is there anything that indicates to you, if someone can ride?

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Starbucks

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When I say "can ride", I mean someone who is fairly competent at whatever it might be that they do, if that be competing, hacking, whatever.

I've got a bit of a thing with whether people make there horses walk on out hacking or not! As soon as I see people who just plod along at snails pace (normally with ridiculous amounts of Hi Viz and boots) I immediately think that they can't ride.. Have never hacked out with anyone who is a decent rider who didn't make their horse walk on!

I'm sure this is totally wrong!! Does anyone else have any funny things like this? Or anyone who can prove my theory wrong?
 
i love your threads. if i see someone in trackies riding i finer bred horse i automaticly think your a speed freak show off chavy person who rides their horses with all the latest tack. however if i see someone in trackies riding a cob, i automaticly think chavvy person with no riding ability what so ever - however please dont be offended, as i have ridden in trackies quite alot so i have no idea why i think it. it just springs to mind. (or people going to the yard in ugg boots - why!)
 
The plodding along thing really annoys me too. Unless you're on my Welshie on a lazy day because no amount of kicking will do you any good :rolleyes: Whenever I see someone wearing a skull cap with no silk I automatically assume that they can't ride. I'm sure it isn't true in some cases but I just can't get that assumption out of my head.
 
We mosey along at a snails pace often, because we want to. I like going along at a snails pace when the mood takes me, horses neck stretched long and low.....I also often let her have a sniff about.....

Depends what mood I'm in. Sure, hacking to get and keep fit is one thing, out for an afternoons amble is as good for the horse as it is for me if I were out with the dogs.....

Why does everything have to be done at full speed all the time?
 
Starbucks said:
When I say "can ride", I mean someone who is fairly competent at whatever it might be that they do, if that be competing, hacking, whatever.

I've got a bit of a thing with whether people make there horses walk on out hacking or not! As soon as I see people who just plod along at snails pace (normally with ridiculous amounts of Hi Viz and boots) I immediately think that they can't ride.. Have never hacked out with anyone who is a decent rider who didn't make their horse walk on!

I'm sure this is totally wrong!! Does anyone else have any funny things like this? Or anyone who can prove my theory wrong?
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My best friend is the exception to your "snails pace with hi viz rule" :D

Her horse is made to walk on properly - to her, there is no difference between working correctly in the school and out on a hack. Even when ridden out on the buckle he is working correctly. The arguments they have when he decides he wants to work at a snails pace are quite brilliant to watch!

However, it is each to their own. Sometimes after having been on a hack I like to slow up and mosey along, makes no difference to me. I find working on a hack quite good because I've found that the horse doesn't associate the hack with work which some in the past have done when going in the school.
 
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BSJAlove said:
i love your threads. if i see someone in trackies riding i finer bred horse i automaticly think your a speed freak show off chavy person who rides their horses with all the latest tack. however if i see someone in trackies riding a cob, i automaticly think chavvy person with no riding ability what so ever - however please dont be offended, as i have ridden in trackies quite alot so i have no idea why i think it. it just springs to mind. (or people going to the yard in ugg boots - why!)
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i live in trackies (bt wear proper boots)- im not a chav, nor ride a cob

i own a warmblood x who has a synthetic saddle and works wonderfully. I also ride in a (kinda) fashion but i dont ever tell anyone im a good rider - im decent, i (generally) stay on..... :D


no - not offended...but i get your perception (that the right word) about certain folk


whe i see kids in trackies and trainers on ponies - i automatically think chav lol
 
Guilty!!!

I am obsessive of making my horse walk on and always hack him with the intention of still having him working etc. Though tbf, he does now do this on his own accord and quite happily slop at the buckle with him still stretching out in an outline. The 'see-sawing' does my head in you see people doing that to get their heads in.

And bending and straightness hacking still. That I can flex him both ways still, that he'll go straight otherwise and not be cocked one way or anything.

And pace walk/trot/canter/gallop - that he'll keep it the same until asked otherwise, I don't do nagging or reminding them to keep going forwards or go on the forehand etc.

Basically just like him behaved and mannerly and have a nice relaxed easy ride out! :)

Not that I pre-judge people...if they're happy doing that, then fine! Doesn't bother me at all as long as them and their horses are happy. But for me, I have my checklist when I'm hacking or otherwise that I want my horse to be doing :)


Edited - Guilty of riding in ugg botts tonight.....LOL. In my defense, my boots broke! And they proved to be so nice and comfy to ride in too....
 
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trakkies are soo comfy so its okay for me to ride in them, i dont judge myself :D its funny, i know why people ride in them, they are warm and easy to wear. my brain says smart but my head says chav :(
 
Hold on there's suck a thing as a slow walk on a hack!? We usually end up walking so fast it's just trot with extra beats! Her choice not mine.
Kids in trackies and trainers make me think - pony rides in the beach. But then I'm guilty to. Ridden in everything from PJs with Western Boots to Hawaiian Shorts and Hiking Boots....
 
Sometimes it's nice to plod along at a snail's pace ya know! :D

It's good for both me and my horse to have a nice amble around the lanes from time to time. :)
 
I see your point exactly.

BUT i can ride, I have ridden since I was four, (now 38:o) , I won't pretend I'm a fantastic rider, I'm not. However, I now choose to amble about on my cob:rolleyes: sometimes, probably more often at a sedate pace, plodding around. Now and again, fleeing about fields and jumping (and cobs can jump:eek: lol) .

What I'm saying is, what you see people doing, doesn't have to mean what they are capable of:)
 
DragonSlayer said:
We mosey along at a snails pace often, because we want to. I like going along at a snails pace when the mood takes me, horses neck stretched long and low.....I also often let her have a sniff about.....

Depends what mood I'm in. Sure, hacking to get and keep fit is one thing, out for an afternoons amble is as good for the horse as it is for me if I were out with the dogs.....

Why does everything have to be done at full speed all the time?
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It's not really full speed - just walking on!! I get really annoyed with people walking slowly as well (in the office, shopping centres etc.), so maybe just me! I'm inpatient!

You do not say if you can ride or not? ;)
 
Apercrumbie said:
The plodding along thing really annoys me too. Unless you're on my Welshie on a lazy day because no amount of kicking will do you any good :rolleyes: Whenever I see someone wearing a skull cap with no silk I automatically assume that they can't ride. I'm sure it isn't true in some cases but I just can't get that assumption out of my head.
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haha to the skull cap thing. I agree. Makes you look like something out of a riding school so I assume riding school standards!

I shouldn't though
 
jesstickle said:
haha to the skull cap thing. I agree. Makes you look like something out of a riding school so I assume riding school standards!

I shouldn't though
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Yep that's another one! So if you hack in:

Hi Viz jacket, exercise sheet, anklets, head band and nose band/brow band
Brushing boots all round + over reach boots
Tracky bottoms
Skull cap with no cover
don't make your horse walk on

You are the worst! :P
 
Starbucks said:
Yep that's another one! So if you hack in:

Hi Viz jacket, exercise sheet, anklets, head band and nose band/brow band
Brushing boots all round + over reach boots
Tracky bottoms
Skull cap with no cover
don't make your horse walk on

You are the worst! :P
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I used to agree on the high viz but if you had my hacking you'd be wearing all that kit too.

I'm not being dramatic, I have to cross a massive roundabout which links the a14 to one of the major roads into town. And it's on top of a motor way bridge. It is, uhhm, interesting to say the least. Lots of hi viz = good!!!
 
jesstickle said:
I used to agree on the high viz but if you had my hacking you'd be wearing all that kit too.

I'm not being dramatic, I have to cross a massive roundabout which links the a14 to one of the major roads into town. And it's on top of a motor way bridge. It is, uhhm, interesting to say the least. Lots of hi viz = good!!!
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As long as it's not combined with all of the above, you'll probably get away with it! ;) I didn't used to wear any but HHOers have guilted me into it, now have hi viz running jacket.
 
Starbucks said:
It's not really full speed - just walking on!! I get really annoyed with people walking slowly as well (in the office, shopping centres etc.), so maybe just me! I'm inpatient!

You do not say if you can ride or not? ;)
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That's the problem with the world today, everyone is in such a rush, we should take a minute to slow down, and view whats around us.....even in the supermarket!

And me ride? hell no! I have no clue! I just bought 5 horses one after the other coz I thought they was cute!

I feed them pizza and chips, and I make all my tack from baler twine. :D
 
Starbucks said:
As long as it's not combined with all of the above, you'll probably get away with it! ;) I didn't used to wear any but HHOers have guilted me into it, now have hi viz running jacket.
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Likewise. And then I met this monster

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running left to right is the A14 which is dual carriage way and top to bottom is the main Cambridge road. I ride up the main road out of cambridge, over a motorway bridge 30 foot up and cross the roundabout.

All of a sudden I've developed a thing for hi viz!
 
Riding in trackies is so comfy but as i own a cob i try not to wear them out on a hack :D
We normally hack at a decent pace (but i think thats due to all the others horses walking at a marching pace)..but there is nothing more satisfying than a slow meander arround the orchards on a hot summers day. Bliss..
 
Hahaha, think we all have roughly the same idea! Agreed lots of high viz especially one saying 'caution young horse' when said horse is 20 year old grey faced cob plodding along at 0.5k per hour with it's head on the pavement and hocks four counties behind!

Also 'all the gear and no idea' people in pristine top of the market clothes and tack on a flashy warmblood sitting poker straight, deathly white in the face looking like they are about to s*** their pants as you pass them :)!

On the other hand my daughter has been known on a nice sunny day to hack out hatless in shorts and a vest top (naughty naughty I know - she is now an adult but I'm not condoning it) she was riding down the road in such attire one day when her friend drove past ad houted "HOY, Gyppo!"
No insult to genuine gypsies intended :)
 
Not too sure what indicates if they CAN ride, but one thing that really bugs me is the BHS method of teaching which tells riders to shorten their reins and push the horse into a contact. I end up picking up the peices when riders come to me for lessons. I can see immediately those that have been BHS taught as they are tipped forward with straight arms and their reins are far too short and hands way too high. Despite this their horses still go round with their noses in the air. :rolleyes: Not all of them of course. There ARE some good BHS instructors around.:)
 
Lol, this has me giggling lots!
I'm afraid hi viz does it for me too, i'm sure none of it even existed when i started riding so has never occcured to me to use it, thankfully no massively busy roads where i am.
Also as someone else said skull caps with no silk, they look like bowling balls ugh!
That said I do use brushing and over reach boots when I hack out, only because didn't to start and my boy tried to take a chunk out of his left fore! I will also use an exercise sheet but only if it's really cold and it is not hi viz!!!
Both my boys walk out very well and always have whether on buckle or not.
I do have one guilty pleasure when hacking though which is really bad............I sometimes have a cigarette, i know awful and probaly looks majorly chavy although I do wait till i'm not near any people lol! :rolleyes:
 
nice one Wagtail, i agree with that.
i let mine mooch sometimes, don't think it makes me a crap rider.
i don't like seeing riders trying to make a horse go 'on the bit' on tarmac - this to me means that they're more worried about what other people think of their riding, than of the horse's mechanics.
ummm, as for what i judge most - the seat most of all, sorry to be boring. someone tipping forward on their crotch, or sitting as if they're in an armchair. then relaxed arms, and most of all their hands. i don't mind an unbalanced rider who treats the horse's mouth as sacrosanct, but anyone using the reins to stay on... ugh. inexcusable.
i'm with whoever said a skullcap without a cover. yeuk. looks awful.
anyone riding in trainers. or jeans without chaps over them... sorry, but even if you ride brilliantly, the inner seam of jeans damages saddles.
oh dear, seems to be quite a long list!
 
Hm.

DWB. 16.3hh. Very flashy. Five point breastplate (extra hand holds :D). Tri Zone Cross Country boots all round (she doesn't always know where all her legs are :rolleyes:). Hi viz galore (as I want to reduce the chance of this beautiful creature being hit by a car). Jodhs. Chaps. Boots. They're the comfiest for riding :D

Sometimes:
Poker/ashen faced rider, desperate for change of underwear :eek:
Going backwards at high speed past scary object.
Sometimes working on the bit, with such lightness of movement rider is grinning like a silly grinning thing :D
Sometimes slobbing along on the end of the buckle :D

Oh, I can't ride very well, and staying on is sometimes an issue :rolleyes::D
 
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