy we might have ourselves a trio.                   ...and you thought my husband was leaving me! Shame!!!!

[sheikh rissan]

LOL Generally
But: Great that you have found someone to ride with.  Good for you AND the horses.
Even better that you didn't do yourself a serious injury, and got to get back on and make the ride end on a good note.
Ditto to the getting off when you thought it was right to do so.  (It usually is!)
You DID make me wonder what was going on when I read the title!!!

[Trish aka JMO]

Hey nice to read you finnished on a good note...just a question why does your gelding like the girls so much, was he gelded late...??

[VanAlma]

Trish aka JMO, on Mar 24 2010, 07:16 PM, said:

Hey nice to read you finnished on a good note...just a question why does your gelding like the girls so much, was he gelded late...??

He was gelded around 15 months, so wouldn't really think studly behavior would be an issue, but he still shows off around the girls and, when pastured with the girls, would follow them around like a puppy dog and do whatever they said when they said it....like a good boy does LOL He even nickers at me when I pet his face from the saddle, which is even more odd. Who knows. He just thinks he's "the stuff" even though he doesn't have any "stuff" anymore.

[vclink]

Trish aka JMO, on Mar 24 2010, 07:16 PM, said:

Hey nice to read you finnished on a good note...just a question why does your gelding like the girls so much, was he gelded late...??

My gelding was gelded at 6 months and LOVES the girls! They, on the other hand, abuse him unmercifully.

[VanAlma]

sheikh rissan, on Mar 24 2010, 06:29 PM, said:

You DID make me wonder what was going on when I read the title!!!

[Suellen Taylor]

Wow Kate...me too...and I am glad to hear it ended well..hope you are not too sore today!

Have a good ride soon!!

[Century Oak]

Whats the old saying that a good horse will dump a Prince just as fast as he will dump a groom?    Sounds like you had a great ride, I love those kinds of rides as well!  (well without the peekaboo dogs)  The older I get the shorter I like my horses.. less air between me and the ground coming at me rapidly :D  

So when do we get pictures?  huh? huh?

[VanAlma]

Jasoor, on Mar 25 2010, 09:50 AM, said:

Whats the old saying that a good horse will dump a Prince just as fast as he will dump a groom?    Sounds like you had a great ride, I love those kinds of rides as well!  (well without the peekaboo dogs)  The older I get the shorter I like my horses.. less air between me and the ground coming at me rapidly :D  

So when do we get pictures?  huh? huh?

Yeah, I hear you about the height thing and I always had horses in the 14.2hh range and now most of mine are 15+ with Bubba being a solid 15.2. He is high off the ground I tell you. Thank goodness it had rained and there was some give. Had that been on dry ground or the road or a rock etc I might have broken my elbow.
As for the dogs, I call the mother/daughter pair Stupid 1 and Stupid 2. Their original names were Fluffy and Buffy (creative, I know) but usually the former is what comes out of my mouth.
I thought about taking pictures but once she got here we got talking and that was that. I'll have to snap some next time.

[ponygirl]

It happens to everyone sooner or later.

[VanAlma]

We had an eventful day. I drove Bubba up to Ellen May's house in Winslow, AR for a ride. As known, the last time I ventured out with another horse I ended up on the ground. It was through no fault of his, but when the score is Ground - 1, Kate - 0 it makes one think twice.
Anyway, it is about a 50 minute drive and when we got there he met the mares and got thrown into the round pen for an hour so we could eat. When we went out, I did some quick round penning and the tacked up, fly sprayed and got on. Ellen rode her mare, Masada Adrianna????? (can't remember which Masada mare she rode), in with me and we got them used to each other. Bubba was a peach and even when she shyed pretty boldly, he just stood there and waited for my direction.
After on about 5 minutes in there, we went out. Her place is amazing and we walked up and down hills, some which were pretty steep, over poles, through tall grass etc and he really kept his head and his pace. He, of course, wanted to be behind her because he still thinks he's got a pair, but was easily redirected and did everything I asked when I asked it regardless of how close we were to her. At one point, he got bold and wanted to go ahead so we did and did some trotting up a hill.
We also encountered a huge truck on the road and 4-wheelers twice. He didn't even flinch. She commented on how well he took everything and couldn't believe he's only been on the trail 10+ times and only once with another horse.
We took some pics in the round pen. I hope to get them loaded. I really don't have any pics of him, so am hoping they came out OK. Will post if he doesn't look too much like a nag.
I am the proudest mama ever AND I didn't end up on my behind!!!!! WoooHoooo! That ALWAYS makes for a good ride.

[DJ Sheldon]

VanAlma, on Jul 2 2010, 06:54 PM, said:

AND I didn't end up on my behind!!!!! WoooHoooo! That ALWAYS makes for a good ride.

Amen to that!  Glad you had a great ride Kate.

DJ

[VanAlma]

DJ Sheldon, on Jul 2 2010, 05:59 PM, said:

Amen to that!  Glad you had a great ride Kate.

DJ

Thank you! I am too. Here are some pics. NOTHING special, but you can at least put a horse to a name. He's fancier in real life and he'd agree with that statement, too
Here's the pre-game....

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[VanAlma]

The kick-off.....

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[VanAlma]

First pic - The other team, who I LOVED! What a mare and a trail horse. Whew. I need to confirm her registered name. She is SE and, I believe, SO.
Second pic - post game.

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[Trish aka JMO]

Hey he looks great ...there is nothing more beautiful than a horse with a saddle on it's back and a happy rider.

[DJ Sheldon]

Goodness he's a leggy thing!  He looks happy, and that is the best kind of horse.

[VanAlma]

Thanks guys -
He has been wonderful to work with since very young. Reactive at times but that is going away every time I work with him. He gets better every day.
He is a leggy sucker! I usually don't like them so leggy for trail riding but he's proven to be good so far. He can really collect and control himself well on moderate hills, so I'm happy. Maybe he'll make showing at next year's EE in HUS. Who knows. With all the talk going on I almost feel compelled.
We appreciate your nice comments
Kate

[sheikh rissan]

Hey Kate!
Greetings from Germany (Hamburg airport).

Lovely to see piccies of Bubba, I have really appreciated seeing him.  He looks so lovely.  Well done on your ride.

xx
J

[marywweeks]

Great pictures of a wonderful horse.  Congratulations on a wonderful ride and may there be any more!  Can't wait to see him at the Event!

Mary Weeks