Who's up for a FRIENDLY discussion...best discipline?

Reining.

- I just love that you can go in as a Green-as-grass rider and you get to ride exactly the same manoeuvres and be judged on the same criteria and scoring system as the world's best, so you can see from the outset where you have improved and where you need to improve.

- one day, you might leave the arena with as many points as you entered it with and not have fallen down the penalty trap - I am soooo looking forward to achieving that day!!!

- you can wear what you like so long as you've got long sleeves, Western boots and hat, you can express yourself how you want.

- the manoeuvres look so simple but are a massive time/body/motion challenge to execute.

- where else to you get the opportunity to try and shine in an arena where spectators are free to go wild and the music is loud - reining has atmosphere in bucket-loads!

- there's a real family, supportive atmosphere, doesn't matter who you are, where you've come from or what your skill level is.

- to ride a well-broke reiner is just the most awesome feeling!
 
Point to point, everything else is like a black and white film compared to that glorious technicolour six minutes round a point to point.Its sad there are so few runners these days . A 26 horse field round tweseldown on a cold wet day. Those were the days :).Eventing comes nowhere close!
 
I think the best discipline is the one you and your horse most enjoy doing. ;)

For me, I love hunting for all the reasons others have noted but I also love dressage, low-level eventing (low-level because I'm more about having a fun ride and less about competing) and hacking out. Since all those things contribute to each other, it makes it rather nice. Whether or not my horse will make a hunter remains to be seen but I'm hopeful.
 
baymareb said:
I think the best discipline is the one you and your horse most enjoy doing. ;)

For me, I love hunting for all the reasons others have noted but I also love dressage, low-level eventing (low-level because I'm more about having a fun ride and less about competing) and hacking out. Since all those things contribute to each other, it makes it rather nice. Whether or not my horse will make a hunter remains to be seen but I'm hopeful.
Click to expand...

I can go for that answer. Sounds good to me baymareb
 
Hen said:
Reining.

- I just love that you can go in as a Green-as-grass rider and you get to ride exactly the same manoeuvres and be judged on the same criteria and scoring system as the world's best, so you can see from the outset where you have improved and where you need to improve.

- one day, you might leave the arena with as many points as you entered it with and not have fallen down the penalty trap - I am soooo looking forward to achieving that day!!!

- you can wear what you like so long as you've got long sleeves, Western boots and hat, you can express yourself how you want.

- the manoeuvres look so simple but are a massive time/body/motion challenge to execute.

- where else to you get the opportunity to try and shine in an arena where spectators are free to go wild and the music is loud - reining has atmosphere in bucket-loads!

- there's a real family, supportive atmosphere, doesn't matter who you are, where you've come from or what your skill level is.

- to ride a well-broke reiner is just the most awesome feeling!
Click to expand...
Yes agree
with that, I would love the chance to have a go at working cowhorse and cutting oh and team penning and and ..... have a go on a realy fast barrel horse ....:D
 
Endurance/long distance riding for the same reasons as Faro. Plus there is nothing to beat that feeling of passing the final vetting knowing you still have plenty left in the tank - I'm a soppy sod but there is so much emotion tied up in it all.

I love hacking too.

Although all the disciplines bleed into one another. You need a good grounding in flatwork for all horse activities and if you are going to ride across country (be that hacking or long distance or hunting or whatever) it helps enormously if the horse can get over obstacles safely. A good friend of mine refers to her horses as 'jack of all trades, master of some' - I think that's a good thing to aim for.

I enjoy driving too but don't get much of an opportunity to do it these days.
 
I agree, that hacking is the best. It is challenging, and never boring as no two hacks are ever exactly the same. Horses have to learn to deal with spooky plastic bags, big lorries, motor bikes, pushchairs, etc. It is great education for a young horse and is mentally stimulating. I laugh at people who say 'hacking is boring' but can sepnd hours trotting around in the school (what's that all about?! :confused:) I do enjoy schooling in a school but I find some of the best work you can get out of a horse is when you school him on a hack as they generally are more attentive and alert. Also, it teaches horses to think for themselves as they are ridden up and down hills, over rutted ground etc rather than a perfect surface in a school.

I also think hunting is fantastic! :) It is fast and fun and it's great watching the hounds work. It teaches a horse to think for himself, when jumping and when going fast across country. It can also be 'the making' of some horses as it encourages them to go forward and teaches them to be bold when tackling rustic fences. This is why a lot of horses which come from Ireland were hunted as youngsters.

I also enjoy Dressage and Show Jumping at low levels but I must say the above two I enjoy more! :D
 
Mounted Games....just because it's what I've spent the last 22 years of my life doing and I refuse to grow up!
Advantages:-
Getting to travel all over the world and meet great people
Spending the whole weekend on lovely country estates with my gorgeous pony
Socialising with everyone each weekend
My pony truely loves it!
Benefits:-
A really great relationship developing between pony and rider
The trust pony & rider have in eachother
this really is a discipline where pony and rider have to work together and understand eachother both when mounted and dismounted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top