Pharphar!
Well-Known Member
oh n i never have time to clean tack or usually groom before i go out! hats off to people who do but i cant be bothered..... so lazy! 
is there anything that indicates to you, if someone can ride?
- Thread starter Starbucks
- Start date
DragonSlayer
Well-Known Member
What is a normal horse walking pace though?
Our cob is dead slow, the mare warp speed, Shire X super-sonic, AA pretty mellow and the Shetland goes as fast as he can with his lil legs!
It can be too easy to judge 'the perfect speed' if people are just judging it on their own horse.....
Hippona
Well-Known Member
I'm currently introducing a young arab to the joys of hacking out solo....it would be nice to be able to plod along on the buckle......
Leaving the yard......head and tail straight up, jogging sideways.
After about 10 minutes.....walking nicely, good contact.
I do wear a skull cap- with silk thankfully- I know what you mean about silkless skull caps....makes you think 'padded cell'
Leaving the yard......head and tail straight up, jogging sideways.
After about 10 minutes.....walking nicely, good contact.
I do wear a skull cap- with silk thankfully- I know what you mean about silkless skull caps....makes you think 'padded cell'
miss_bird
Well-Known Member
Charliepony
Well-Known Member
"Whenever I see someone wearing a skull cap with no silk I automatically assume that they can't ride."
Me too!! My stupid sister lost her hat silk so rides her deranged pony about wearing one of these riding school issue skull caps... They must look like a pair of loons...
Oh there are so many things... If they have a carrot stick anywhere about their person, I think 'they can't ride'...
I would say I'm an 'alright' rider... Not fantastic, not horrendous! There's one girl I know who I would say is a naturally amazing rider (with all the money that's been put into her I would expect her to be, but she certainly has a natural feel and has always been like that... I'm not in the least jealous )
Me too!! My stupid sister lost her hat silk so rides her deranged pony about wearing one of these riding school issue skull caps... They must look like a pair of loons...
Oh there are so many things... If they have a carrot stick anywhere about their person, I think 'they can't ride'...
I would say I'm an 'alright' rider... Not fantastic, not horrendous! There's one girl I know who I would say is a naturally amazing rider (with all the money that's been put into her I would expect her to be, but she certainly has a natural feel and has always been like that... I'm not in the least jealous
)Charliepony
Well-Known Member
OOh also people who ride cobs or adults on ponies! I automatically think they're nervous or a beginner, which is so strange and hypocritical, because all of my scariest moments have been aboard various cobs, and I have found them far more difficult to ride than my sporthorses...
Brandy
Well-Known Member
Thats really funny about adults on ponies! I am one, one of mine is a welsh cob and I am tall on him, though not anywhere like too big. He is an absolute arse. My tb gelding, who is certainly not a novice ride, is my preferred ride but is very ancient now. None of my friends would ever get on him as he 'looked scary' though I was in complete control of his jogginess and idiocy, and he was bombproof. The pony however, does rather scare me.
I hate trackie bottoms, esp those ones with coloured stripes down the side. I do own some that i wear for mucking out.
I saw someone wearing chaps on the wrong legs, zips down the insides, and that bit that goes over the front of your foot, round the back of her heel. Thought 'well shes not as good as she thinks she is' (she did think she was very good indeed)
The 'egghead' look. I used to volunteer with the local RDA. They had a variety of skull caps and no silks. So thats what the silkless skull cap brings to mind (please please no one take offense at this)
re the boots - my tb is tendon boots on front, over reach boots (natural balance shoes....) and brushing boots behind. hunting breastplate, running martingale etc etc.
The welsh (git) is in a snaffle bridle and saddle......
I hate trackie bottoms, esp those ones with coloured stripes down the side. I do own some that i wear for mucking out.
I saw someone wearing chaps on the wrong legs, zips down the insides, and that bit that goes over the front of your foot, round the back of her heel. Thought 'well shes not as good as she thinks she is' (she did think she was very good indeed)
The 'egghead' look. I used to volunteer with the local RDA. They had a variety of skull caps and no silks. So thats what the silkless skull cap brings to mind (please please no one take offense at this)
re the boots - my tb is tendon boots on front, over reach boots (natural balance shoes....) and brushing boots behind. hunting breastplate, running martingale etc etc.
The welsh (git) is in a snaffle bridle and saddle......
Faro
...
How do you so the smiley thing for blushing?
Brandy, it could have been me that you saw with their half chaps on back to front! I genuinely did that once, in a dizzy moment, and didn't realise till I got off the horse. And no, it wasn't the first time I'd ridden a horse, or worn half chaps! It was actually within the last year or so! (Never managed to make that same mistake ever before or since however!)
Anyway - back to the thread - it's not the skullcaps without silks as they are that are the indication of a novice rider - but it IS the skullcaps without silks but with a big number 6 on white paint on the front that give the game away rather a lot!
Brandy, it could have been me that you saw with their half chaps on back to front! I genuinely did that once, in a dizzy moment, and didn't realise till I got off the horse. And no, it wasn't the first time I'd ridden a horse, or worn half chaps! It was actually within the last year or so! (Never managed to make that same mistake ever before or since however!)
Anyway - back to the thread - it's not the skullcaps without silks as they are that are the indication of a novice rider - but it IS the skullcaps without silks but with a big number 6 on white paint on the front that give the game away rather a lot!
Enfys
Well-Known Member
"Whenever I see someone wearing a skull cap with no silk I automatically assume that they can't ride."
QUOTE]
Actually, it probably means they just can't find it!
Half the work riders I know still wear naked skull caps, and I defy anyone who thinks it denotes that they can't ride to ride half the manner of horses that they do, day in, day out.
You don't need to 'talk the talk' to 'walk the walk' appearances mean nothing to me. New breeches and shiny boots may just mean the old ones have finally disintegrated, it would in my case
Enfys
Well-Known Member
MissMincePie&Brandy
Well-Known Member
For me, I have to see someone ride a difficult or lazy horse.
My very, very novice OH looks as though he could be a professional when riding my schoolmaster, who is naturally balanced and light off the hand and leg, leaving my OH to concentrate on nothing more than his own balance and position, but when he rides any other horse, ie something that's a bit lazy or nappy then you'll see my poor OH is quite clueless and struggles to juggle keeping his position and balance together with using the correct aids for a horse who's taking the mickey.
My very, very novice OH looks as though he could be a professional when riding my schoolmaster, who is naturally balanced and light off the hand and leg, leaving my OH to concentrate on nothing more than his own balance and position, but when he rides any other horse, ie something that's a bit lazy or nappy then you'll see my poor OH is quite clueless and struggles to juggle keeping his position and balance together with using the correct aids for a horse who's taking the mickey.
Enfys
Well-Known Member
Ah ha, I get it, brain freeze, you are having a laugh
I ride a 14h pony, and I am neither nervous, nor a beginner...which doesn't mean I am any great shakes as a rider admittedly
but then I have never claimed to be anything more than a passenger. The pony thing is much more to do with the fact that I am 5'2" on a good day, weigh 110lbs and am ancient so can't get on anything bigger Plus, that particular mare is the only thing on the place that is mine, rideable and not in foal.
Enfys
Well-Known Member
Maybe they've just had a birthday and haven't had time to scuff their boots a bit yet?
All clothing has to be new once 
a_e_d
Well-Known Member
Enfys
Well-Known Member
Bugger the saddle, if I wear it out I'll just buy a new one.
It takes a lot to wear out these saddles
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Jayde87
Well-Known Member
How can you base someone's ability on if they decide to wear hi-vis or not or based on the breed of their horse?! I have 2 horses, one 15.1 cob and one 16.2 wb and let me tell you, I've had plenty more scary moments on the cobalob, but I guess that just makes me an awful/nervy rider hey?
As for hi-vis, I think people are rather stupid not to be wearing any, but it's their decision. I don't make any flash judgements on whether or not someone's a bad rider, afterall, I'm sure if you spoke to some top eventers that hacked they'd be telling you they wore plenty of the stuff.
Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut... saying that, rubber boots are horrendeous. Cheap, tacky, NASSSSSTY.
Rant over
As for hi-vis, I think people are rather stupid not to be wearing any, but it's their decision. I don't make any flash judgements on whether or not someone's a bad rider, afterall, I'm sure if you spoke to some top eventers that hacked they'd be telling you they wore plenty of the stuff.
Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut... saying that, rubber boots are horrendeous. Cheap, tacky, NASSSSSTY.
Rant over
Abbeygale
Well-Known Member
QR to OP (sorry but there's loads of replies, and I haven't got time to read them all LOL!!)
For the vast majority of people - without even seeing them anywhere near a horse - if they are telling everyone what a great rider they are, and how they have done this, that and the other (of course always something 100 times harder than anyone else has in the conversation) - then these are the people who I would not let anywhere near riding any of my horses.
IME the people who are quietly confident are usually the ones who have the greatest respect and skill with their horses - and the ones that I respect the most.
With people around horses - the people who just get on and do what needs to be done - and doesn't feel the need to tell the world and his wife about what they are doing, and why there way is soooo much better than everyone elses....
I think it's a VERY VERY good thing that I am not on a livery yard - as I would probably end up doing time for GBH....
For the vast majority of people - without even seeing them anywhere near a horse - if they are telling everyone what a great rider they are, and how they have done this, that and the other (of course always something 100 times harder than anyone else has in the conversation) - then these are the people who I would not let anywhere near riding any of my horses.
IME the people who are quietly confident are usually the ones who have the greatest respect and skill with their horses - and the ones that I respect the most.
With people around horses - the people who just get on and do what needs to be done - and doesn't feel the need to tell the world and his wife about what they are doing, and why there way is soooo much better than everyone elses....
I think it's a VERY VERY good thing that I am not on a livery yard - as I would probably end up doing time for GBH....
Rudolph's Red Nose
Well-Known Member
but i do agree ppl who wear loads of hi viz do seem to be nervous or new riders.... I'm terrible for not wearing any!!
[ what a stupid comment.....
Enfys
Well-Known Member
and cold, and clammy!
On the other hand, my argument for rubber boots, especially on children is that kids feet grow so fast it would be a complete waste of money to buy leather ones and have to replace them literally every month, they double up as wellies anyway.
Years ago, Robinsons sold clear rubber boots, my daughter absolutely ADORED them, she wore stripey socks underneath, it may have looked tacky, but what the hell
Tacky see through boots, yep, but she represented her PC in the Area Dressage Championships so they in themselves didn't affect her ability to ride. I hasten to add that she did actually have very beautiful oxblood jodhpur boots for parties (several pairs)If I turned up at a yard dressed as I do everyday, I am sure everybody would think "Oh. My. God. Who the heck does she think she is?
" Blue jeans, cowboy boots, plaid shirt, blingy belt and a cowboy hat, I'd do it for the hell of it - exactly the same response I'd get if I turned up in breeches, long boots etc at a yard here at home I am still a crappy rider 
Chestnuttymare
Well-Known Member
Oh it doesn't bother me at all, as long as someone is enoying themselves then that's great - doesn't stop me thinking they can't ride though!
Well done on the clean tack and horse - shamed to say I haven't cleaned my tack since I went hunting last in November!
What I maybe should have said was that I don't really notice either..well unless they
are particularly terrible then anyine would notice.
Is your tack all mud splattered and really yuk looking. Pass it to me and i will do it, the dirtier the better
(better not get up in the morning and find a pile of manky tack on the doorstep fitzaud2
Well-Known Member
I'm very critical of others when riding, although I keep it to myself!! This, coming from me, is laughable, as i'm def not the best rider in the world. Whilst I'm far from perfect, I can pick out what others are doing wrong and how they should fix it. Most people prob wouldn't want me telling them though!!
And as for not making your horse walk forward on a hack, it drives me nuts.... My sister used to sometimes ride the old mare I had, and to be honest, the mares eyes would light up when she saw kate coming. -2 miles an hour, stopping to eat grass at any time she liked, it was like being given money in a sweet shop. she never once even tried to do it when i rode her. Horses are so clever, they never cease to amze me!!!
And as for not making your horse walk forward on a hack, it drives me nuts.... My sister used to sometimes ride the old mare I had, and to be honest, the mares eyes would light up when she saw kate coming. -2 miles an hour, stopping to eat grass at any time she liked, it was like being given money in a sweet shop. she never once even tried to do it when i rode her. Horses are so clever, they never cease to amze me!!!
Starbucks
Well-Known Member
What I maybe should have said was that I don't really notice either..well unless they
are particularly terrible then anyine would notice.
Is your tack all mud splattered and really yuk looking. Pass it to me and i will do it, the dirtier the better
Well, not so much - it was but most of it has fallen off now!! Have given the horse a through scrub up today - tack tomorrow... definitely tomorrow...
Starbucks
Well-Known Member
Oh god, if they don't make them walk and on MY horse - really drives me nuts!!
Hi Viz brigade - This thread is not even about Hi Viz!! Yes you are very clever and must love you horses much more than the stupid, idiotic morons who do not wear any. Now please get over yourselves!!!!
Dobby
Well-Known Member
I've got to say if I see someone head to toe in hi-vis and flashing like a Christmas tree I think it looks really silly - overkill! I wear a general reflective tabard when I'm on the road but tbh all the hi vis in the world won't save you if something goes tits up or a driver just isn't paying attention. Drivers aren't blind - they can still see you without hi vis!
I've got to disagree though, when I see an adult on a pony I usually think good on them, no point buying something big and flashy just because that's what grown ups are meant to do - I went to watch some SJ the other day and the only person who looked like she was enjoying herself was a 30-something woman on a pony
But...people riding in trainers and trackies make me think "chav" and on a serious note I always look at peoples hands.
I've got to disagree though, when I see an adult on a pony I usually think good on them, no point buying something big and flashy just because that's what grown ups are meant to do - I went to watch some SJ the other day and the only person who looked like she was enjoying herself was a 30-something woman on a pony
But...people riding in trainers and trackies make me think "chav" and on a serious note I always look at peoples hands.
Starbucks
Well-Known Member
fitzaud2
Well-Known Member
Hi starbucks, my sister is the youngest, so got everything she wanted. her first pony was lovely, but she got bored with her very quickly, so i used to hop up on her to exercise her, then my son did a bit with her. my dad found her a great home with the next door neighbours for their boys, and off he went and bought her a 16hh mare, who she rode 3 times, then she was dropped at my place, as she was too slow. I had great fun on her, fed her 'up' a bit and she danced on her toes for me. brought my sister in to ride her at one point and she got a fright!! that was the "too slow" mare. she just didnt want to go to the effort of making her go. thankfully, he saw sense at that point, as I told him I wasn't taking the next one, so she doesnt ride anymore!!!! all this coming from a girl who wouldn't go for lessons, as she didnt like to be told what to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pink123
New User
first of all note i said riding through my village, so cars are not an issue, my horse does not spoke at cars, even though she is blind in one eye (yes it could happen one day) and i do not need the reins as a handle to stay on if she does spook. please explain why teaching my daughter to do balancing exercises on her pony (whilst on a lead rein) is stupid, surely teacher her balance will make her a better rider, we turn it into a game to make it fun, do/did you not make it fun for you children whilst they were learning to ride?
above all safety is our top priority, hence hats, body protectors and hi viz. hi viz is essential where we live, 60 mph narrow country lanes, those extra 3 secs a car will see you with the hi viz can mean the difference between life and death.
BSJAlove
Well-Known Member
you dont ride with reins and you hack down 60mph country lanes, yet saftey is your top priority??? yes, showing your daugther its okay to ride with no reins on the road IS dangerous. stuff using the reins as a way to keep you in the saddle, what if your mare bolts because god forbid, a car crash happpens near by, you will have a horse on a 60mph road in a blind gallop but its okay because you will stay on? rather you then me my friend.
pink123
New User
i said i ride through my village without reins, not the 60 mph lanes! as i have said cars are not an issue, it is a very rural area. nearly all country lane are 60mph so are unavoidable to ride on between bridal paths and villages, and no i would not ride these roads without reins, just my village which has almost no houses so almost no cars, and the cars can be heard from some distance to give ample time to regain the reins if on the off chance a car did come. if i do not teach my daughter to balance she would be a poor rider, it is not dangerous as she is on the lead for exercises, it would be more dangerous on bridle paths and across fields where there is more chance the pony will spook. how else are you suppose to teach a child to ride. we don't all have the wealth to afford luxury facilities such as a purpose built arena to teach our children.
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
Oh GG!! Theres even people telling other people ho to raise kids now!!
Haha! What a thread...
Theres even people telling other people ho to raise kids now!!Haha! What a thread...