What a NICE horse!

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reindeerlover

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Well I rode my new boy today for the first time- I bought him last Tuesday and gave him some chill time. What a lovely chap, I made sure someone was there to "spot" for me just in case and yes I rode in a stock saddle to keep me on and used my patented "safety position" but what a surprise! He stood for me to mount, backed up away from the fence when asked and walked and trotted (mostly) in an outline despite the fact that rising trot is difficult to perform in a stock saddle and my heels were on his elbows! Then, to really test him, my little mare broke free of the tie post and galloped past him! He just stopped and turned to look at her.... I have some pics too- sorry not great quality and apologies to all those whose eyes will bleed due to the position...

Getting on "You're not putting that enormous thing on me are you???" :eek:
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Walking...obviously..:)
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Still ok...trotting...:D
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If not so blurred we'd have been prix st george (or summink) :rolleyes:
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And last of all
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Not a helpful post I'm afraid but I was just rather pleased! Please feel free to ignore me completely :D
 
The pics are great (and your comments made me chuckle)! he looks lovely. Glad your first ride went ok, i'll keep an eye for more updates of your both. ;)
 
You can't beat a good calm horse and he looks a really nice and kind type.

I also love your saddle, we have a huge western for our Clydesdale, but my OH has now said he would like to try a stock saddle as they look so comfortable.
 
Thanks everyone! I'm trying a hack today and XC schooling on saturday and if that goes well there's a hunter trial on Sunday.... Might have to use a gp saddle for that one though. Theresa- stock saddles are great for staying on but they do mess up your position a bit if you ride in one a lot. Mine is an ancient South African one but the australian ones are also good.
 
Hi everyone! Well, new story today sorry to keep going on about it... :p

Took the boy out for a hack with my friend for the first time- I was a bit mean to him by taking him out of his field on his own even though he could still see his buddies *it's just not the SAAAME* he tells me. He stayed tied up ok but did some snorting, waving of leggies etc for a few minutes. Anyway, tacked him up and got on (didn't stand as quiet as before as was slightly stroppy) then (the nerve!) I asked him to go out with STRANGE HORSES :eek:

As he was a bit jiggy joggy we went down the quiet road for a bit as I was rather tense unfortunately and I know I was making him tense too so I needed to relax without the worry that I'd be crashing into lorries/falling in a ditch. Anyway, he did calm down within about 10 minutes and just as we got to the bit before the BUSY road a stupid election candidate person with loudspeakers on his car came up behind us :eek: but he saw that the boy was doing a (rather respectable) piaffe and he turned his loudspeakers off and stopped the car (he gets my vote...).

Phew, we got to the big scary road and he stood like a rock until I asked him to cross and then (obviously) shyed at the scary white rock beside a field :rolleyes:. From then on he was a superstar! He was a little scared crossing two small bridges but apart from turning his ears out to the sides and doing his "scared breathing" he was foot perfect. We cantered along the side of an open field with the other horses and although he wanted to keep going (and could have if he had insisted as he was in a rubber snaffle and I had no gloves) he came back to me not TOO long after I started asking!

I will reiterate- what a NICE horse :D

If you read this you get smarties and a nice glass of red... :p
 
It's so nerve wracking having a new horse! Is yours full TB? I hacked mine in company on Mon night to find that young bullocks had been turned out in the field we had to cross. I HATE riding in with cows! Have to say though, my boy was best out of the 3! Barely moved as the other two took off in varying directions, fortunately not going too far. I'm still alive to try again
 
Aw bless Kirsty! My old mare HATED cattle, she would prefer to run under a bus than go near them, how scary for you. He is a full TB, he used to ptp in Ireland so should hopefully not mind cattle too much although not sure what he'd do if they ran at him.
 
kirstyl said:
It's so nerve wracking having a new horse! Is yours full TB? I hacked mine in company on Mon night to find that young bullocks had been turned out in the field we had to cross. I HATE riding in with cows! Have to say though, my boy was best out of the 3! Barely moved as the other two took off in varying directions, fortunately not going too far. I'm still alive to try again
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Oh yes, we have to ride through lots of fields with cattle in VERY SCARY - Funny thing is my mare is spooky and all that jazz and picks up on me being tense, and whilst i am sat their literally shaking with fear she is not scared of them! Strange really, I am only scared as i fall of so much only time will tell when i finally fall off in front of the cattle to get crushed!! It is scary though, as they all come bounding over!!



Farrierlover said:
Aw bless Kirsty! My old mare HATED cattle, she would prefer to run under a bus than go near them, how scary for you. He is a full TB, he used to ptp in Ireland so should hopefully not mind cattle too much although not sure what he'd do if they ran at him.
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Well done - sounds like a lovely horse and is dealing with everything superbly! goodluck if yoy make it xc schooling this sat.

xx
 
Storminateacup said:
find them to use!
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They're brilliant! The best saddle in the world, it is very hard (although not impossible) to fall off in one and I do feel that they make you quite balanced and relaxed when you get used to them. Although I now tend to ride in my gp saddle with my lower leg very far forward so I wouldn't recommend riding very often in a stock saddle if you do a lot of dressarge. :o But maybe that's just me?
 
Farrierlover said:
They're brilliant! The best saddle in the world, it is very hard (although not impossible) to fall off in one and I do feel that they make you quite balanced and relaxed when you get used to them. Although I now tend to ride in my gp saddle with my lower leg very far forward so I wouldn't recommend riding very often in a stock saddle if you do a lot of dressarge. :o But maybe that's just me?
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What make is yours, - trying to get one for the youngster in a few months time. Looking on ebay - any tips or advice appreciated
 
Mine is from Glenns saddlery in Zimbabwe (misquoted earlier and said SA!) I bought it (very) second hand over here several years ago. I would be inclined to look at www.polocrosse.org.uk for second hand ones, there are also links on there for equineweb and equiextreme, both of which are massively experienced with these saddles and will advise you very knowledgeably. If you are just looking for a cheapy one to use a few times you'd probably find one on ebay. Aussie ones are good but I wouldn't swap my Glenn's for the world!
 
gorgeous ! Just out of interest, is your stock saddle really heavy ? OH bought one for me some time ago, but I had to return itcos I couldn't lift it (honestly) - but I do really want one.. sm x
 
Mine isn't but I know a few of the aussie ones were, mine is probably just a little heavier than a decent gp. I once had difficulty tacking up a large horse for someone as I couldn't lift the saddle above my head! I think they're probably getting lighter now for new ones.
 
Yup, this one was aussie, and I could hardly lift it off the floor ! The horse had a visible sag when it was put on - with my weight as well he would have collapsed ! They do some synthetic ones I think now.......might be better for my bad back. sm x
 
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