Anonymous asked: Ill be going with my school, so there will be a teacher and other students there... Just need to get the owner by herself since the instructors have already had a couple goes at me
ahh ok, well that makes it easier, right? I think it’ll be important that you just carry yourself confidently so the owner can’t take advantage of you :)
Anonymous asked: I need to get a statement to validate the volunteer work at my old barn last year for uni applications, but they don't particularly like me since I moved barns... I'm hoping to end contact with them in about 8 weeks as I have no need to go there or talk to the people anymore. I don't know how to ask them. I'm really nervous too and they know I won't need to apply for uni till next year. Any advice? I really need to have this...
Don’t be afraid! You need this, and regardless of their personal opinions about you, a professional trainer/barn owner will be objective and understand that this has to do with your education, not you switching barns. Be polite when you walk in, and confident when you ask them. Explain to them the situation- you did work for them, and you want to get this out of the way now so you don’t have to worry about it for next year. I doubt they’ll give you any trouble at all, and if for some reason they do, have a parent or other adult go with you so they can’t disrespect you.
Anonymous asked: Seat anon here! I was wondering how to keep a happy medium with my seat. I end up either pushing the horse forward with my seat, getting really stiff when I'm trying not to push the horse forward, or getting really loose when trying not to get too stiff. Any of these things usually happen when I'm trying to use my seat to slow down, but they can happen at any time. Thanks!
I feel your pain haha, it takes a lot of practice, so don’t worry. You want to relax in the saddle so your weight will slow the horse down, but you want to keep your weight back, your shoulders open, and to minimize your hip movement (you don’t want to be “rocking” back and forth) so that you’re not accidentally telling the horse to go faster.
At the same time, also engage your legs so that they’re long and gripping the saddle- that way they’ll anchor you (so your upper body doesn’t get too loose) and allow you to sink deeper in the saddle so you can relax. You also want to keep steady hand contact to act with your seat…keeping a feel on his mouth will not only slow the horse down, but also will help you lean back so you can use your seat more efficiently.
Hope this all made sense, good luck!
wooooow i’m stupid haha and accidentally deleted an anonymous question about keeping a happy medium with her seat…. so if you’re that anon, I’m sorry, and feel free to resend it!
Anonymous asked: Hey! So I have a question that I'm asking a few horse blogs, because I really need an answer: what would you say the criteria is for buying your first horse? Like how much do you have to know? How much riding experience? I'd really appreciate an answer! xoxo
Hi :) ok, I might forget a few things but here goes…
Well, you have to know that you’re committed to all aspects of riding. This includes the care, the time, the tough days, and the riding itself. You have to be 100% responsible to the horse you buy.
Another really important thing is to be knowledgeable of how to care for your horse- how much you need to know depends on where you’re keeping your horse (for instance, some boarding barns will muck out the stall or feed the horse for you, but if the horse is staying at your house you’ll have to do it, along with other chores). But regardless, knowing how to properly groom, tack, and be on top of your horse’s schedule is absolutely necessary.
As for actual riding experience….hard to say, everyone is different and it depends on what the horse will be used for. A trail horse will require less riding experience than a big, competitive show horse, and a 5 y/o will require a lot more than an 18 y/o. I’d suggest at least 1 year of consistent riding, and ideally at about an intermediate level, but of course that can vary.
And then lastly, it helps to be knowledgeable about things like breed, conformation, etc., to help you pick the right horse to buy! And the same goes for knowing about different types of bits/saddles/tack in general so you can figure out what your horse goes best in :)
united-we-ride asked: To the rider whose horse wont stay on the rail- my horse had that same problem. To get it pretty much fixed, I circled my horse in tight little circles every time it fell off the rail. Pretty quickly they learn that going up the rail is alot better than tiny circles all the time. when doing the circles dont forget to bump with your inside leg and use both reins with even pressure so theres no where for him to escape. I crop is also helpful to keep his butt under control. Good luck!
Anonymous asked: This might be a dumb question but I'm currently looking for a new barn to ride at since I've moved, do you have any tips on choosing the right place/ what to look for? (I won't be boarding or anything btw) Thanks, Happy riding!
definitely not a dumb question! Here are some things I would look for…
Just go where you feel most comfortable :)
Anonymous asked: What should I do if a horse will not stay on the rail despite all my efforts? Also what should I do when a horse shakes his head every now and then, but often enough that I find it problematic? Thanks!
Be firm with him, and don’t let him get away with it- the mindset is most important. Think about creating a “wall” with your inside leg pushing him over and both reins keeping him straight, so that he has no other option but to stay on the rail. If you ride with a crop or anything, try giving him a tap on the inside shoulder (or on his hind end if he’s really not listening) to remind him to respond and move over.
As for the head shaking: try riding him in a martingale for a few days and see if he responds well to it or not. Otherwise, when he shakes his head send him forward with leg and soften your hand. If he gets *really* obnoxious about it, lift your hands slightly and say a firm “no” so that she learns to associate this with bad behavior (and vice versa, praise him when he’s good!).
Anonymous asked: My dad lost his job so I took a break from showing for a while but a few of the beginner to intermediate riders started showing this season. Despite not showing I still attended to help our and support them. I went to a show with just me and another rider and although those other kids weren't riding I was still a little hurt that after all of the work that I have helped them with for about 6 months none of them bothered . I know it's not an obligation but still... Do you think I'm justified??
I mean, I think that it would have been nice of them to go and support you, but you can’t really say anything without causing drama. They may have not known you wanted them there, or couldn’t get a ride (parents can be reluctant to drive their kids to a show they’re not even competing in). It’s 100% fine to be annoyed for today, but then you just have to let it go :)
I’m glad you got to compete again by the way!
Anonymous asked: I'm American and have ridden with some British trainers, so I might be able to help a little with vocab differences that I encountered. Rising trot = posting trot. Being on the right leg = being on the right lead. A double or a tripple = a line. That's all I can remember for now, but I'll let you know if I think of any more!
thanks!
