Lesson Seven

[MadMumInKent]

Hi everyone, me again :)

This morning I arrived at the stables to discover my regular (and fav) horse was busy with the Easter holiday kids, so I had a different one... a pony! He was only 14. 1hh, and I think he is on working livery at the stables as the instructor was telling me about his owner. Anyway, he was quite a lot smaller than I'm used to! He's a hairy cob, except he'd just been clipped, and they'd left a moustache on him! I've never seen this before, it was like a long curly bit on the end of his chin! :eek:

Anyway, he had a very bouncy trot, very quick, as was his canter. It felt like he had half a dozen legs going ten to the dozen underneath me! I almost lost my balance but managed to correct myself thankfully. Though for all his bounciness, I found sitting trot on him a dream! Strange - either he's a one in a million or else the sitting trot has 'clicked' with me... time will tell ;)

After my dodgy canter, I remarked to the instructor that I want my own horse SO much but I'm SOOOOO not ready, and she said... 'well I wouldnt say that... he's got a fast and difficult canter and you managed to stay on...' :D

So of course, I came home and told hubby that I must be ready for my own horse, and after a few minutes he realised I was deadly serious, and was dead against the idea... He said it'd be like buying another car and having to pay hp on it every month... :rolleyes: I told him that as he has 2 classic cars that he never bleedin drives, perhaps he should get rid of one then so I can have my horse ;) Suffice to say that was met with a stern face :D He said I was dreaming... I said well 30 years is a long time to have a dream!

So all in all, I think the time might be right to look for a horse to share!! I'm always looking on websites, but never find one locally, so I'll start looking at adverts in tack shops, and ask my instructor to keep an eye out, but I'm also a bit scared! What if I'm a rubbish sharer, what if no-one trusts me with their pride and joy?? All I want is a horse that I can look after for about 3 days a week while the kids are at school... do a bit of schooling on, a bit of hacking, love as if its my own... I'm too scared to actually go and put my own ad in the local tack shop though! I dont know why... I spose its normal to feel apprehensive, even though its the thing you most want in the world? :rolleyes:

Tomorrow morning my 8 yr old son has his second lesson, I'm gonna take my camera with me :D

Thanks for reading :)

Jo

[Caro]

Hi Jo
I think a share would be a fab idea, and I really would encourage you to put the word out and put an ad in equestrian shops and at yards near to you. You'll get somebody who'll be delighted. As to websites, don't give up! I encouraged a friend to do this a few months back, and she found an ideal horse locally through an advert on a horse website - just by typing in horse share and her location on google I seem to recall! It's worked out brilliantly for her. I then mentioned to a friend at the yard I go that I was looking for a mature horse to share to give me confidence, but also to give me stable management skills and one that I could ride and enjoy as well as my children - so lots of demands! And she knew of the perfect horse!!!! So speak to people, check out the ads in your local paper, and check out on the web! It works.

It's the best thing I've done and I'm learning so much - though now I'm beginning to want my own (though with 3 small kiddies, I don't think I've the time! - or the space or the money...!!!!). But if you feel ready, I'm sure there's a horse waiting just around the corner.

Good luck with the search! I can't wait to hear how it goes.

Caro
ps. My hubby wants a classic car, but I got to the horse share first. Hee hee. Bless him, he now comes along most Sats to help muck out and walk out with me, the horse, and the kiddies. And I think he really does enjoy it, so I'm sucking him in bit by bit!

[Justie B52]

Glad you had a good lesson, even if it was a bit ten to the dozen!! :D

Get yer pen out and write that wanted advert, you know you want to...really you do... ;)

I always find it's best to ignor the husband in these situations. My hubby keeps saying no more kids or animals..... However he knows that one day I'd really love to have my own horse. When the time is right, I'll just tell him as it is.... (and pray I get away with it :D )

Let us know how your son's lesson goes & some piccies too?

Cheers

Justie x

[laura jeanne]

So all in all, I think the time might be right to look for a horse to share!!


I love this sentence after all that went before it about your OH's reaction!!!

heehee

[amandal]

Glad your lesson went well, does your riding school do sharing with their horses/pony ? Some do and it works quite well, you know that you'll have experienced, knowledgeable people around, your instructor will be on hand too and you may even get your regular/fave horse.

[pengapenga]

I am glad you had a nice lesson albeit a fast one :) Good luck with finding a share, I think it will be a lovely idea :) I hope your son has a great second lesson :)

[KarenMcD]

Sounds like a good lesson - I know what you mean about going from big to small horse. I have recently been riding a big 17hh horse, Reice, but rode Gizmo today who is approx. 14.2hh. He felt tiny initially until I got into the movement and the sitting trot without stirrups was quite an experience!

Def. go for the horse share - sounds great! Pity we live so far apart or else I would have shared with you - you fancy moving up to Scotland???!!!!!

[MadMumInKent]

Caro - I went down the local tack shop yesterday to look at the adverts but nothing suitable. I'll have a chat with my instructor on Tuesday :) Thanks for the encouragement... it'll be tough, time wise, but I know that if I get my act together and manage my time better, it can work. I have 3 children also, hard work aint it! ;)

Justie - I like your way of thinking... "its always best to ignore the husband in these situations"... :D

Laura Jeanne - Well, I spend all of my life doing what needs to be done for everyone else, it wouldnt hurt to be selfish now and then ;)

Amandal - I'm going to have a chat with my instructor... it would really be ideal to find a horse at my riding school - its a livery too so maybe there's a chance... Then I could continue my lessons on the horse which would be fantastic.

PengaPenga - many thanks :) My son had a good lesson... photos coming up :)

KarenMcD - Don't tempt me!!

OK, here's a pic of my 8 yr old riding Cuthbert....

http://www.tammaro.co.uk/Dsc00174.jpg

[Stella2]

Ah bless :)

[jinglejoys]

So all in all, I think the time might be right to look for a horse to share!!

First experiment---Get your Hubby to share one of his cars! :D

[*Rachel_George*]

Awww glad you had such a great lesson...ohh I love horses with mostaches...my mum nearly had a fit when she first saw a hrose with one...she could beleive it...then asked if we had to shave them for them every so ofter :rolleyes:

Glad you had fun and on a coloured hairy cob... :D ....my fav's

Ohh good luck with the loaning/sharing its great fun...ive had four so far

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[Wobblydeb]

Your lesson sounded fun! :) Pony trotting is a pain in the **se to rise to, isn't it, but not so bad to sit :)

Know what you mean about balance - apparently it can be something to do with short length of back - it is very easy to get ahead of, or behind, the movement. I find "hovering" (something we've been talking about on different thread) more difficult on little Wrigglecob than big ol' SpeedyTB - even though she has a more powerful movement.

Sort out the share, and then tell Hubby later - he'll still love you regardless. Men love women who act on impulse ;)

[momofsix]

Good lesson! I loved the picture of your son. Maybe you can outvote your OH together? How many kids do you have in lessons? I have 6 kids altogether and 3 of them are learning to ride, (ages 13, 10 and 7). The little ones (5, 2 year old twins) also want to ride but we have only led them around on a lead line so far. One of the main reasons we were looking for a lease was so we can ride more often without paying for a lesson each time, the cost was getting prohibitive. I guess I am really lucky, after watching my lessons, my OH got really interested and started taking lessons, too. So now riding is a family activity. (The disadvantage is, I now have to share the horse. On Saturday I couldn't get OH off the horse :D I sat on the fence and kept telling him "It's my turn now") I am sorry, I don't have any good advice for finding a share. We found ours through word of mouth. A lady we were helping with her horses to get more experience lunging and caring for horses asked us if we wanted to lease her mother's horse that her mother couldn't ride any more due to arthritis. Definitely talk to instructors and people at the tack shop, they might have heard of something. And don't worry--I think you would do a wonderful job sharing. To answer your question, I am not sure how to post pictures yet, I am terrible with computers. But I will have to figure it out, I would love to share pictures of my baby. Her name is Cherokee Skye and she is white with brown spots.