my new adventures
By lilmrsarata
@lilmrsarata (240)
United States
June 6, 2007 6:50pm CST
Ok, so...i just got on a horse for the first time in uh...a few years. i used to ride all the time but then i moved to a place where there arent many horses. two of my mother-in-law's friend's have horses and i have been able to ride them the last two times i have been up to visit.
Cheyanne is a 3 year old that just about anyone can ride , which really impresses me....they havent had her for long so she should turn into a great horse.
Dennis is a 6 year old gelding that is one of the best riding horses that i have ever ridden. he is so smooth. but, he likes to test people. they dont let very many people ride him because of that reason. they told me i could ride him if i wanted to tho. so i did, and he listened to everything i told him to do. she did tell me that when he goes to trot/run that he does this little buck when he starts. he did it and it startled me but, it was ok. here is the kicker....we are troting along and all of the sudden he breaks out into FULL gallop straight towards a HUGE TREE!! not cool!!!! he got introuble for it and we went on our marry way....things were fine and about an hour later he did that SAME THING!!!! ugh i was scared outta my mind that time cuz I really think he was trying to run me into the tree....everyone thought he was gonna throw me that time, but he didnt thank goodness!!!
so when i talked to the owner of the horse....she was very impressed with me i guess cuz she asked me if i wanted to ride an ex race horse of her moms that hadnt been ridden for a long time...she says he's five and only has one speed.......FAST..........she said she would like me to work with him and get back into being a riding horse that he just needs someone who can keep up with him, and her mother cant. i excepted the challenge, and next time i am up there i will meet mosey for the first time....any suggestions??????
5 responses
@lilmrsarata (240)
• United States
7 Jun 07
what is that supposed to mean? those horses are like a part of their family. I think that was very rude of you.
@lilmrsarata (240)
• United States
8 Jun 07
its more of me telling my experiance, and then asking if there are any suggestions of how i need to be with this horse that i have never ridden let alone even met.....
@DiamondWings (176)
• United States
13 Jun 07
Hi! I've ridden for many years and still have 2 horses. I would suggest that you work with this ex-race horse from the ground first. Work with a lunge line and/or round pen and teach him to walk, trot, canter and HALT! Work with the same words, same gestures, same commands. You can work him with a whip, teaching him to respond to leg commands with light taps on his side teaching him to move away from the pressure. Increase the pressure until he moves, then stop. Spend as much time on the ground first. When you feel confident that he is responding right away to every thing you ask him, then get on in an enclosed area, walk, stop, turn, walk,
stop, turn, etc. until he responds right away. Turn him into the fence so that he has nowhere to go except turn.
@lilmrsarata (240)
• United States
18 Jun 07
thank you so much for your advice...i am getting ready to go see him this weekend so that really gives me an idea what to do with him. thank you again. i will let you know how it goes.
@shawna752 (93)
• Canada
8 Jun 07
Hi, I think you did very well and you must feel so happy knowing someone trusts you to ride their horse. I don't really have any good suggestions, but wanted to say GOOD LUCK! I know race horses can be crazy, but I have never ridden a ex-race horse so wouldn't know how they act. I have ridden lots of crazy horses though and miss it lots.
Cheyanne sounds like a very nice horse and Dennis sounds nice to....about running toward the tree twice...that is kind of weird...can he see properly?
Anyways have fun riding the ex-horse. There are some really good websites out their explaining how to do this.....:)
@lilmrsarata (240)
• United States
8 Jun 07
I am very glad to have gotten a more positive response than my last one haha. thank you so much for your response....i have ridden plenty of horses but never a horse that used to race....i think that i just have different expectations/concerns about a race horse rather than just a good old family horse. but it should be fun. he is supposed to have a great personality so we will see......dennis running towards the tree....yes he can see just fine....there are low hanging branches fron that tree and i honestly think he was trying to run me into them!!! or at least trying to scare the crap out of me....really just testing me.....or...maybe he has a great facination of that tree haha it is near his round pen lol......well thank you very much for the positive response!
@quiethorse (337)
• United States
12 Oct 07
Wear a helmet. Wear a helmet. Wear a helmet. I know that everyone thinks they are superman when they are on a horse and that they won't get hurt. I train horses for a living and I wear a helmet. I came off one 5 weeks ago and shattered the helmet. I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't been wearing it.
@artexpressionz1001 (231)
• United States
12 May 08
I used to ride an x-racehorse; we were together for about 3 years before she was taken away. I was devastated. But to answer you question for help, what you have to remember in a racehorse is that they are trained to run. Don't get angry if they try to take off; they are just doing their job. Keep a firm rein on the horse, but don't pull back a lot. Your main wain of slowing the horse down is to sit straight, tall, and deep in the saddle. Try pressure and release with the reins. This is where you pull a little back and then let go, pull, let go, etc. Turning the horse in circles can also help slow it down. Try to let the horse understand that you don't want it to be speedy, and whatever you do, don't get angry or scared!
