Tell me what you think

[Kitari]

As a couple people or so noticed I am from the US, but that doesnt matter much really. Im posting some riding video's of myself and my mare, and one of myself on another mare, All but that one video will be of me and my mare.

Some back ground information. I got Poco almost 2 years ago, she was back yard barrel raced and trained, Walk had no meaning and stop was a barely functioning word to her at the time. Any amount of facial or mouth contact resulted in her doing mini rears and hopping on her hind legs. Overall she was not that pleasent to ride. At the time i could only see her once every other month or so.

On Christmas '06, I was riding her bareback on a trail, she has done well bareback in the pasture and walked and such, so i said why not? Went out and fell off once, and on the way back she bucked me off on a hard packed gravel strewn road, i didnt let go of the reins wound up yanking her in the mouth, as a reaction she flung up her head, didnt see me and started stomping at the thing causing her pain, eventually she dropped her head saw me and froze, had I not rolled out of the way at the least I would of had a broken arm. I didnt get back on and within an hour couldnt walk. I didnt ride her again until a month later, and when I got up I was absolutly terrified, Im suprised I didnt pass out or anything of the sort. I moved her closerto me a couple weeks later. It took me 3 months to ride her comfortably again with a saddle, and over 4 to even attempt to get on bareback in an enclosed area. gradually my confidance went up again, it was a long process but it happened.

Through the following months I worked with her and of course took videos, afterall this is what the post is about so here they are.

This is the earliest video I have of me riding her, taken about 7 months after I got her

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm8q4CRvHoo


This was taken a few months later after i moved her, this showed a small issues with the barrel. please ignore my bag I forgot I had it on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilnXmLUbJQg


This is me riding out of the round pen, the first time in a long while

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6U_x8AvLVw


This me me starting to ride bridle-less

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_RLqzqLod4


For fun, Poco free jumping 3'3 at the trot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX_3Ni1pNnY



Trot work

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XruBQdATpDI


This is bareback and bridle-less

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_R-gghghkQ


This is my obviously pathetic attempt at a smalle jump. I did get back on afterwards, though by the night i could barely walk. I have decided not to even try jumping again until i get at least a helmet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VHBTVoF3qM


And here is my latest video with some jogging, trotting, and some cantering, I have really only recently started working on cantering her, and while i can get a slow trot im working on having her slow her canter down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c3nVsrAjGQ


This is me (Crystal) riding my fellow boarder's horse (I will be second rider, the one in the ring) I did had the misfortune of find out she stopped at the word "and" I did ride her a second time (not on video) and upon asking for a canter got promptly bucked off, again could barely walk by the night

http://www.veoh.com/videos/v3285845G3kHT2T8


These videos Should be in order starting off with the oldest to the most recent (minus riding my FB's horse) Im looking for opinions. For the record since I'm moving my mare I will start taking lesson's on her, dressage specifically, and after a few weeks of dressage lessons then ask for jumping lessons. Poco's real passion is on the trails though.

 

[annunziata]

they look lovely you can see how much your horse has improved, yes I would get a helmet for jumping much safer!!!

 

[Flame_]

I think you're slightly nuts!

Riding barebark, bridleless on firm ground with no hat on a horse with dodgy controls that you know is capable of bucking you off is more than a bit risky in my book. Please be careful, I know wearing helmets is against the norm in the US but on horses particularly likely to floor you I'd want some protection for my head, and a back support if your back's bad already. Nice horse though.

 

[Kitari]

I have to say, she has only bucked me off once in christmas '06 And I didnt start bridle-less until much much later when I knew she would stop etc. I have done alot of bridle-less work with her now, all but one with a neck line on, but first starting out, she was wearing a bridle and such but it was a long while before i took that extra security that bridle offered.

I dont have back problems thankfully. I have hip problems. After my last fall off of my FB's horse my fiance gave me hell til i went to see the doc. Basically bone and such is fine but the muscles, ligiments, and tendons were weak and strained and would cause my hip to "slip." Gave me an anti inflamatory, Etodolac to be exact and while it did help with my hip my stomach pains were exceptionally severe, turned out upon the first day of those pains i should have gone back to the doc about it and not deal with it for 6 days. yuck.

helmets id say it depends on location etc. Most western events oh yes, but a few years ago I worked at an english barn (never never never going to work there again that woman was nuts!) and it was a rule there, to wear elmets etc, and no doubt when i take lessons when i move, a helmet will be required. Its not required normally but I dont know the instructors requirments at the moment.