favourite "style" of riding

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I leave the decisions up to him - it's interesting letting him choose where we're going - never the same route twice in a row!

I often do this when on my own, NF really enjoys 'choosing' and we have some lovely exploring etc

Don't do any of the woo-woo "natural" stuff (on purpose), 'though.

Love the 'woo-woo'
(me neither! )

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Love this thread
Currently I'm a happy hacker but would love to do more x country and jumping...I used to do alot more when I was younger. I'm not terribly competitive though so just for fun really.
I'd love to see some pics/videos from those of you who do Archery on horse back...it looks awesome!!!!

 

[Ambers Echo]

I haven't found it yet!

I was taught in the boot 'em, whack 'em style. Being on the bit involved side reins and sawing. Then I read Heather Moffet's book on EE and had lesson with an EE instructor for a while and then a Centred Riding Instructor and did a RWYM course. They felt nicer but my horses never ever 'dropped into a natural outline' with those approaches so in the end I lost faith that they ever would and if I want to do dressage my horses do need to work into a contact!

I found and loved the work of Mark Rashid and Buck Brannaman so played around with that kind of 'cowboy' very soft, very tuned in style for a while and still feel that is the route to rideability that I want for control for SJ and XC. I am going to a Guy Robertson clinic in July which will involve working cows. Can't wait! But that also does not address the dressage issue.....

I had one lesson with John Thelwall and he was amazing and as close to Mark Rashid as any English intructor I have had has been. Amber went beautifully by the end. So that is the style I want - basically Mark Rashid translated for English dressage. But I am not sure I can really get there on my own and he lives hundreds of miles away! And Mark Rashid lives 1000s of miles away..... plus he's gone a bit off piste in recent years.

So I am still searching!!

 

[JFTDWS]

I'd love to see some pics/videos from those of you who do Archery on horse back...it looks awesome!!!!

This isn't my horse - it's a hireling from the Centre for Horseback Combat, when I had a lesson in HB archery a few years ago. One day I will get my own lot doing it

 

[milliepops]

Nice pic JFTD

lots of horseback archery going on around me, the lady who helped me with Kira right at the beginning is very into it and has set up a new club locally. Looks fun

 

[peanut]

I'm a jack of all trades, master of none ! :tongue3:

 

[JFTDWS]

Nice pic JFTD

lots of horseback archery going on around me, the lady who helped me with Kira right at the beginning is very into it and has set up a new club locally. Looks fun

As usual, nothing doing over here - I have a perverse desire to do all the sports that only happen on the other side of the country!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I'd love to see some pics/videos from those of you who do Archery on horse back...it looks awesome!!!!

lol-you want me to take photos and fire arrows I have only just started-wanted to do it for ages and thought I'd have to go down south to try it, then suddenly two Scottish clubs were started but they are both a couple of hours drive from me. HB archery is quite different from normal archery-the release etc is different although I only shoot barebow the rest of the time anyway. Normal archery I find very relaxing and zen-plus its something OH and I do together (and we're quite evenly matched skill wise, so its always competitive)

 

[pennyturner]

My daughter did lots of archery at uni, and would love to do horseback (she's a decent rider too). Anything nearer to Hampshire?

 

[MotherOfChickens]

My daughter did lots of archery at uni, and would love to do horseback (she's a decent rider too). Anything nearer to Hampshire?

more info

https://www.bhaa.org.uk/

 

[Keith_Beef]

I've done a little bit of western style, probably not more than about eight to ten hours in total. Six of those were an all day ride through the forest in Pennsylvania on a trail that had been created when an old logging railroad was torn up.

I'm not really interested in competing; for me, everything I do in classes here in France is to learn the techniques I need when out riding in the forest nearby or across country in the South West: for example, jumping in the arena is to simulate jumping over tree that a fallen across a trail

There are some things that I can't really practice here, such as going up or down long and steep slopes (there just aren't any where I live, the land is really flat except for a few short and not very steep slopes).

There are no places here where I could practice fording a stream, either. The Seine is a bit too wide and certainly too deep.

The Centre for Horseback Combat looks right up my street; I'd love to have a go at horseback archery. I did quite a lot of archery in my teens, and various periods of European historical combat (everything from 10th to 17th century). I'd like to try quintain and tent-pegging.

I'd like our instructors to include more "pony games" in our classes, too. There have been times when I've been in classes with mostly young kids, and the instructors included more games to keep the kids interested. I found it fun and challenging, especially "steal the bacon" when only a walk is allowed, or a "race" where you can only go at a trot, the objective is to arrive last, and you're disqualified if your horse goes to a walk...

And I want to try TREC, too. I think that's about the only competitive riding where I'd stand a chance.

 

[JFTDWS]

The Centre for Horseback Combat looks right up my street; I'd love to have a go at horseback archery. I did quite a lot of archery in my teens, and various periods of European historical combat (everything from 10th to 17th century). I'd like to try quintain and tent-pegging.

We had to get chaps to hold them up, because it was so windy, but I can't recommend the centre for horseback combat enough!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Tilting is another one thats been quite successful in Scotland-we have a couple of clubs up here now.

 

[pennyturner]

Thanks MoC.

I'm inspired to set up something to tilt at in the paddock now... perhaps a windmill!

 

[tatty_v]

Hacking and dressage for me. I get a thrill from jumping, but only afterwards when I'm still alive

 

[Quigleyandme]

It is sidesaddle for me but my new horse is too young to carry a sidesaddle for another year at least. I love how elegant it makes me feel especially when wearing a nice habit and accessories. Even hacking you make more of an effort with your appearance. Collecting sidesaddle stuff is fun too although it is getting more difficult and more expensive all the time. I have some gorgeous antique canes and loads of old 'how to' books and other ephemera that I have got over the years.

 

[Alibear]

Currently western and its the ranch riding discipline that's most caught my interest.
Followed a fairly common path, started out eventing in my youth, switched to dressage as I lost my nerve, then tried having an Andalusian for dressage which unfortunately didn't work out and then discovered western when I went on a ranch holiday and haven't looked back since I can't really do ranch riding ATM as although my horse is fine and more than capable, I'm having issues with my canter seat but am working on it with a good physio.

 

[Ruby's Mum]

It is sidesaddle for me but my new horse is too young to carry a sidesaddle for another year at least. I love how elegant it makes me feel especially when wearing a nice habit and accessories. Even hacking you make more of an effort with your appearance. Collecting sidesaddle stuff is fun too although it is getting more difficult and more expensive all the time. I have some gorgeous antique canes and loads of old 'how to' books and other ephemera that I have got over the years.

I can understand this completely, I think side saddle is so incredibly elegant, I find that I make a real effort hacking out. The postman when I met him on our long drive did have a shock and drove past me slowly with his mouth wide open when I walked my previous mare out, full western tack, me in a blingy Western shirt, cowboy boots and stetson. He's got used to me now and pretends to tip the edge of his hat to me (I think he's been watching too many westerns!.

 

[Ruby's Mum]

Currently western and its the ranch riding discipline that's most caught my interest.
Followed a fairly common path, started out eventing in my youth, switched to dressage as I lost my nerve, then tried having an Andalusian for dressage which unfortunately didn't work out and then discovered western when I went on a ranch holiday and haven't looked back since I can't really do ranch riding ATM as although my horse is fine and more than capable, I'm having issues with my canter seat but am working on it with a good physio.

Great stuff, a fellow western rider! I fell into Western with my previous mare and sent her to Guy Robertson to help her overcome bolting, I'd never go back to English Riding as finally found where I feel I belong. My hubby switched from English too at the same time and I think he secretly loves being a cowboy

 

[Ruby's Mum]

I am going to a Guy Robertson clinic in July which will involve working cows. Can't wait! But that also does not address the dressage issue.....!

You will love the clinic with Guy, he was the reason I got into Western. I sent my previous mare to him as she came to me with an undisclosed bolting issue, he's an incredible trainer and the cattle clinic is on my list when I progress with my new mare. As for your dressage issue, Guy's wife Victoria is a dressage rider, she's lovely and she'd be well worth chatting to!

 

[Ruby's Mum]

I quit school and was told to get a job or go to uni. So I got a job 5 mins down the road. I rang the yard asking if they had any jobs going, went in 3 days later for an interview, got the job, started 3 weeks later and 14 years later I am still there. I had no intentions of going into racing. I just needed a job to avoid going back into education at that point! And it was the only thing I was qualfied to do - work with horses.

How incredible that you found something you enjoy though. So many of us have the daytime job just to pay for us to be near horses. I admire you for the fact that you found what you wanted to do and stuck at it.