Fluffy Bunnies Or Is It Because We Can Try And Do Better?

Goldenstar said:
You are very kind, ignore me I am a bit down to night I took the 6yo to a training session and he did go well and had to answer the question what are you going to do with him to many times for comfort , the time is coming when I will have to make a plan and I was enjoying just bumbling along training him and making him a happy horse.
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The jumping mare I posted the picture of is 6 too. She did all her competing at 5. Life got in the way for me this year and so she did not get out to jump. I concentrated on other things with her and me becoming a better rider for her. I had really thought about selling her. Thought it might be fairer to her in the end. But I bred her and I really didn't want to sell her. She gets clipped tomorrow and will start looking like the jumper she used to be. I can probably do ok at 1.10m but when she jumps higher it will have to be with a pro. She won't leave me again for outside livery but at shows will be fine. It was also hard because a good friend who had her mare at the same training livery kept competing and recently started showing the mare herself. That was hard, but I am genuinely happy for her. She's a really nice person and deserves to do well. I just hate people asking me, what happened to your nice mare? But I'm happy that I have her and she seems quite happy being in work but also getting to chill with her family in the fields by day and snuggling in a big straw bed at night.

Terri
 
I will try and get those Storm Cat pics on photobucket tomorrow at some stage and some others you guys might enjoy. But now I am getting ready to do night checks and dog walks.

Terri
 
O yay. You posted photos :D


You must be a fluffy bunny. Everyone knows jockeys are super, mega fluffy :p Not :D

ETS: looking forward to your Storm Cat photo. Were his progeny really as difficult as people say?
 
I prefer CR. In here if you have your horse in shoes, have it on full livery and send to a pro for schooling it tends to be everything that's wrong.

Of course there are some interesting people in NL who have knowledge that is useful and valid, and some morons in CR.
 
Equilibrium Ireland said:
The jumping mare I posted the picture of is 6 too. She did all her competing at 5. Life got in the way for me this year and so she did not get out to jump. I concentrated on other things with her and me becoming a better rider for her. I had really thought about selling her. Thought it might be fairer to her in the end. But I bred her and I really didn't want to sell her. She gets clipped tomorrow and will start looking like the jumper she used to be. I can probably do ok at 1.10m but when she jumps higher it will have to be with a pro. She won't leave me again for outside livery but at shows will be fine. It was also hard because a good friend who had her mare at the same training livery kept competing and recently started showing the mare herself. That was hard, but I am genuinely happy for her. She's a really nice person and deserves to do well. I just hate people asking me, what happened to your nice mare? But I'm happy that I have her and she seems quite happy being in work but also getting to chill with her family in the fields by day and snuggling in a big straw bed at night.

Terri
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That's what I thinking of for mine start unaffiliated with me pro to ride at shows if we go on.
But he's a talented flat work horse and would be fun to do dressage on and I could do that much more of that he's also got the makings of a super duper hunter and I could that but don't know if that's what I want .
He was chucked out of training for napping did a bit eventing at five won two BYEH classes then suffered a big loss of form at which point he was up for sale ( I had been admiring from afar for ages) he had three riders in a season and he's not that sort of TB hes a one to one type person I knew he was not right but bought him I just love him .
He trusts me now I hope he would trust a pro if I kept him at home he's a funny horse lets my OH ( who hunts but is not an educated rider) play on him in the school as long as he can see me he's happy. Just don't know what to do for the best .
Love your mare by the way I love a bay mare.
 
I always used to click on 'new posts' so I'd get a mish mash from all areas, never really found them any different although obviously more competition reports in there!

Being a jockey looks like it would be MEGA hard on your knees! I don't think I could stay in that position for very long at all let alone on a galloping horse!
 
Goldenstar said:
... I took the 6yo to a training session and he did go well and had to answer the question what are you going to do with him to many times for comfort , the time is coming when I will have to make a plan and I was enjoying just bumbling along training him and making him a happy horse.
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Please don't think me rude for mentioning it, no offence meant - I find this so incredibly sad.

What has happened to us all that we can no longer just enjoy the moment and the company of a horse?
 
I enjoyed your post - have you read Jane Smiley - Horse Heaven? I think you would like, if you have not.
Horse racing is certainly the school of hard knocks - not had the experience of USA - but have a son, who worked for the 'top trainers' and through him saw a huge variety of ways and means - from 'nurturing' to 'factory' - I am not going to mention names - but both trainers were hugely successful.
I have trained Pointers myself as well.....but what I learnt from my five years or so of doing that, is you need a talented horse to start with - and that horse, if fit, will do the job (5 wins) and if you have untalented, you can do anything to try, but they won't win.......(3 horses - 3 years....)
That you have got to the point that you don't use whips / spurs is good for you - and I totally agree, that to use these artificial aids to try and improve a horse is a hiding to nothing. I had a jockey who wanted to use spurs on my good horse (the 5 times winner) as he did nothing at home - spurs was not the answer - being allowed to jump confidently and properly, was......
But there is a place for the whip and spurs as a training aid - if used properly - just as there is a case for martingales and all sorts of other training aids - but they do need to be in the hands of people who know when to use - and most importantly when not too......I recall from all my early equestrian training - that these additions are called 'artificial aids' i.e. they are possibly some sort of short cut to the proper aids - seat, balance and legs?
I have now talked myself out of this argument altogether - maybe you are right?
 
catkin said:
Please don't think me rude for mentioning it, no offence meant - I find this so incredibly sad.

What has happened to us all that we can no longer just enjoy the moment and the company of a horse?
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I do enjoy him I really do but he is ,and I will get into trouble for this , the classic stamp of TB competition horse and because that's what I always did people will now he's going well ask me want my plans are .
It's getting to crunch time for us he nearly ready to go I can feel him changing the baby is going he's not needing me for confidence and guidance any more our partnership is growing up more of equals now he needs to be completing soon if that's to be his future.
 
EI thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I have a feeling you are another one who has the makings of a damn good book if you ever felt like it.

I have always respected your posts and will do even more now!!
 
Thank you guys for all your kind comments. Not sure I'm that deserving. Takes a village to make a rider! LOL!

You should also know for all the experience I had riding I never owned my own horse until I was 32 and moved to Ireland. Talk about steep learning curve.

Oh and then there was my mare's first pregnancy. I was armed with all the books and re read them over and over in 11 months looking for all the signs. Of course my mare did not wax nor build a huge back until after the foal was born. It went something like this. I went out to feed, popped open her door, saw we little Heidi in the corner, screamed, and ran for hubby! Thank goodness my maiden mare knew what she was doing and it wasn't a difficult birth. We still have Heidi and she will never leave. The following year the camera went up two months before, I wrote down every little change, poked and proded my mare, annoyed the crap out of her and was staying up nights a month in advance. I can remember one icy night about 2 months before, running out to the barn in my dressing gown and slippers at 3 am because I had a dream the mare was foaling. Flipped on the lights and the mare was peacefully sleeping and was like WTF? Camera was up next day. Then I got my crap together and lost very little sleep with that mare from there after with her other foals.

So just being a rider for most of your life doesn't really prepare you for horse ownership as the primary carer. And of course all the little things they do to make your hair grow grey. Everyday they stay alive is a triumph!

Goldenstar, would love pics of your TB. TB's will do anything for you as long as they have a person they can trust. I like having my TB from the damside when crossing with any breed. It's the die trying attitude that always gets me.

And I always think there's room for improvement. It's why I took some of mine bare. I was at a crossroads with Heidi and I needed to try something completely different. It's why I like coming to H&H because I'm still learning and have room for more tricks in the tool box. I don't think we ever stop evolving.

Right will get more pictures up later.

Have a good day everyone!

Terri
 
What A Girl !!

Loved reading your post - and this....

Equilibrium Ireland said:
Oh and then there was my mare's first pregnancy. I was armed with all the books and re read them over and over in 11 months looking for all the signs. Of course my mare did not wax nor build a huge back until after the foal was born. It went something like this. I went out to feed, popped open her door, saw we little Heidi in the corner, screamed, and ran for hubby! Thank goodness my maiden mare knew what she was doing and it wasn't a difficult birth. We still have Heidi and she will never leave. The following year the camera went up two months before, I wrote down every little change, poked and proded my mare, annoyed the crap out of her and was staying up nights a month in advance. I can remember one icy night about 2 months before, running out to the barn in my dressing gown and slippers at 3 am because I had a dream the mare was foaling. Flipped on the lights and the mare was peacefully sleeping and was like WTF? Camera was up next day. Then I got my crap together and lost very little sleep with that mare from there after with her other foals.[/

QUOTE]

This takes me back to Poppy's pregnancy and little Shaylee being born ... After a screaming phone call from my mum, I was literally 30 seconds late but seeing her trying to stand and take her first milk, a priceless memory.

In a bit of a dilemma at the moment though regarding my 3 1/2 yr old and building topline ready for backing. To lunge or not to lunge ? having two very different opinions from two very experienced professionals. So I may well be asking for your valuable advice/opinion :)
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Sounds like there is a good book in the memories you have. However, was confused by the fluffy bunnies title. I always thought fluffy bunnies was the game you played at pc camp where the winner is the person who can fit the most marsmallows in her mouth!! friend managed to do 16 full size pink and whites !!! Quite impressive to watch x
:D
 
Totally agree with you EI, fluffy bunny or not....if there is a way to get a horse to perform to it's full potential without giving it a pasting then that gets my vote. Before I retired Fred I used to give him a running commentary all the way up the hill gallops, no more slowing halfway after I told him he was better than Seabiscuit (if only in my eyes!)

I'm very jealous, I'd love to gallop in America!! You guys do have very strange hats though and whats with the shiny pvc hat silks???
 
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