mandymoochops

Hey all,

Just a couple of questions, I have ridden horses for ages but really only as a happy hacker ( can do the basics pop over jumps etc) however have never owned or looked after one.

Has always been my dream to own a horse but i'm not stupid enough to just go and buy one so will be doing some networking to see if there is anyone around who wants a hand with theirs (yep even the early morning stuff!!!!) so I can learn.

But a question popped into my head as I was thinking this - does anything you do differ from the way it was in the UK?

Do you still wear the hard hats / ride the English way etc. I know i've seen a couple in the summer riding 'long' and do you need a different saddle for this or have you kept your English way of riding. My BIL went on the Cholesbury Common hunt on boxing day and sent piccies and I had to laugh as it now looks 'oh so very formal'.

Apologies if thats a really silly question

iaink

Drop a message to Tiaribbon...she owns and runs a horse place in Campbellford.

Havent seen her around here much recently, so say hi from me

mandymoochops

Thanks Iain tho any help from all would be good.

YYZlover

Mandy, whereabouts are you? I'm going Toronto way, as you know.

When me and my boy is over there I will need and want a sharer. I backed him in western saddle and then trained him in english. He's dressage mainly but sis is quite a competen western rider so will do a bit of western training on him as I do like both.

I'm actually wondering how it works with having a sharer in Canada.

mandymoochops

Unfortunately lots of clicks away from you as we are in Alberta!!!! Or I would be there like a shot!!!

I'm having coffee with some peeps today so will try and find out any info about this aspect, I think tho that as many many have said on here 'social networking' is the key.

Once you settle in let the word out that you want a sharer and I would think it would be the same as in the UK (I could be wrong tho !) and you'll have calls from random teenagers wanting to lend a hand.

Howard1944

http://www.thestar.com/article/188976

This will be the largest operation in Canada, larger than Spruce Meadows, amazing how many people are into Horses.

R I C H

My place: www.fieldstone-equestrian.ca

Facilities here tend to either specialise in English or Western riding, rarely both due to the different footing requirements.

If you board at a commercial premises, you will be expected to sign waivers etc and wear all the appropriate safety gear. In competition things can be as formal as the UK, recreationally/coaching it's pretty casual.

You'll only need to worry about a different saddle if you plan on trying different disciplines like endurance or western riding. Many of my clients like to ride English (dressage/hunter jumper) in our arenas, and trail ride in a western saddle.

dbd33

I think we're probably as typical of horse owning people as we are of Rastafarian people but, fwiw, we're recently been riding bareback without helmets by moonlight. Popping over a rail is interesting and different when the take off point is in a foot of powder snow.

mandymoochops

Wow Rich your place looks fab - if you were a touch nearer you'd have a volunteer for sure!!!

Pony

Before I moved to the US I spent 3 summer months as a wrangler in British Columbia (100 mile house area). Most of the guys who road there did so with just 'cowboy style' hats. I continued to wear my riding hat and ride English.
On one of the trails we took guests out on a 4 hour ride around the lake. Once the guests had left, myself and a girl from Switzerland would tack up a couple of horses and do the same ride in about an hour and 45 minutes. We would take the back trails, jumping fallen tree's, crossing 3 foot deep rivers, and climbing steep inclines. On many parts of the ride we would have to duck as low as possible, clinging to the horses mane, to avoid low branches and the like. Part of the trail passed a bee's nest. Other parts brought us in contact with bears (although we would always have a couple of dogs follow us, which seemed to keep the bears away). There was no way I was not going to have my riding hat on. LOL no protection from a bear attack, just the risk of falling if the horse spooked and threw me.

On one occasion we had to round up an escaped bull, 5 of us on horse back (and rather stupidly the ranch owner took 4 inexperienced riders along too 4 girls in their early teens). Anyway, as I entered some brambles to flush the bull out, my horse was stung twice on his nose. On the second occasion he galloped at full pelt through the trees. My shirt was torn to pieces and I was bruised all over my upper body. I managed to stay mounted (more luck than skill). My riding hat took the brunt of the damage - I can replace a riding hat, but not my head

YYZlover

Isn't it just.

When we had snow in sweden, not that many years ago, riding in moonlight was quite common. Now we have no snow and it's pitch black.

As for pooping over poles in snow - used to do that on a shetland pony when I was a kid. Bareback of-course. Made for a soft landing when I lost my balance (which was often) but taught me to stay on a horse.

dbd33

Riding bareback frequently results in my being dumped but it has the advantage of concealing the appalling incompetence of my release and so reduces the shrill bellowing about not smacking the horse in the mouth.

We tried for some pictures a couple of nights ago, I was in Wellingtons, snow pants and a barn coat, bareheaded, the horse hasn't seen a brush for weeks and has a full winter coat, the pole was unevenly set on two unmatched water buckets and, in the background there was a barbed wire fence. We thought we might send the picture to George Morris' Salon or, at least, to one of the GM parody sites but, alas, it was too dark.

bandit

Mandy

As mentioned Tia is someone to ask, her place is in Ontario however. If you can't get her via this website, I'm on another forum of which she is a member so can get you in touch.

I am horsey too - sadly my mare was PTS in November of last year, and after having had 3 in total over the last 6 years I now am horseless. It does feel odd, but I have a desire to ride when I get to Canada but not the serious competing / hunting I did here. I'm far to competitive so it would have to be all or nothing, but hte novelty of trail riding in Canada really does appeal.

Good Luck!

One thing I'm not missing is early mornings and mud up to my knees!!!

Bandit!

the davis family

Hello I just had to reply to your post because I just got back from a nice ride in the snow

Anyways do what you feel most comfortable when it comes to riding, after riding for nearly 30 years (OMG can't be that long surely) with a riding hat I decided I wasn't going to start riding without one now. I sometimes ride in a western saddle but to be truthful I find an English saddle far more comfortable. The western saddle can be handy for going through lots of bush because you can hang onto the horn.

As for sharing a horse I think that's an excellent idea, a friend of mine leased a horse all she had to do was pay the livery $50 in summer and $90 in winter and had full use of that horse. Most horses out here tend to live out all year though so keep for horses is a lot cheaper (hence why I have 2 now)

They are also very cheap to buy most go for meat so it's nothing to go to the sales here and be able to pick up a nice horse/pony for a couple of hundred bucks.

Good luck if you want other help just shout

ladymoose

I know people up here with horses - 2 in process of setting up stables/riding schools etc - but I think your down south aren't you? We're west of Edmonton...