What's most important?

[Liz M]

I was just wondering how many of you feel that riding is more important than contact with horses. A lot of my friends say the pleasure of riding is the best part, but for me I am just as happy spending time grooming, feeding and just spending time around them.
I was talking to someone the other day who confessed to even actively enjoying clearing muck from the fields, because her horse was there too (something I have also admitted to in the past!). On the other hand I know some who would be very unwilling to do that. How do you guys feel?
Liz :)

[angel]

i admit i love looking after my horses and enjoy grooming them i have 2 semi retired ladies and a young horse so get the best of both worlds. i do a lot of riding as i do endurance, but i think that you need to spend time grooming massaging your horse to get a bond, a lot of people i know only see there horse to brush over and tack up then they get put back in the field till next time. not a lot of thanks for the horse is it? well done being able to enjoy both.

[al-pal]

i enjoy both to even mucking out ( ok im a little strange:)) i hate mucking out on my own but when me and my best mate are both there we put the horses out in the far field and cas its summer they go in the far corner so we put on some music on (not very loud) and sining along ( i wondered why people look at us strangely that ist even a word!! sorry long ninght last night)

[elle]

I dont mind doing anything if it is for the benefit of my horse, i will clear the fields of droppings or do any jobs that arent pleasant to other ppl and they dont bother me, riding is a bonus of having a horse, and often i would rather not ride as my horse can be so stubborn and she such ahrd work to ride.

[skewbald]

mind doin the 'dirty jobs' i love 'em as long as their are horses benifitting i like every part of horse care ¬!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[taffy]

i like both

Grooming and stuff is more fun in the rain coz u can spend loads of time fussing over a horse in their stable.
Riding is more fun in good weather coz u can have loads of fun going on hacks

Taffy

[Liz M]

I think the best bits can be just being quiet with your horse, feeling like you have a really strong bond and also the times when you ride that you feel like an equal team - when both can tell what the other is thinking. I don't have my own horse yet, but having achieved this with someone elses I can't wait to have my own - although that's not likely to happen for ten years!

[LauraHorseLover]

I like doing mucking, feeding, grooming, bathing, riding, petting, etc. Anything! I kinda don't like it when my brother does the stalls! I like to do it myself to make sure I get the job done right!

[KarinUS]

When I first started taking lessons, riding was actually the necessary evil! LOL ;)
I have wanted a horse for the last 20 years. Just the riding part was kind of scary. I knew if I wanted to own a horse someday, I would have to learn to ride. Sure I could have bought an old retiree that couldn't be ridden but it would have been hard to justify spending $300 a month boarding fee just to be around a horse and not ride it.
Over the last eight months I have gotten better and more confident in my riding. I am now looking forward to the challenge. It's probably 50/50 right now, although there are things I like better than others. I like giving the horse a bath but I am not real crazy about struggling with the bell boots and I am so slow putting on polo wraps. I'll probably won't be so apprehensive about it anymore once I get more efficient at it.

[claireh]

I am happy doing anything that involves the horse!

Today for example we went for a longish ride (in the rain- of course!) and when we got back, I didn't feel like I'd had enough of a 'horse fix' so instead of putting Pageant back in the bottom field with his mates, I let him wander about grazing in the top field (not due to be grazed for another month!) whilst I pulled out the blasted ragwort that seems to just keep popping up! (also in the rain!)

I dind't do this because I had to- I am at livery and so strictly speaking it's not my responsibility, I did it for the time it gave me with Pageant just 'being there'!

[CrazyfurAnimals]

I love grooming. I haven't yet learned to muck out the stalls yet, but I want to next time I go. Thats why I want to work at a barn, is because then I can be around horses more often. :)

[Wally]

95% of owning horses is done from the ground, I love a day pottering, when I don't have to ride out but can potter from nag to nag titivating!

[fiesty_filly]

When I first broke my collar bone i figured it wuld be the end of the world! No more riding!! But I now know that I haven't lost anything, so what I can't go to a few shows that I've been dreaming about since January, lost my equitation award and a few other things, I still go to the stable to watch the others in my lesson ride and I always bring Molly in and groom her or at least go and visit her I can't really muck out stalls (boohoo) but that's okay. I love just being in the horsey atmosphere!

[StevieLake]

I do enjoy grooming/mucking, etc(or at least I don't mind it :)). Though I do have to admit, because I don't have my own horse, I'm just eager to get in the stable and ride. It was always hard for me to volunteer help with other people's lessons, to watch them ride, and watch boarder's come and tack up their own horse to ride.

Don't get me wrong, if someone's only "relationship" with a horse was hopping in the saddle and hopping down, they shouldn't be considered a real rider. There was a saying,"For every hour you spend in the saddle, you spend two hours taking care of your horse."

I think those two hours for every one hour helps you really appreciate the animal, and to be a good "rider" you have to have much more patience than in the saddle. (Just like the MVP isn't even all about "PLAYING"; it includes sportmanship and support.)

I will admit that I'd rather ride than muck out stalls all day, BUT as soon as I get my own horse - one that is solely for me, that I can care for every single day - I bet my attitude will change. :D

[floppy]

i lvoe everything about horses....being followed around the stable when im mucking out...grooming the horse in its field or in its stable without a halter on or anything..staring at them over the stable door ..riding is fun...of course...but i love everything else..my favourite thing off all is visiting my cousins 2 little ponies and grooming them and cuddling them and taking them for walks...they are such cheeky little beggers (one use to belong to me when i was knee high to a grasshopper then my cousins daughter came along and stole my pony!!!they actually belong to my uncle and he gave me one to look after after + ride etc!)
what my mum cant understand is how i can merrily pick up tonnes of horse poo a day but wont touch dog poo..hehe i wonder why!!
but my best hrose activitie is going down to a stream and lettign the hrose create tidal waves..or even like i did in poland during the summer months...go for a bareback hack and go swimming on the horses in a lake/pond !:D
when i go to the yard where the haflinger is i always spend hours after my ride sweeping and hosing down places so everythign is nice nad clean ....some people just leave a right mess!

[Miriam]

Just being around them is important to me. Occasional ride or drive would be good.

[B W]

Karen: I'm like you in that it takes me forever to tack up. I have my rituals. The horse has to be groomed well, soaked with fly spray, my QH hates flies, and then I have to make sure the saddle looks just right and I check the girth maybe 10 times. The bridle and bit come last and that is done with care, being very careful not to bang the teeth. When I finish, the same is true. I make sure when I remove the bridle, I wait for the horse to "spit" the bit out rather than just jerk it out of his mouth. I learned this from my instructor who calls it a respect thing FOR the horse. It works too. After I untack, I hose my horse well and let him eat some grass. Then I take him back to his stall or turnout and give him lots of carrots or frosted mini wheats. I spend more time grooming and pampering than riding. Don't ya love it?

[floppy]

i wait for my cousins hrose to spit his bit out after a ride and it take shim between 5 - 10 minutes to let go of the darned thing :D
he raches his head down for the bit when you put it on and he wont let you take it off and he just stands there looking at you with a cheeky face and sucking his bit

[StevieLake]

(B W - you just reminded me of something.)

A girl that boards her horse at the stable I ride at - (and I'm not saying this is right or healthy, mind you)- can tack up, take her horse out, ride, jump, cool down, untack, put her horse away, and leave within 20 minutes. Now, in my opinion, 20 minutes should be the amount of time you WARM UP your horse while you're in the saddle! Forget about riding, tacking, untacking, cooling down, putting away,etc.!

~"Stevie"

p.s. I'm spoiled. Because I usually tack up the horses for younger riders, my instructor does it for me before I arrive for my lesson. It does take me a few minutes to say,"Hello," to the horse I'm riding, but she tries to give me as much time in the saddle as possible. :D

[Tessa Rocks!]

well i have to say i love riding, but i like just sending time with the horses too. and i like mucking out stalls !


ps-
if crazyfuranimals is reading this do yoiu live in Dartmouth or Halifax?
bye:D