We finally rode her!

We finally got to ride Emma yesterday. it went well for the most part; still a few cricks we are working out :)
Here she is all tacked up and ready to go!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...emtackedup.jpg
Here's Mark ridig her first; he had her in a nice trot.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...rideembest.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...arkrideem2.jpg
Me riding her:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ideemangle.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6.../meriding3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...eridingem1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...mesaluting.jpg
The bit we are using:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ttedbetter.jpg
I am proud of our girl! We have owned her for a year today actually; bought her last Halloween.
I am really thinkin she is in-foal right now though; due to an accidental breeding at my friend's farm last spring. We'll see.. could have a baby by next spring.

That is so neat! Very exciting for you I'm sure. She's a cute little girl.

I haven't been riding lately.. I need a different horse.

Thanks :)
It was kind of odd, since I have not been seriously riding in a lot of years. We went on a few trail rides last year, that was the extent of it. But I think I did ok; no one got killed/thrown/etc :)
I know the saddle was too small for Mark; it is our trainer's wive's saddle. It was actually a bit short for me in the stirrups, but I am working on getting one of our own.
Do you have a horse currently, April? I thought awhile ago you said you had one..

Yeah I have a grey thoroughbred gelding. Ex-racehorse. He's way too high strung for the trails. Goes ballistic at the sight of anything.. 'natural'. lol city horse.

I'm looking to sell him and buy a peruvian paso. They are gaited and hairy and flashy.. just how I like my horses. ;)

I think you might just want to losen the bit a teeny amount. Seems a little far back, unless each picture catches her playing with it, which is totally possible.
She is a gorgeous animal and she sure looks like a great keeper!
Congrats! I remember riding my stud the first time. It was thrilling.
Wolfy

Wolfy, she is constantly mouthing the bit! I geuss this is a good sign though, of acceptance and submission.. :)

April, a friend of mine had an OTTB; she had a lot of issues. They are kept stalled up so much, being race horses, that I guess normal horsey things either petrify or enrage them. This one that she had, was very very food-aggressive; in the apsture she tended to stay away from the others. Poor issue-having TBs :(
Pasos are awesome looking. I actually do like flashy, hairy horses too.. if I weren't born short, I might even consider getting a friesian when I start making some money :)

One of my goals is to have a horse breeding farm.. featuring Freisians, icelandic horses, and gypsy cobs.

Friesians are actually not exceptionally tall horses.. 15 hand range is normal.. they just look tall. :)

On the other hand, my TB is just shy of 17 hh.

Wow April, is there anything you don't do at the ripe old age of 18 was it?? I'm way impressed!

Gin, I'm thrilled for you! It must be so awesome after working with her for so long. I hope things continue to progress!!

lol.. I try to do what I love.

I'll be doing a lot more than just what I do now though.. given time!

Thanks Wendy!

Shel.. I would love to get a Friesian. I just recently found out that they are not all tall like I thought they were; I guess I was thinking more along the lines of percheron. I still have one mroe horsey slot to fill in; since me and my man decided to eventually have 2 horses. I wonder what I'll end up getting... :)

i can't talk all that much "horse stuff" but my wife manages "West Michigan Equestrian Center" I forget how many horses she has under her care now not to mention the stable and arenas. She rides dressage and does most of the actual training on the horses...not the people LOL She loves the job but gets way to attatched to the animals...I can't imagine how many horses we'd have if we had the money...we have the farm.

Problem with friesians is the price. You could get a colt or filly though.. I see you're getting great experience training Emma.

I found a few F. geldings for around 3-4 grand, with some training (basic riding.) I really would rather get a gelding anyway. I don't think I want another mare, and not a stud either!
I have toyed with the idea of eventually breeding Emma to a Friesian or something heavy to get a gypsy-vanner type foal (or at least try.) I want to register Em as a Pinto pretty soon, once I have a little more $$ saved up.
Tek, your wife has the right idea; stick to training the horses; not the people!

You won't get anything like a gypsy cob breeding a friesian to a pinto.. just a heavy pinto. (could still be a very nice horse)

The gypsy horses are so remarkable mainly because of the amount of feather they grow. It starts at the knee and often sweeps the floor.

This is 'The Lion King' one of the finest gypsy horses on the planet. http://www.gypsyhorses.com/Horses/lionking.htm

WOW! Hey, the owner's name is Jennifer, same name as me.. I guess that's as close as I'll get to him, lol
I love the pic where he is rolling; he's saying "yeah, I might have all this awesome hair, but I can still get dirty!!" I would just "love" grooming him after that :)