Anyone ride horses?

does anyone ride horses, or own any?

Yep, I have one; a 17 year old, sorrel QH mare who is 15.3hh. I've been riding since I was 5 years old and am 22 now. I started out riding western but honestly don't much like it unless I'm riding on a trail ride(and even then, your butt hurts!). I much prefer english and my horse, who was previously a barrel horse in the circuit, loves going over 2.5-3ft jumps.

Cool! I have a 8 yo QH. We do trail and dressage to name a few. I love riding.

I've been known to cowboy up every now and then ... sadly, I've been so busy with the snake biz lately that most of the time we're at the barn I'm sitting on a fence on my cell talking ball pythons ... I really gotta take advantage of this great fall weather before winter comes!!!!

-adam

Grew up with horses, ride my mom's horse on occasion ( a Morgan named Mo), but don't have one of my own. My mom has been kind enough to offer to buy me one, but since my last horse Roxy died I haven't had the heart to own another.
I've ridden dressage, english, english pleasure, western, competitive trail, jumped and shown halter horses. Got quite a few things under my belt, but have never really excelled at any of them. So it goes :P

I had horses until last August. I was previously active in barrel racing, reining, competitive trail and occasionally other disciplines. I had 15 horses at one time, found out it was a 'tad' too many and whittled it down to a managable five and then finally to two, my morgan gelding and a BS paint mare. I'm still relatively active in the equine world, now focusing on equine photography until I get back to Indiana.

Well I have two horses.. but I have not ridden seriously in awhile. I did hop up on Cuesta for a few minutes a few weeks ago, but they are mainly pasture pets for now.. but Mark and I work with them on a daily basis too and walk them around.. Mark rides a bit more often than me. But our saddle is pretty lame and while it is safe, it is not comfortable (for the rider!) and i want a more cushy one whenever finances allow it.
Pics :)

Emma. Grade paint mare.. sadly her papers were lost by my friend.. grr. She is around 9-10 y/o.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...aisadork-1.jpg
She loves Mark and has def. bonded to him! Her favorite spot to be scratched is along the front of her head between ber eyes; she will fall asleep if you do so, but she is by nature pretty paranoid of new things (or certain old things.. garden hoses terrify her..)
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...rkyemma2-1.jpg
And Cuesta. She's 10 y/o Paint. My friend has her papers but she was never filed; I really want to get around to doing so. She's APHA; Doc Bar was her grandsire, and Docs Malbec is her daddy. She is pretty well bombproof and I would put most anyone on her (beginners being led by me of course :)
Mark and her doing one of her favorite things; grazing on the front lawn!
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...cueslawn-1.jpg
Mose recent pic of her and I
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...cuestame-2.jpg

They were both rescues. Emma was auction-bound and unwanted. Cuesta had some foot problems that no one wanted to deal with (that Does Happen when people leave shoes on a poor mare unchecked for about 6 months... GRRRR...)

I have a question for y'all horse owners. How did you get into owning horses? I am asking because I have always LOVED horses, and so does our 13 yr old and my 4yr old and when I am FINALLY finished with nursing school, have paid off some bills, and buy our house out in the middle of nowhere (either more western VA or down to NC) would absolutely LOVE to have a horse or 2 (amongst a few other farm type critters....my husband claims "No More Animals" but then why agree to a farm?!?!....LOL Once we have the space he'll come around though, he loves seeing horses as well). My thought is to eventually find an owner/public barn that will allow me to volunteer in the caring of the horses, to gain hands on experience taking care of them etc.

And what would be the best type of class to get my youngest daughter into to begin riding horses? Not necessarily now but within the next few years, I really want her to get involved with something she is going to absolutely enjoy!! (She is usually either galloping around the house, neighing like a horse, or acting out the cartoon movie "Spirit" in a horse like fashion..this I have on video but would need a new camcorder to download to the net, and she says she wants to be a "horse racer" when she grows up LOL) Just wondering what y'alls thoughts/opinions are, not meaning to steal this thread.

4-H would be great or a Pony Club/Drill Team type thing. Learning the basics first, such as husbandry, proper behavior around horses, learning the horse's behavior and how to distinguish their moods, anatomy of the horse and learning different types of riding, saddles, and the parts of the saddle/bridle/etc. I did group lessons, but private lessons or 2-3 children per group are fine too.

I feel the basics are so much more important than just plopping a kid up on a horse and letting them "ride". I was tying the horse by myself at 5 and 1/2 to 6 years old and saddling it by myself at 7 or so(saddles are heavy!).

You would probably make her day by getting her a lead rope so she can start learning how to tie the proper slip knot. I learned by tying it around the bottom of a rocking chair :)

I'm scared of horses... they're pretty... but oh my, do they hate me... lol :rolleyes:

Oh btw, Ginevive... Emma is beautiful.. :)