(no subject)
It's been a month now, that I've been horseless. It has royally sucked. I wasn't able to ride her (or really work with her much at all) since the first of the year, but that was OK because she had plenty of little lesson riders to give her exercise.
Now, however, I'm just about ready to get back in the saddle (I had a breast reduction surgery two days before Bertie was euthanized, and any weight over 10 pounds in resistance has been out of the question). Not having a horse = SUCK!
My dilemma is that while I love being around horses in general, I'm not content with merely being in their presence, I actually want to be able to get on and give us both a good physical/mental/emotional workout. It's better than any therapy session that could be offered in any clinical or office setting.
However, cheap horses are few and far between and there aren't really any other ridable animals at the barn where we kept Bertie. I would dearly love a horse who is good under a hunt saddle, as that's my preferred way to ride. It's odd, that I prefer that, as my initial lessons were all in western tack and in that style riding. However, I find it to be a much better physical workout for my body, and I just enjoy it...I've known the basics behind dressage (and by basics, I mean the absolute bare-bones of flexing at the poll, collection, bending, and balance necessary for ANY good pleasure animal...let alone a dressage or eventing horse - there were upper-level dressage riders at the barn who were always surprised that a mere all-around rider like me could make that little liver-spotted mare do half-passes.) I am an excellent HUS for flatwork, and would dearly love to learn more about over fences and dressage-type stuff.
Of course, findind someone in my area of Wisconsin (Western WI, about an hour due east of Minneapolis/St. Paul), to give me help and a horse to ride on my budget is NOT going so well.
Does anyone have any ideas to help?
PS - If it helps, I've been told I've good enough, flexible, soft, steady hands and more than enough strength in my legs to work the Saddleseat/Park angle of things too...so if anyone knows ANYONE in any of these disciplines in my area, PLEASE let me know.
Now, however, I'm just about ready to get back in the saddle (I had a breast reduction surgery two days before Bertie was euthanized, and any weight over 10 pounds in resistance has been out of the question). Not having a horse = SUCK!
My dilemma is that while I love being around horses in general, I'm not content with merely being in their presence, I actually want to be able to get on and give us both a good physical/mental/emotional workout. It's better than any therapy session that could be offered in any clinical or office setting.
However, cheap horses are few and far between and there aren't really any other ridable animals at the barn where we kept Bertie. I would dearly love a horse who is good under a hunt saddle, as that's my preferred way to ride. It's odd, that I prefer that, as my initial lessons were all in western tack and in that style riding. However, I find it to be a much better physical workout for my body, and I just enjoy it...I've known the basics behind dressage (and by basics, I mean the absolute bare-bones of flexing at the poll, collection, bending, and balance necessary for ANY good pleasure animal...let alone a dressage or eventing horse - there were upper-level dressage riders at the barn who were always surprised that a mere all-around rider like me could make that little liver-spotted mare do half-passes.) I am an excellent HUS for flatwork, and would dearly love to learn more about over fences and dressage-type stuff.
Of course, findind someone in my area of Wisconsin (Western WI, about an hour due east of Minneapolis/St. Paul), to give me help and a horse to ride on my budget is NOT going so well.
Does anyone have any ideas to help?
PS - If it helps, I've been told I've good enough, flexible, soft, steady hands and more than enough strength in my legs to work the Saddleseat/Park angle of things too...so if anyone knows ANYONE in any of these disciplines in my area, PLEASE let me know.