Horse riding! *progress journal!!*

[ropa]

An article from thus weeks horse and hound found 40% of horses tested lame. This is a serious problem. There are many horses in pain who owners keep riding them for selfish reasons. You have to decide if you want to be one of these people. Personally I would never cause either of my horses pain so I can ride. Trust me I have been in this very position too! I had a horse who went lame after 5 months and 5 years later is still lame. He is world class too and could easily be held together so the lameness didn't show up and I could go and collect trophies but I would never do that too him. Think long and hard about the rider and horse owner you want to be. Good luck with it!

 

[Isa7182]

I was so proud of you for saying that you weren't going to ride sarge anymore. I would seriously question the ethics of someone making money from a horse in pain, and taking the money from you. Just because they have family in the Olympics means nothing. Do you know that some top riders at top international level have been temporarily banned because they rap their horses over jumps and the hypersensitivity test shows this up ore comp. just because someone gad got to the top does not mean they have ethics. Sadly when you invest money in horses it sometimes means you push them harder and do things that are morally reprehensible. Not all just some. But holding a rosette means nothing. These are tough lessons for yu and I am sorry. It takes some people 10 years before they realise these issues so in a way I am glad that you are learning them young. X

Thanks you so much! They don't have very much money and they are the nicest people ever, they do take really good care for their horses. but even my mum was questioning this as well. Even though Sarge is my favourite horse to ride, I'd rather he had more years in than less because of this.

It's not I want to hurt him but it's more the fact I'm a shy person and i don't really like saying "i don't want to rode him can I ride someone else" etc. If he was my own horse, I wouldn't be riding him. But i can't stop the other riders from riding him because they might not know any better...

 

[Isa7182]

I'll talk to my mum about saying something

 

[TrasaM]

It'll probably be better if your mum talks to the RI..good thinking. I've been put in the same situation when I've had lessons whilst away from home. My questions and comments about the horse's soundness have either been ignored or I've been told that horse is fine but to ride it properly! Luckily at my regular school my instructor listens and we double check what I'm feeling. When there's been a problem the horse gets swapped for another.

As others have said it's really important to learn what a sound horse feels like to ride. The other important thing to always bear in mind is respect for the horse should be first and foremost in all your dealing with them. Good luck and keep on with your updates.

 

[Isa7182]

Mum said it's her choice whether she thinks he's good to ride or not, but I know he's not!! He is getting much better but not good enough to ride! Argh! I think my mum will talk to her, she knows. Luckily I come from a horse knowledgeable family, otherwise it would be pointless! I'm lucky he hasn't got fed up and thrown me or something yet!

 

[ropa]

It is her choice but you don't have to contribute to the situation by jumping on. It may sound a little precocious but you can respectfully say to the owner and your mum that you don't want to ride him because he is sore and simply don't agree to get on! You will sort it out. Personally I would find a different yard as I couldn't respect someone that did this to their horses and I wouldn't want to support then and pay thrm money or learn from them! Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes

 

[Goldenstar]

This is all just really really sad.

 

[TrasaM]

This is all just really really sad.

Yep

 

[SaddleUpSin]

Aside from all the issues concerning the horse, and lameness etc, congratulations on your riding and I'm sure riding a different horse will do you good! More horses you ride, more experience you get

 

[Isa7182]

Well, I don't know when my nest lesson is. It's either Thursday or Friday so I'll let you know what happens then, I guess.. I've thought about trying other horses/places also because it's good for experience. I'll gladly ride sarge when I know he's fully sound.

Gosh, I feel so guilty now...

 

[Rosiejazzandpia]

Well, I don't know when my nest lesson is. It's either Thursday or Friday so I'll let you know what happens then, I guess.. I've thought about trying other horses/places also because it's good for experience. I'll gladly ride sarge when I know he's fully sound.

Gosh, I feel so guilty now...

Don't feel guilty, you are only trying to learn to ride. In the end it is the owners who are responsible for their horse and you were not to know the ins and outs of lameness when you are only just learning to ride. I hope you manage to get this sorted and continue progressing with your riding

 

[ropa]

Don't feel guilty feel empowered that you are doing the right thing and thank goodness you reached out to people and are able to make informed decisions

 

[Isa7182]

Okay, so despite feeling bad and having huge doubts, Sarge felt perfectly sound today!!!!

He was so frisky and was prancing around and almost trotting whilst I was leading him. He was trotting, cantering and jumping (like 1 foot XD) perfectly!! He had his feet trimmed before too, so that might have helped him!

I'm so glad he's feeling better!!! He felt so good today and he didn't feel off at all!!

Also, off topic, but mt RI has taken in a really sad rescue horse. He is an Arabian, about 29 years old and emaciated as heck! He had a summer rug under a winter rug for about a month or so and it had rubbed a huge gash into his wither, so bad she could put a rug over it!! The poor fella, he looks so bad and he is so skinny. He's being kept in the stable with 2 rugs on him but not over the gash and lots of good food for him to eat. He only had chaff and he has like no teeth which means he couldn't really eat it.

He has good bloodlines and he has a gorgeous face, I'm hoping he'll pull through and get better. The cut is awful though, he'll be treated for that right away. The lady who had was elderly and had heaps of horses, mostly Thoroughbreds, she had like 26 at one point and I don't know what happened to them but RI said she only has a few now, thank god.

 

[ropa]

You were riding and jumping the poor horse that was lame a few days ago. I don't know why you would do that!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I hope the arab is OK.

 

[Isa7182]

You were riding and jumping the poor horse that was lame a few days ago. I don't know why you would do that!

He was sound today and I wouldn't be asked to do it if he wasn't up for it. This the best he's ever been

 

[HeresHoping]

... I wouldn't be asked to do it if he wasn't up for it...

OP, with the best will in the world, I don't think you can say this. You posted a video of you riding an extremely lame horse. Experienced individuals who have had their own horses for a considerable length of time pointed out that your mount was not just lame on one leg but two (front and back). Given that you were allowed to ride a horse in this state, I don't think you can say the above because you were quite blatantly asked to ride him. Your RI was more than happy to put you up when he was lame.

Unless your horse had a knock, or a slight strain, I cannot see that he'd be recovered so quickly as to be up for jumping.

I sincerely hope the intentions with the 29 yo Arab are honourable.

 

[ropa]

How are yu and the horses coming along?

 

[Isa7182]

Hey everyone, long time no see I suppose!!

I've stopped riding Sarge, I realized what an absolute idiot I was for riding him and I feel so guilty, I couldn't bear to see my favorite horse in pain Although, he should be sound to ride again soon! His feet are getting better each day and my instructor has gotten a new (sound!!!) lesson horse who will be ridden instead.

I got my own horse, a weanling/yearling called Holly. We've been going good! Although she'll definitely be a jumper, she broken out of 2 paddocks and broke her stable. Bad horse XD I need to learn more lunging so I can lunge her very rarely just so she knows what to do and she can have a bit of a run so she isn't wanting to race like a lunatic through her paddock.

Ummm, what else, oh yeah! I also have another instructor who's gotten me out of bad riding habits so I can sit canter well. Her schools horses are amazing and she has a massive (Olympic, maybe bigger) indoor arena (great cause it's rainy here!) ummm yeah, that's all. Working with and riding alot of different horses!

 

[Isa7182]

This is Holly, she's an anglo x quarter horse/cyldie. She's a cheeky, fast learning, stubborn little girl. We've moved her to a proper agistment than keeping her at my instructors

 

[Isa7182]

Oh and I had my first fall a few months ago, lol! It wasn't mine or the horse's fault, but rather the tack XD Girth was too loose, out on a trail ride, and I slipped down his side and onto the gravel and his girth was done up on the normal hole and the horse was putting weight ON. Wonders of the horse world that will never be explained!

 

[Fides]

Please don't lunge a yearling

 

[ester]

agreed, not even rarely.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

It's lovely to have an update. Holly is gorgeous - I have a real weakness for chestnuts.

I have to agree with the others, she's too young to lunge at the moment (I didn't lunge mine till they were 4). However if you can find someone to teach you lunging and long reining with an older horse, they will be really useful skills for you when Holly is older and ready to back. With my youngsters I did in-hand work - mostly just a walk down a quiet lane. I did also teach them to trot up (so i could take them to a show, or trot up for the vet if needed), stand, turn and walk over poles on the ground. Most of the time they just enjoyed being out in the field with their mates.

I look forward to updates.

 

[Isa7182]

Okay thankyou! I'm new to this whole babies thing XD She only had one, really short lesson, to teach her to lunge but I guess i won't lunge her until she's much much older She won't forget for that period of time.

Faracat- Well, she's actually not chestnut! Well, we don't know as of yet, but she went black in summer, her mums a black buckskin and her dads a chestnut or possibly a red dun, he has the stripe down his back but he hasn't been tested either. We're going along the lines of liver chestnut but she could be something much more different.

I've been taking her for walks down a road for about a month now, it's a dirt road that their house was on, so there were almost no cars, she didn't flinch at them, but she had cars driving past her first paddock, she was more scared of the kangaroos and the cows! I've taught her to trot up and to walk over poles. She hadn't been halter trained, lead trained or rugged before we got her, I taught her to lead and rug well

 

[Meowy Catkin]

She's definitely chestnut based. I'd love to see more photos incase they give a clue about whether she's inherited any modifiers that alter 'red' pigment. I would think that the star is caused by sabino. Does she have any white on her front legs? Liver chestnut is genetically the same as bright orange chestnut (ee). Have a look at this site, it's very clear with good photos. http://www.whitehorseproductions.com/ecg_basics1.html

 

[Isa7182]

I'll try and get some photos tonight. She's gone a mottled black sorta around her eye. She only has a little bit of white on her back foot, it's white around the back of her heel. As my camera isn't working, I'll have to use the iPhone to get some photos

 

[Meowy Catkin]

The angle of the photo must have hidden the white heel.

 

[Isa7182]

Yep. I'll take a photo of that too, it's so cute actually XD

 

[WindyStacks]

Just to add to what the others have said about no Lungeing - nobody is trying to piss on your chips - there's a reason. Her bones aren't developed yet and you'll knacker her legs.