Admiration for big horse riders

[NeilM]

I was very generously given the opportunity at a local show, to take a friends 16.2hh HW cob around the clear round jumping course a couple of times.

I've never ridden this horse before, but she's a sweetie and once she and I were communicating properly, we got on fine. I took her over the practice jumps a couple of times, a wise precaution I thought, given that I had up until that point been in the saddle less than five minutes! After that we headed for the jumps.

I'm sorry to say we did not quite manage a clear round, as Molly was getting more and more excited and was tending to leave her back legs behind a little, never the less we both had great fun.

Now to the point: That was on Sunday, and not helped by the fact that I was wearing walking boots and jeans when I rode, on Sunday evening my calves were a little bruised and red, but today (Tuesday) my thighs are aching like you would not believe and my stomach muscles are noticeably tighter.

If I rode Molly all the time I'd have a body like a Greek God (so just a smidge better than it is now), as a couple of rounds jumping was more of a work out than an hour in the gym.

So, those of you who ride big horses, more especially big fast hunter type cobs who REALLY like running and jumping, have my utmost admiration, both for your riding skills and your powers of endurance.

I'm off back to my pony now....for an easier life

 

[tangoharvey]

Meilm my horse is as wide as a bus and I have only ust started riding her again due to back injury, I rode yesterday, and the only thing I can do that doesnt hurt is blink!
That said, I rode in jeans too......x

 

[ISHmad]

Yes, must admit one of our horses is pretty wide. Certainly know it when I ride him after being on one of our smaller ones for a while.

 

[*hic*]

Sadly my big ShireX mare who loves to run and jump has made little impression on my rugby ball shaped figure.

 

[NeilM]

Sadly my big ShireX mare who loves to run and jump has made little impression on my rugby ball shaped figure.

Do more running and jumping

I'm 6' 1" tall, a retired Martial Arts instructor and still reasonably fit as I ride around five or six times a week, but after going over a dozen jumps, I was really puffed. If I went XC training with Molly, I'd have to take a week off work to recover

 

[ester]

you could at least mention the quality of the coursebuilding I loved having another plastic set

I wasn't there on sunday did the clear round have numbers or did you make it up as you go along

oh and yeah... ponies rule obviously

 

[NeilM]

you could at least mention the quality of the coursebuilding I loved having another plastic set

I wasn't there on sunday did the clear round have numbers or did you make it up as you go along

oh and yeah... ponies rule obviously

Ponies rule

The course was EXCELLENT and it was numbered. The only difficulty was turning from 4, the double, sharp right to 5, the poles on the far left (looking from the front). On H it would have been a nippy little right turn, on Molly (riding in jeans and on a treeless saddle for the first time) I was in dire danger of toppling off the outside, due to centrifugal force

I think we would have got a clear if the poles had been wooden, as we only just clipped the second element of the double on our first run, but that's no nevermind, I was very kind of Molly's owner to let me ride her and we had great fun.

My OH also pointed out that it was the first time I have ever ridden a 'proper' course, as opposed to training jumps in an arena.

 

[rubysmum]

sadly - despite riding this

on an almost daily basis - as clearly be seen i am far, far from being a greek goddess

 

[Mike007]

Thats one big horse!!

 

[Kellys Heroes]

Seconded, NeilM!

My girl is only 14.2hh but I have started to have jumping lessons on my YO's IDs - one is 17hh and the other 16.3hh and built like a tank, and a bit daintier but chunkier than Kelly respectively!
I get off after my lessons shaky legged and feeling like I've been at the gym for four hours!

 

[Gleeful Imp]

Hmmmm. Perhaps if I wasn't riding this I might look less like a weeble but even more like a whale? Oh help - where did that weightwatchers cookie run too??????

 

[Vodkagirly]

Yesterday was my first day of changing from a 16.1 quarter horse to a 16.2 very cobby. Only rode for half an hour but god could I feel my legs after! Never mind getting him fit, I need it as well.

 

[NeilM]

I think I must have a very energetic style of riding

 

[Mike007]

Its not just the height of a big horse, every movement you have to make is exagerated. Definately hard work.

 

[proctor]

My beautiful WB Lukey is just short of 17hh, and like a typical WB gets very bouncy at the thought of a jump or a gallop on the moors. Geeze he even gets excited about bloomin trotting poles for goodness sake!!! But sadly, I'm by far a greek goddess!!!

 

[SNORKEY]

My friend brought a big horse from one of the girls who used to be in Hollyoaks, I dont watch it, so dont ask!
Anyway she was told to give up horses if she wanted an acting career as it was stretching her hips out too much!
Can that really happen?

 

[NeilM]

My friend brought a big horse from one of the girls who used to be in Hollyoaks, I dont watch it, so dont ask!
Anyway she was told to give up horses if she wanted an acting career as it was stretching her hips out too much!
Can that really happen?

My OH has ridden since the age of seven and worked at a yard (weekends and holidays) from the age of 11 until she went to university. She has ridden everything from shetlands to shires, had two kids and has 32 hips (put those claws away ladies). There are many reasons for getting a little 'beamy', I don't think riding can be blamed.