Ventures into this section..

[rowdent]

Hi there

I introduced myself in the collecting ring, but I don't know who goes where? I am a mature (isn't that a GREAT word?!) rider, returning to riding after a LONG gap, so thought I might try and find a "home" here..:)

I am in the process of trying to find a share horse, 3-4 days a week, so I can immerse myself in the whole horsey thing once more. It's a bit scary, frustrating and totally 100% absorbing.. I still remember who my family are.. although they might not agree! :rolleyes: I think I might be a wee bit obsessed.

I am having lessons/hacks at a local riding stables, but it isn't the same.. I want more involvement...

Today I am off to try out a gelding, ex trotter.. who is 17hh!! I am a bit nervous about that.. his owner assures me he is gentle as a kitten, but even so.. I have tried a lovely cob who I am going back to see next weekend to take out.. but who is a bit more costly than I originally anticipated.. but still he seems perfect...:confused:

Anyway, this seems like a very friendly supportive board, I think I will have fun here...:)

[domane]

Wow! 17hh - just remember there may be occasions when you need to try a re-mount from the ground and as a fellow "mature" - you need to be mighty supple to manage this. I can JUST about scramble up onto my 15hh irish cob after a few month's practise!!! ;)

Don't let this put you off though... there are always ways and means... good luck for your tryout and tell us all about it....

PS Thought I had "welcomed" you on your other post but now realise I didn't... so WELCOME!! I returned to riding through sharing last summer after 21 years (marriage, kids, divorce, remarriage!!) and now have my luverly cob mare Cherry.....

[Little Dolphins]

Hey there Rowdent, (so named cos horseyness is gnawing away at you??:p ), welcome to the mature cheese-board!!

You can't do with out it.... when you're 'up', we're there, and when you're down, we're there too. The bits in the middle are good as well:D

So saying, we're waiting to hear how you get on finding a share/loan horse, so keep us posted:) :)

Good Luck!

[cazrider]

Hi Rowdent, and welcome to the codgers section of NR.:D Those of us who are stiffer than we were (ref Domane, mounting from the ground;) ), don't bounce as well as we used to (ref Little Dolphins, who sounds as wacky as she does as she has concussion from a fall from her lovely but very young mare.:( ), and lack confidence (ref me.. generally:rolleyes: ). There are many other lovely people here too of similar ilk.;) You'll like it here, its a very supportive place to be.

I am Caz, very late forties and have a lovely 15hh bay section d called Seneca.

Looking forward to hearing how the search goes.

[Tizer]

Hello and Welcome Rowdent :)
You will enjoy this board a lot, I think it is fab.
Hope your search proves fruitful soon, I wasn't looking and my lovely boy found me and I am so glad he did.

[Luxie]

Welcome Rowdent - you'll soon find how addictive this board is, and also super friendly and supportive. I'm v.v. mature (agewise!) and have had a wonderful ex-trotter on loan for six years. He is just super, although we had interesting times when he was learning to canter..... But if he's representative of ex-trotters, well I couldn't recommend them highly enough.

[rowdent]

Thanks SO much for the lovely replies! :D

I managed to find the stables, eventually, either the directions were wrong, or I didn't take them down correctly! But we got there, my husband came with me, for support and you never know WHO you'll find on the other end of an internet do you?

The horse was gorgeous looks wise, and a perfect gent in the stable.. although he says he was 17hh, I would have put him more at 16.2hh.. if that really makes a difference! LOL.. he was still very big!

The owner, a man, was enthusiastic about him.. and there is a lady already sharing him, a young girl, who rode him first. I was told he was in need of serious schooling, as he had had none before, and this girl had been VERY succcessful in getting him going..

So we all trooped into the school and the girl got onto him. What happened next was somewhat scary! The horse, started kind of bouncing on the spot, followed by the rider sitting to the trot and sawing on his mouth with the reins! which appeared to have no effect whatsoever? There followed something resembling a fight, as rider appeared to be trying to get horse down on bit, but not really using her legs or seat! :confused: Horse went into a nice shape, but with no real use of hind legs...She continued to do this, including getting him finally into a terribly unbalanced canter and then turning him far too sharply into a little cross pole which he refused.. She then turned him back into it, and he jumped it at speed..

All this happened in about 5 mins, she spent NO time at all walking, and tried to get him immediately into a canter...:confused:

Then it was my somewhat by this time nervous turn to try him! I had already mentioned to the owner whilst watching this performance that I didn't think he would be for me, but felt that I had come this far, maybe it wasn't the horse...?

I got on.. he was well behaved if VERY forward going in walk.. so after a turn around the field, I asked for trot, he almost cantered, which obviously his rider is trying to make him do ALL THE TIME.. but I sat and asked for trot.. which he did.. VERY VERY VERY fast and unbalanced around the school.. I tried to slow him down.. did EVERYTHING from half halts to sitting trot, he didn't want to slow down, so I eventually brought him back to a walk and decided that I couldn't do this anymore..

I told them both that sorry, he was too much for me, and thanks for your time etc etc.. they were perfectly happy to accept this, and I would imagine this has happened before..:cool: ah well, I got off an needed a stiff drink! LOL..

My opinon, albeit not fantastically experienced lately, lovely horse being totally ruined by said "expert rider"..:confused:

So anyway.. not for me! and NOW I'm going to have that stiff drink! :D

Phew, so sorry this has been SUCH a long post.. I promise not to write so much in future.. but I felt like I needed to de-brief after that experience!

[cazrider]

Sounds like that stiff drink was much needed.:D :rolleyes: And well done you for being brave enough to try the horse, I'd have been off like a shot after that little demonstration.

Better luck next time.:)

[rowdent]

Thanks..:rolleyes: and cheers..LOL

[domane]

Oh well... if stiff drinks are being mentioned... I think I need one just from reading that!!!! ;) (Well, it IS a bank holiday tomorrow :rolleyes: )

[Purple Hugs]

goodness.. you were braver than i'd have been! :p

Good luck in your search.. where abouts in the country are you? As you may find putting an ad in your signature and your location may help on here.. ;) I've had an approach that way.

Hugs, Jane

[rowdent]

Oh good idea.. I'm in Surrey.. :D

[neen]

Blimey, rowdent... the more I hear about other people's experience trying horses, the luckier I feel to have found my part loan, especially as I wasn't looking and only tried the one! Good luck with the search -- agree that putting an ad in your signature on here is a good option. And welcome to NR and to the Matures section!

[MadMumInKent]

Hello and welcome Rowdent :) I'm proud mum to Pumpkin, who doesn't update her progress on the board as often as she should, so will do that soon. Good luck in your search for a loan/share. Echo the advice from earlier about attempting to get back on a tall horse from the ground!! I can't get on Pumpkin from the ground, fingers crossed I never have to get off on a hack, otherwise I'll be walking home (with Pumpkin on my shoulders no doubt, he's very lazy!)

[domane]

I'm proud mum to Pumpkin, who doesn't update her progress on the board as often as she should
No!!! She doesn't..... ;)

[MadMumInKent]

Ok, It's coming... give me time to type though ;)

[Whatanejit]

Oh my goodness what an experience. Sounds like the cob might be more your thing.

Do you mind sharing with us the price of the cob to give you and idea if you are being ripped off or not?

Don't worry about typing too much we are all very interested / nosey here so are delighted to read interesting stories;)

I'm in Surrey too. There are a few horses for share at our yard but most of them need schooling and are definately not a relaxed ride - their owners need HELP!

There is a lot of that around so be careful.

Xx

Dee

[Skib]

I'm in Surrey too. There are a few horses for share at our yard but most of them need schooling and are definately not a relaxed ride - their owners need HELP!

I too am ready to share. But receive a constant drip drip of negative warnings from an AI I hack with about what to avoid: age, breed, size, fitness. Seems to rule out everything.
Did you have it in mind Whatanejit when you asked me, that there might be something for me at your yard?

[Whatanejit]

Definately not at the moment.:o

Horse no.1
There is a 4 year old stunning Freisan who has gone through a trial share with an experienced riding friend of mine and she has decided not to share after one weekend.

He hasn't been ridden since being backed in April, Dad and daughter have not taught him any manners - she is now covered in bruises where he barged her in his stable and pushed her against the wall. He is known to tank off in the school, when walking to the field, pretty much unpredictably anywhere.
The Dad wants to drive him so would rather he wasn't jumped - my friend wants to a horse that she can jump. She also knows that whatever work / manners she introduces may very easily be undone by dad and daughter!

Altogether a young handful of a youngster - stunning looking boy, though.

Horse No. 2.

Nice 15hh skewbald cob. Teenage owner more interested in boys at the moment.
Sure proof that all cobs are not safe. He rears when he napps when she tries to go out hacking. Last year he reared, owner fell onto electric fence up the path, no body protector and got extensive burns on her back. He is fun in the school and jumps well but I wouldn't touch him with a barge-pole.

If anything suitable comes up I'll let you know.

xx

Dee

[rowdent]

Thanks girls. I think the cob WILL be more to my liking, he is mainly used for showing, there is a photo and details of him on this http://www.equineonline.net/equestrianclassifieds/index.php?a=2&b=141website, in case anyone is interested. :) The amount he is asking isn't astronomical or anything, but around £30 a week. We were originally planning on £20, it went up to £25, and hubby was fine with that, so I am hoping I can negotiate a bit..:)

He is approx 20 mins drive from me, which isn't perfect, as I have a son I have pick from school at 3:15, plus I work mornings, but hey.. I am sure I will manage SOMEHOW..:) They also don't appear to have any form of school, just a large field... which is fine now, in summer, but when winter comes might be a lot more of an issue.. However I DID love the feel of him when I rode him. As I said before, I think, I shall be taking him for a hack this coming weekend, to see how we get on out.. If that is OK, and the money side can be sorted out, then fingers crossed...

He says he isn't a novice ride, which I would agree with, but I'm not really a novice, just rusty. In the past I have drag hunted, show jumped and done cross country, but I must stress that was in the past! I am MUCH less flexible and more breakable these days.:p and as long as the horse is safe, eg, not rearing, napping, shying into hedges/traffic, or bolting off with me, I can cope...besides he is so much smaller than my old horse, it just feels safer.. somehow..:)

I'll let you know how I get on..

[Imp]

Hello, welcome and oh what a shame the owners wasted your time :(

It gets my back up when sellers say horse still for sale due to 'time wasters' when in fact somebody had pulled out after vetting or a 2nd visit to the animal. How is that wasting time? I found sellers who were downright dishonest about their horses suitability for novice riders when I was looking. However, I do accept that some sellers do get messed around by people not being honest about their riding ability and stable management skills.

I took a very experienced rider from our yard with us and on several occasions she advised us not to ride the horse having carried out a ridden assessment herself. One of my first questions to all sellers I approached was 'is this horse suited to a novice mum to hack and her very novice daughter to learn further on as our first horse?' I only visited those that replied yes! I wasted days travelling all over the South East visiting horses that were way too hot for a novice of any kind and not by any stretch of the imagination suited as a first horse.

Two of those who were totally honest and realiable about their horses (or recommended horses) were members of this board :)

Ramble over :rolleyes:

[Whatanejit]

I pay £100 per month now for my share - the going rate for this part of the country would be about £120. My share can't do much yet as she is overweight and has had feet problems but she is getting there.

Xx
Dee

[VickiGG]

welcome rowdent - we love lots of stories and also photos (hint hint) :)

You can tell we are all mature in here because we don't type in txt language (which I have great difficulty deciphering sp?)... oooooh - showing my age.

Someone told me (oh - my gay hairdresser) that you show your age if you use predictive text on mobile phone texting.... hmmph ;)

[rowdent]

It's not AGE.. it's maturity! LOL.;) And I can't read that strange text talk either.:D

[LindaAd]

Thanks girls. I think the cob WILL be more to my liking, he is mainly used for showing, there is a photo and details of him on this http://www.equineonline.net/equestrianclassifieds/index.php?a=2&b=141website, in case anyone is interested. :)

I'll let you know how I get on..

Goodness, he is a weight carrier, isn't he! He looks lovely - very often people are looking for sharers because they can't manage their horse, but this one looks as if he just needs more work to get his own weight down.

He's just the sort I'm looking for.

Looking forward to hearing how you get on.


Linda

[LindaAd]

It's not AGE.. it's maturity! LOL.;) And I can't read that strange text talk either.:D

That's nothing to do with age - I'm older than most people on here, and I can manage it easily because texting was how I communicated with my kids went they went to university ...

Not that I approve of it on here <grin>

Linda:D