Montyforever
Well-Known Member
What i dont get is white fencing .. my brown fencing gets dirty enough! 
UK/Europe compared to North America. The differences?
- Thread starter Enfys
- Start date
JadeWisc
Well-Known Member
CorvusCorax
Deary me...
You know Rob?????????
JadeWisc
Well-Known Member
What i dont get is white fencing .. my brown fencing gets dirty enough!
My guess ( and it is just a guess) is that the tradition of having white fencing was because that used to be the only color available. I assume the fences were painted to protect them from the element. The same reason most big barns were painted 'barn red' I can't be sure though. You don't have them around the UK too very common? I did not know that. I'd love a pasture of fresh painted white wood fence. I think it is so pretty and reminds me of the prestigious Kentucky horse farms where the racing TBs are bred.
I bet they are a lot of work to maintian though with painting. You see vinyl ones all over now though that require little or no mainataining that still give the white wood look. You have to get a good quality though because I have seen it done cheaply and it can be very brittle and easily cracked
JadeWisc
Well-Known Member
JadeWisc
Well-Known Member
doubled and not sure how to delete
sallywhoa
Member
For fencing, I have a small empire of mismatched green steel panels. Not as attractive as the white vinyl fencing, but they are sooooooooooo convenient and strong!
Montyforever
Well-Known Member
http://www.corbyfencing.com/classified/cfpostrailfence_lg.jpg
^ thats a "normal" type post and rail fencing at all the yards ive been on!
Our current fencing (square sheep wire and a line of electric round the top)..
For a while we just had 3 electric lines and leckie posts! (was just after a storm so saggin a bit!
Bobby wasnt a fan of the post and rail you see ..
But all of the above are the norm over here! Amazing how something thats an everyday thing can be sooo different
PucciNPoni
Well-Known Member
Oh yes, the way horse shows are organised are sooooo different!!
In the US: some shows might have 2 or 3 rings - but many just have one. If it is divided in to 2 or 3, it's because they have the space and have so many classes that they'd have to divide them or they'd be there forever - so different disciplines will go in to different arenas (for example, to Class A Morgan shows would all have their riding, driving and in hand classes in the main ring, dressage elsewhere on the grounds-- and sometimes you'd have at smaller county fair shows all the ridden and driving and flat classes in the main arena, but your trail and jumping in another area).
The in hand tended to be all in the morning at small shows (or the first day at larger shows) and then the ridden stuff after. And not immediately after so that you're trying to scurry round for a saddle like I find tends to be the case for local shows where I am (arrgh).
Rosettes are different: 1st is blue, 2nd is red, 3rd is yellow, 4th is white, 5th pink, 6th green. Champion rosettes (erm, ribbons) are tri color blue/red/yellow and reserve champion are red, yellow/white.
The class format is much shorter and might go something like this: go in on the left rein, walk, trot, walk, and then transition walk to canter, walk, turn on forhand, walk, trot, walk, canter, line up. Judge will come to inspect horse, ask for a rein back and then select their winners. Sometimes in championship classes they might ask that all horses retire to one end of hte arean and then pin them in reverse order...which is always exciting if they have enough horses in the class that the first place isn't obvious - that there's still several horses that "could" be the winner. There's lots of other differences too, but haven't got any more time or I'llb e late for work! eeek!
In the US: some shows might have 2 or 3 rings - but many just have one. If it is divided in to 2 or 3, it's because they have the space and have so many classes that they'd have to divide them or they'd be there forever - so different disciplines will go in to different arenas (for example, to Class A Morgan shows would all have their riding, driving and in hand classes in the main ring, dressage elsewhere on the grounds-- and sometimes you'd have at smaller county fair shows all the ridden and driving and flat classes in the main arena, but your trail and jumping in another area).
The in hand tended to be all in the morning at small shows (or the first day at larger shows) and then the ridden stuff after. And not immediately after so that you're trying to scurry round for a saddle like I find tends to be the case for local shows where I am (arrgh).
Rosettes are different: 1st is blue, 2nd is red, 3rd is yellow, 4th is white, 5th pink, 6th green. Champion rosettes (erm, ribbons) are tri color blue/red/yellow and reserve champion are red, yellow/white.
The class format is much shorter and might go something like this: go in on the left rein, walk, trot, walk, and then transition walk to canter, walk, turn on forhand, walk, trot, walk, canter, line up. Judge will come to inspect horse, ask for a rein back and then select their winners. Sometimes in championship classes they might ask that all horses retire to one end of hte arean and then pin them in reverse order...which is always exciting if they have enough horses in the class that the first place isn't obvious - that there's still several horses that "could" be the winner. There's lots of other differences too, but haven't got any more time or I'llb e late for work! eeek!
SusannaF
Well-Known Member
Here's "barn red"! This is the place where I had my first riding lessons, aged 5:
PucciNPoni
Well-Known Member
Fabby example too! ^^ And is that gooseneck a step up slant load?! tee hee!
SusannaF
Well-Known Member
It's this place, when it was in less good nick!
perfect11s
Well-Known Member
Looks like a two horse straight load to me
... Theamerican trailers are just amazing and some of the living quarter conversions make our top of the range lorrys look just a little naf.. wonder what the equitrek goosenecks will be like??If they can get it right it will revolutionise horse transport in the UK like it did in the states as they had lorrys years ago and now they are rare apart from a few.. its a much better and safer way to tow and there is room for tack or a bed in the front over the hitch.....
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PucciNPoni
Well-Known Member
Hmm, I always love the way British lorries look - and it's all in one! and was most fascinated with the living quarter in them. My trailer back home was pretty basic, just a small compartment for saddle and bridle (had a four pony step up pull hitch). I was always really envious of anyone who had a "tack room" in their trailer!
Just thought of another difference that I've seen at shows-- here in the UK the bigger county shows you'd stay overnight maybe - and you would have one stable per horse. At the big shows that I've gone to in the US, you'd camp there for a week cos your classes would be spread out over this time. And if you were travelling with a show barn, you'd probably have not only your horse's stables, but you'd also have several spare - one for tacking up in. Another for keeping all your tack - and another "hospitality" one which you'd maybe use as a dressing room but it'd also have seating, drapes, and it'd display photos of your show horses and farm. It was always a marketing exercise - and it'd be done with flowers and furniture....
perfect11s
Well-Known Member
yes the big shows like the quarter horse congress and the world show are amazing the effort made and the number of classes and horses the best we can manage here is a 4 day AQHA show its the big AQHA uk breed show this weekend...www.aqha.uk.com...
PucciNPoni
Well-Known Member
Something that made me go HUH?! was "stud girths". Now to me...a "stud" is another word for a stallion. And even over here, a breeding farm is known as a stud....
...so imagine what I was trying to work out with the pictures of stud girths in the likes of Robinsons or what have you - I was trying to imagine where that girth actually went and why? I was sort of thinking it was like a jockstrap for horses! LOL I even asked someone what it was for and I was told it was for protection from studs while jumping and I was stilll like HUH?! but by now I was too embarassed to ask for any further explanation!
It wasn't til someone introduced me in to putting studs on my mare's shoes and told me that I probably should consider a stud girth for jumping that the penny dropped! DOH!!!!
...so imagine what I was trying to work out with the pictures of stud girths in the likes of Robinsons or what have you - I was trying to imagine where that girth actually went and why? I was sort of thinking it was like a jockstrap for horses! LOL I even asked someone what it was for and I was told it was for protection from studs while jumping and I was stilll like HUH?! but by now I was too embarassed to ask for any further explanation!
It wasn't til someone introduced me in to putting studs on my mare's shoes and told me that I probably should consider a stud girth for jumping that the penny dropped! DOH!!!!
JadeWisc
Well-Known Member
http://www.corbyfencing.com/classified/cfpostrailfence_lg.jpg
^ thats a "normal" type post and rail fencing at all the yards ive been on!
Our current fencing (square sheep wire and a line of electric round the top)..
For a while we just had 3 electric lines and leckie posts! (was just after a storm so saggin a bit!
Bobby wasnt a fan of the post and rail you see ..
But all of the above are the norm over here! Amazing how something thats an everyday thing can be sooo different
Not so different really. Most of what you have is the norm here too
I call the sheep netting "feild fence" though and my horses have that as well the the very same white plastic step in posts that you have for dividing. I use wire and white elec rope with mine though instead of tape. Tape is common here too however.Sallywhoa..... I love my panels too! I only wish I had bought a stronger grade of tube though as the grade I bought was lightweight and bend too easy. I also love to use cattle panels and wood posts and now swear by them. I wish I could afford a whole feild of it! They are tough as nails but safe and I have had mine for five years and no rusting or corrosion at all. Lots of people use them as upper stall dividers and they work great for that too.
nona1
Well-Known Member
I have a question about horses in the US, sorry if it's really stupid. I haven't been to the US so this is based on what I've seen in cowboy movies and in those US animal rescue shows they show a lot on TV over here, always lots of horses.
Anyway - is there as much variation in size/types of horses in the US? I see ponies are not popular, but how much variety is there in the horses? Nearly everything I've seen is a fairly lightweight 14-15 hands as far as I can see, with a few slightly bigger ones. Great big men riding with their feet down by the horse's knees! When they show the rescue horses with their new families, everyone just jumps up on this slight 15hh thing - little kids, mum, 16 stone dad!I don't think I've ever seen a really big horse, def nothing over maybe 16 hands, and never anything cobby.
Anyway - is there as much variation in size/types of horses in the US? I see ponies are not popular, but how much variety is there in the horses? Nearly everything I've seen is a fairly lightweight 14-15 hands as far as I can see, with a few slightly bigger ones. Great big men riding with their feet down by the horse's knees! When they show the rescue horses with their new families, everyone just jumps up on this slight 15hh thing - little kids, mum, 16 stone dad!I don't think I've ever seen a really big horse, def nothing over maybe 16 hands, and never anything cobby.
Enfys
Well-Known Member
Nona,
hi, I wrote a huge reply and then pushed the wrong button and deleted it
Too late now to repeat it all, basically it was just saying that QH's are so versatile and generally amenable (they do frequently get over 16h) that any member of the family really can get on them and be safe. They are like arabs and tb's come in a variety of 'styles', they can be quite lightweight, or like my Paint, a sherman tank of a horse, even though she is only 15.2, she'd quite happily carry a 40lb+ saddle and a 16 stone man.
One of our versions of Horsemart is Horsetopia, I did a basic search of 5-12 year olds, 14h upwards in Ontario and came up with quite a variety as an example. Lots of QH's and thoroughbreds of course.
http://www.horsetopia.com/for-sale/...um=1&tr=585717&CFID=10836228&CFTOKEN=87810748
Where I am I have never seen anything approaching the sort of heavy coloured cob that is common in the UK, I have seen plenty advertised in the US though, they are here. Most heavier types are crossbreds of Clydes, Belgians and Percherons, the purebreds are all ridden as well, heavily feathered horses like Shires aren't as common around here.
hi, I wrote a huge reply and then pushed the wrong button and deleted it
Too late now to repeat it all, basically it was just saying that QH's are so versatile and generally amenable (they do frequently get over 16h) that any member of the family really can get on them and be safe. They are like arabs and tb's come in a variety of 'styles', they can be quite lightweight, or like my Paint, a sherman tank of a horse, even though she is only 15.2, she'd quite happily carry a 40lb+ saddle and a 16 stone man.
One of our versions of Horsemart is Horsetopia, I did a basic search of 5-12 year olds, 14h upwards in Ontario and came up with quite a variety as an example. Lots of QH's and thoroughbreds of course.
http://www.horsetopia.com/for-sale/...um=1&tr=585717&CFID=10836228&CFTOKEN=87810748
Where I am I have never seen anything approaching the sort of heavy coloured cob that is common in the UK, I have seen plenty advertised in the US though, they are here. Most heavier types are crossbreds of Clydes, Belgians and Percherons, the purebreds are all ridden as well, heavily feathered horses like Shires aren't as common around here.
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PucciNPoni
Well-Known Member
Many American bred horses (ie QH like Enfys says, as well as Morgans) are known for their versatility as well as the ability to "ride big". Kids don't really learn to ride on ponies, they ride horses -- but the same horse that Mom, Dad and the rest of the family can ride. I competed a 13.3 and a 14.3, but it wasn't because I was small...I chose those over the bigger horses (15.+hh) that we had because the smaller ones were just better.
As for "heavies" - you do see colored cobs, but over there they know them as "gypsy vanners" and they are very very rare, and rather expensive.
You don't see a huge variety of say - cobs, middle weight, heavy weight etc - at least I never did. You're fairly correct in your statement that most are of lighter structure. I'm sure they're there-- just not as popular as they are here. I suspect you'd really have to delve in to the history of the heavier cob types and the evolution of say war horses/hunting and culture in order to find out why. America was made on the back of a horse - a lightweight one that was fast enough to cover great distances quickly, efficiently and without much food. My understanding of the cobbier types comes from the need for draught types, pulling -- and to keep them from sinking in to muddy quagmires (big feathered feet useful?).
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SusannaF
Well-Known Member
"Vanners" were originally light draft horses who drew vans. And there were "cabbers" who drew cabs, "trammers" who drew trams and you can probably guess what "bussers" were.
They were all within different weight ranges and sold as "types" (somewhere in my notes I've got an extract from a Canadian book about working horse types, weights and numbers, I'll see if I can dig it out). Same in the US and Canada as the UK. I'm guessing that they simply naturally phased out of favour in North America when they were no longer needed for transport, and there was already a tradition of the quarter horse as a Western ride on millions of farms, and QH are great horses, and very versatile.
In Britain there's a longer tradition of riding cobs (one of Chaucer's Canterbury pilgrims is mounted on a "rouncy" - an old word for cob). We also knew them as heavy-weight hunters and general riding animals, so I suppose that's why we still have them.
They were all within different weight ranges and sold as "types" (somewhere in my notes I've got an extract from a Canadian book about working horse types, weights and numbers, I'll see if I can dig it out). Same in the US and Canada as the UK. I'm guessing that they simply naturally phased out of favour in North America when they were no longer needed for transport, and there was already a tradition of the quarter horse as a Western ride on millions of farms, and QH are great horses, and very versatile.
In Britain there's a longer tradition of riding cobs (one of Chaucer's Canterbury pilgrims is mounted on a "rouncy" - an old word for cob). We also knew them as heavy-weight hunters and general riding animals, so I suppose that's why we still have them.
PucciNPoni
Well-Known Member
Better explanation than mine - but still makes the same point that the traditions sort of dictate what type of horse is ridden. For example, the lighter QH was in favor for working cattle (as were some of the offshoots of the breed) which was big business in the early days of the US. Also, plantation type horses (eg Saddlebred, Walking horses etc) became in favor for their naturally high smooth gait - and of course the show offs wanted soemthing fancy for riding in the Parks (eg Park Horses). The Morgan came about because of the need for an allrounder - soemthing that by week could get in to the wood do the logging, plough the field and then at the weekend do a bit of harness racing or look fancy with a high stepping gait.
I LOVE the term Rouncy!
SusannaF
Well-Known Member
Better explanation than mine - but still makes the same point that the traditions sort of dictate what type of horse is ridden. For example, the lighter QH was in favor for working cattle (as were some of the offshoots of the breed) which was big business in the early days of the US. Also, plantation type horses (eg Saddlebred, Walking horses etc) became in favor for their naturally high smooth gait - and of course the show offs wanted soemthing fancy for riding in the Parks (eg Park Horses). The Morgan came about because of the need for an allrounder - soemthing that by week could get in to the wood do the logging, plough the field and then at the weekend do a bit of harness racing or look fancy with a high stepping gait.
I LOVE the term Rouncy!
And there's the detail for the other breeds!
Rouncy or runcy hence the old Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie Robert Cob! From the Latin, runcinus (now I need to find a dictionary and look *that* up)
PucciNPoni
Well-Known Member
just googled runcinus - and got a legal dictionary that said it was a "nag" LOL perfect
misswitch2
Well-Known Member
Thanks so much for posting this thread, and thanks so much to everyone that has posted on it! It has been great reading.
My husband is from NY and we live over on this side of the pond in Surrey. I have a horse on DIY and am always aware of the possibility of having to move back 'home' (for him).
I had started to look at the possibilities of where would i keep my horse over there (i couldn't leave her here), and was totally baffled at where to start! I do dressage and there does not seem to be much of that there from what i have seen? I was also unsure of the amount of hacking avaliable....
It has explained why all of the horses that i have seen so far seem to be ridden on a lose rein, and in jumping attire!
This thread has certainly started to shed a bit of light for me on some of the differences that i have already come across!
My husband is from NY and we live over on this side of the pond in Surrey. I have a horse on DIY and am always aware of the possibility of having to move back 'home' (for him).
I had started to look at the possibilities of where would i keep my horse over there (i couldn't leave her here), and was totally baffled at where to start! I do dressage and there does not seem to be much of that there from what i have seen? I was also unsure of the amount of hacking avaliable....
It has explained why all of the horses that i have seen so far seem to be ridden on a lose rein, and in jumping attire!
This thread has certainly started to shed a bit of light for me on some of the differences that i have already come across!
TarrSteps
Well-Known Member
There is a huge population of dressage riders in North America - the US has produced two World Champions and even Canada has had a couple of riders crack the top ten (one of whom lives in New York state) and even won an Olympic bronze. Especially in the more urbanised areas along the Eastern and Western seaboards you would have no trouble finding both recognised and unrecognised dressage shows.
It is true that "hunter/jumper" is the most popular english discipline but dressage is, I believe, the fastest growing. And because dressage is so similar the world over, you would probably find less trouble adapting than if you were, say, heavily into showing.
What you likely wouldn't find is DIY. And in New York you'd have a bit of a learning curve about keeping horses in winter! But otherwise I think you'd find it more similar to here than if you moved to somewhere like Montana.
Outfoxed13
New User
Some people here have done a good job of pointing out that there are enormous differences in American horse culture based on location, riding discipline, income, etc. What is true for one barn (yard) is not necessarily true for the next, though they might be just down the road from one another and teach the same disciplines. I rode for 15 years as a junior/amateur before going professional, and even then there was always a learning curve when going to a new barn. New rules, different procedures, owner/trainer likes and dislikes, etc.
For example: at the last barn I trained at, the horses we kept out about 20 hours out of the day. They were only in to eat their breakfast, get groomed, worked, groomed again, and fed lunch. Then they were turned back out despite whatever weather was rolling in. We had many acres with plenty of grass. During the break after hunt season, their shoes were pulled and they were thrown out in the big pasture to be herd animals for a couple of months. We checked them daily, but other than that, they didn't get much attention and were just able to be horses.
The barn previous to that gave them about a month off after hunt season, but their schedule was different. They were in during the day/out at night in the summer, reversed schedule in the winter. They were multidiscplined horses (hunt horses as well as eventers). But the broodmares and foals all lived outside 24/7. Now in the southwest, you might not see that due to the heat and the sheer lack of grazing.
Back in my (American) show hunter days, there was a barn where the horses lived inside most of the time (might get out in the ring or one of the paddocks for a couple of hours, a few days a week), and got their energy from lots of hay and three feedings of grain. Another barn always turned out all day, every day, unless the weather was terrible. Horses stayed in at night, plus two feedings of hay and and grain. Some owners insisted on booting their horses for travel (I was one of them), some others didn't. I moved away from the "bubble wrap" obsession when I moved to Virginia and hauled horses to hunt meets a few times a week. And while some prefer stock trailers, other trailers here in the US are well divided, there horses have to be more secured, etc.
Some folks over here in the US are too trainer dependent, and like having a full service (ie. all you do is show up and ride, nothing else) facility. There are PLENTY of people who don't, though. I never liked the idea of not interacting with my horse beyond when I was riding it. While I always worked with a trainer, I am a do-it-yourselfer. I wanted to be the one responsible for my horse, my partner. I think that's why I did turn pro for a few years. So yes, there is a fine mix of trainer-obsessed and DIY riders in the US. It's not a regional thing; merely personal preference. In Northern Virginia (already described in this thread as a psuedo-UK horse atmosphere), there were a lot of folks who boarded their horses and merely rode (I know, as I trained and took care of their horses for them), and others who did everything themselves.
As far as riding styles, it is easy to get into stereotypes here. I saw one poster mention that NA riders tend to "lay on their horses necks." Well, yes, some certainly do. It's a lack of a strong base of support, weak core, and being ahead of the motion over a fence. It's the result of some poor coaching or a misguided sense of style. Lumping most of NA jumpers in that category is like putting most of UK jumpers in the "behind the motion, hard hands" stereotype because of some badly timed photos or bad jumps from UK riders. The jumping ahead is more prevalent in the American show hunter world, yes. But not ALL North American show hunters ride like that. I grew up riding show hunters, and as you can see in my sig, I'm balanced over the horse and soft. It depends on the individual and who they're training with, if they're training with anyone at all. You're much less likely to see anyone (of any nationality) jumping ahead like that if you put them over a XC course or in a trappy hunt field.
There is plenty of hacking in Northern Virginia, where I spent three years of my horse career. Even in New England, the hacking was somewhat restricted, but it was certainly still there. If it wasn't immediately available, it'd be just a short trailer ride away.
I think that's enough out of me. But yes, for those of you looking to get a better idea of the American horse scene, the simple answer is: there is no simple answer. It depends on the specific region, the riding discipline, and even right on down to the individual. Lots of variance, as I'm sure is the case with the UK as well.
For example: at the last barn I trained at, the horses we kept out about 20 hours out of the day. They were only in to eat their breakfast, get groomed, worked, groomed again, and fed lunch. Then they were turned back out despite whatever weather was rolling in. We had many acres with plenty of grass. During the break after hunt season, their shoes were pulled and they were thrown out in the big pasture to be herd animals for a couple of months. We checked them daily, but other than that, they didn't get much attention and were just able to be horses.
The barn previous to that gave them about a month off after hunt season, but their schedule was different. They were in during the day/out at night in the summer, reversed schedule in the winter. They were multidiscplined horses (hunt horses as well as eventers). But the broodmares and foals all lived outside 24/7. Now in the southwest, you might not see that due to the heat and the sheer lack of grazing.
Back in my (American) show hunter days, there was a barn where the horses lived inside most of the time (might get out in the ring or one of the paddocks for a couple of hours, a few days a week), and got their energy from lots of hay and three feedings of grain. Another barn always turned out all day, every day, unless the weather was terrible. Horses stayed in at night, plus two feedings of hay and and grain. Some owners insisted on booting their horses for travel (I was one of them), some others didn't. I moved away from the "bubble wrap" obsession when I moved to Virginia and hauled horses to hunt meets a few times a week. And while some prefer stock trailers, other trailers here in the US are well divided, there horses have to be more secured, etc.
Some folks over here in the US are too trainer dependent, and like having a full service (ie. all you do is show up and ride, nothing else) facility. There are PLENTY of people who don't, though. I never liked the idea of not interacting with my horse beyond when I was riding it. While I always worked with a trainer, I am a do-it-yourselfer. I wanted to be the one responsible for my horse, my partner. I think that's why I did turn pro for a few years. So yes, there is a fine mix of trainer-obsessed and DIY riders in the US. It's not a regional thing; merely personal preference. In Northern Virginia (already described in this thread as a psuedo-UK horse atmosphere), there were a lot of folks who boarded their horses and merely rode (I know, as I trained and took care of their horses for them), and others who did everything themselves.
As far as riding styles, it is easy to get into stereotypes here. I saw one poster mention that NA riders tend to "lay on their horses necks." Well, yes, some certainly do. It's a lack of a strong base of support, weak core, and being ahead of the motion over a fence. It's the result of some poor coaching or a misguided sense of style. Lumping most of NA jumpers in that category is like putting most of UK jumpers in the "behind the motion, hard hands" stereotype because of some badly timed photos or bad jumps from UK riders. The jumping ahead is more prevalent in the American show hunter world, yes. But not ALL North American show hunters ride like that. I grew up riding show hunters, and as you can see in my sig, I'm balanced over the horse and soft. It depends on the individual and who they're training with, if they're training with anyone at all. You're much less likely to see anyone (of any nationality) jumping ahead like that if you put them over a XC course or in a trappy hunt field.
There is plenty of hacking in Northern Virginia, where I spent three years of my horse career. Even in New England, the hacking was somewhat restricted, but it was certainly still there. If it wasn't immediately available, it'd be just a short trailer ride away.
I think that's enough out of me. But yes, for those of you looking to get a better idea of the American horse scene, the simple answer is: there is no simple answer. It depends on the specific region, the riding discipline, and even right on down to the individual. Lots of variance, as I'm sure is the case with the UK as well.
prosefullstop
Well-Known Member
I can only speak to the NY and Connecticut areas, but riding here is so different to where I grew up (Lancashire). The vast majority of barns in this area focus on hunter/jumpers. The facilities are usually impeccable, and the cost of boarding a horse is outrageous ($3k a month). I don't ride here, but I drive by this--a fairly typical "A" establishment--on the way to my lesson, and there's not a blade of anything out of place (nor, bizarrely enough, any horses grazing in the fields). http://www.jtfarm.com/ourfacilities.html
The town where I ride has an extensive trail system, with well-maintained hunt jumps, and an agreement by local landowners that horses are welcome on their property. This is incredibly unusual. The difference between this and the UK bridleways system is that you have to be a member to ride on the town trails. Barns are split by discipline, and, in my experience, it's the eventing/hunting people who are more interested in getting out of the ring and onto the trails.
I have been riding seriously for a year, after a fifteen-year break, and have yet to jump a course over 2'6, largely because I refuse to move on from the lesson horses and take out a half-lease, to the tune of $2k per month, for a horse that will jump 3' plus. On a recent trip to Ireland, I said I was only getting back into riding after fifteen years, and after jumping one cross rail, the girl whacked the jump straight up to 3'3. Liability issues can sometimes dampen the fun in the US.
I will say that I have learnt far more in America about bending the horse around my legs, collection, striding etc. than I did riding as a teen in England. Perhaps that might have something to do with the fact we were far too busy jumping ditches and bombing around stubble fields A correct seat, I would say, is drilled into hunter riders at all costs, so much so that there is a uniform look to riders at shows, with toes slightly out, heels pushed down to incredible depths, and a two-point position--which, to me, has always been more of a XC position, not something you'd see over 2'-3' fences. I spectated at the Hampton Classic (major horse show) this year and last, and saw only one coloured horse. There was a preponderance of gigantic Warmbloods and lean ponies for tiny children. A big trend right now is a move away from the Welsh ponies to the "German riding ponies".
I don't have my own horse yet, and imagine I won't until it's time to move out of the city. If I can't convince my husband to return to England, than I shall remain hellbent on doing 24/7 turnout--or as close to that as feasibly possible--and will gladly play the part of batty Englishwoman in the village, with one or two muddy horses residing outside my kitchen window.
The town where I ride has an extensive trail system, with well-maintained hunt jumps, and an agreement by local landowners that horses are welcome on their property. This is incredibly unusual. The difference between this and the UK bridleways system is that you have to be a member to ride on the town trails. Barns are split by discipline, and, in my experience, it's the eventing/hunting people who are more interested in getting out of the ring and onto the trails.
I have been riding seriously for a year, after a fifteen-year break, and have yet to jump a course over 2'6, largely because I refuse to move on from the lesson horses and take out a half-lease, to the tune of $2k per month, for a horse that will jump 3' plus. On a recent trip to Ireland, I said I was only getting back into riding after fifteen years, and after jumping one cross rail, the girl whacked the jump straight up to 3'3. Liability issues can sometimes dampen the fun in the US.
I will say that I have learnt far more in America about bending the horse around my legs, collection, striding etc. than I did riding as a teen in England. Perhaps that might have something to do with the fact we were far too busy jumping ditches and bombing around stubble fields
A correct seat, I would say, is drilled into hunter riders at all costs, so much so that there is a uniform look to riders at shows, with toes slightly out, heels pushed down to incredible depths, and a two-point position--which, to me, has always been more of a XC position, not something you'd see over 2'-3' fences. I spectated at the Hampton Classic (major horse show) this year and last, and saw only one coloured horse. There was a preponderance of gigantic Warmbloods and lean ponies for tiny children. A big trend right now is a move away from the Welsh ponies to the "German riding ponies". I don't have my own horse yet, and imagine I won't until it's time to move out of the city. If I can't convince my husband to return to England, than I shall remain hellbent on doing 24/7 turnout--or as close to that as feasibly possible--and will gladly play the part of batty Englishwoman in the village, with one or two muddy horses residing outside my kitchen window.
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prosefullstop
Well-Known Member
Ashley Holzer's stable is located in NYC, in the northern part of the Bronx. There is very little in the way of turnout (small sand paddocks), but you can ride on the trails in the adjacent Van Cortlandt Park http://www.riverdaleriding.com/aboutus.html
Cogi Farm in Pawling--90 minutes outside of NYC--is supposed to be an amazing multi-disciplinary barn. It has its own hacking (1000 acres), while the town of Pawling has a great trail association. http://www.cogifarm.com/facilities.cfm
If you plan to live in NYC, expect to drive an absolute minimum of 45 minutes to your chosen barn.
spookypony
Well-Known Member
Wonderful thread!
I'd like to second what some others have said: I grew up in Ontario, and I remember there being three distinct equestrian cultures side-by-side. There were the German-style dressage people (my lot), the hunter-jumpers, and the Western types. All three groups had distinctly different approaches to management, as well as riding. It taught me that I need to examine why I do something, horse-wise, because much of the differences seemed to have no particular logic behind them beyod tradition---or else, the logic of the one was contradicted by the evidence of the other. For being so "BHS-safety-conscious", people over here sure do some things that would have been regarded as invitations for serious accidents back in Canada! And vice-versa...
I'd like to second what some others have said: I grew up in Ontario, and I remember there being three distinct equestrian cultures side-by-side. There were the German-style dressage people (my lot), the hunter-jumpers, and the Western types. All three groups had distinctly different approaches to management, as well as riding. It taught me that I need to examine why I do something, horse-wise, because much of the differences seemed to have no particular logic behind them beyod tradition---or else, the logic of the one was contradicted by the evidence of the other. For being so "BHS-safety-conscious", people over here sure do some things that would have been regarded as invitations for serious accidents back in Canada! And vice-versa...