tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post361571202343568375..comments2024-03-26T05:15:39.663-07:00Comments on Equestrian Ink: ChangesJami Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-69863687179829174722011-10-27T17:23:48.463-07:002011-10-27T17:23:48.463-07:00Once Upon--Thanks for a very insightful comment. Y...Once Upon--Thanks for a very insightful comment. You know, that's true for me, too. I enjoy my horses even more than when I was younger and could do more with them. I think because I'm not so driven.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-41456355831902675962011-10-26T17:41:38.876-07:002011-10-26T17:41:38.876-07:00Very insightful post. While you have changed some...Very insightful post. While you have changed some of the activities you do with your horses, it is obvious your love for them as not changed. It's wonderful that you have some very special horses that have been long term companions and that you are able to care for them through their retirement years. I hope to do that for my mare and any other horse that joins our family.<br /><br />Change caught me a little by surprise. I returned to riding and horse ownership after a 20 year lapse. I thought I would pick up right where I left off. Nope, not to be. My confidence is not what it was, I'm not competitive, and my energy level is much lower...and the ground has gotten a lot harder. Lots of things have changed. But my love for horses has not changed and I'm enjoying them even more now than when I was younger.Once Upon an Equinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08807098276875052982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-75096859295028794872011-10-26T14:09:38.541-07:002011-10-26T14:09:38.541-07:00P.S. Now I really want THESE:
http://www.smartpake...P.S. Now I really want THESE:<br />http://www.smartpakequine.com/herm-sprenger-bow-balance-stirrup-4510p.aspx?cm_sp=CS-_-Herm Sprenger Bow Balance Stirrup-_-NA&cm_vc=UpSell<br /><br />I love how they will rotate the English stirrup leather for me - I still have scars from past chafing!RiderWriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05679157278313699794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-5776187922192615072011-10-26T14:03:12.312-07:002011-10-26T14:03:12.312-07:00Laura, my knees never bothered me until I started ...Laura, my knees never bothered me until I started riding an 18hh Percheron with a bouncy, massive gait (I was only in my late 30s, too). I don't know exactly what it was about her, but they would be pretty sore by the time I was done with a lesson. I noticed a bunch of my fellow adult riders were getting the Herm Sprengers so I decided to follow suit (Confession: they're actually Dover's knock-offs, the first kind they sold that looked exactly like the Sprengers for 1/8 the price. They must have gotten in trouble with Sprenger because now they're a different color.) Result: instant relief. My knees have never bothered me again on any horse. I've always felt that Western saddles "get" me so bad because I have to keep the fenders bent to keep the stirrups perpendicular to the horse. Other folks must have the same issue, because I've seen products like this for sale: http://www.parellisaddles.com/Shopping3.cfm?MP=GP&ider=4226<br /><br />Wow, something Parelli makes that's actually affordable! :-)RiderWriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05679157278313699794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-6465424724750080542011-10-26T13:08:03.742-07:002011-10-26T13:08:03.742-07:00Laura - What's interesting is after my first c...Laura - What's interesting is after my first child was around 3 I got back into show jumping at the schooling level with a nice all around horse who wasn't very flashy, but could handle 3 foot courses, trails, little kid banging on her with brushes, but when I got pregnant with my second I sold her to an 11 year old girl (she was too nice and young to semi-retire for a few years). I'd planned on repeating the same thing after my second was around the same age, but as you said times and things change. I wasn't as driven to get back into the game after my second was born.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18370670423819447249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-32331496745474947362011-10-26T12:48:54.768-07:002011-10-26T12:48:54.768-07:00RiderWriter--That is really interesting. I had no ...RiderWriter--That is really interesting. I had no idea that it could be the stirrups...or that different stirrups might cure it. I will have to look into that. Overall, I am very comfortable in my saddle, and have ridden in it for twenty years. The sore knees are a recent development, and my knees have been bothering me when I'm hiking also. So maybe its just the aches and pains of increasing age.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-29233429175113363682011-10-26T12:32:54.973-07:002011-10-26T12:32:54.973-07:00Just had to say something about the knee thing - M...Just had to say something about the knee thing - MY knees hurt after 10 minutes in a Western saddle. When I get down I can hardly walk (Note: the only thing I do Western is paid trail rides). My knees do not hurt *at all* in an English saddle with Herm Sprenger "bendy" stirrups on it, even after hours aboard. Maybe it's because that's what I'm used to, but... :-) I have noticed those gadgets to which you can attach Western stirrups where the fender doesn't have to bend. Maybe you could try those?RiderWriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05679157278313699794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-55387119223702827452011-10-26T10:42:16.886-07:002011-10-26T10:42:16.886-07:00Dreaming--I so hear you. I have a hard time gettin...Dreaming--I so hear you. I have a hard time getting on a horse that is more than fifteen hands any more, and my knees hurt if I ride for more than a couple of hours, particularly going up and down hills (and all our trails go up and down hills). This is the not so great part of changing, for sure.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-8627305572432875222011-10-26T10:37:23.107-07:002011-10-26T10:37:23.107-07:00Your interest in having a horse, and having parent...Your interest in having a horse, and having parents who said, "No" is my story as well. I was also 15 when I persuaded my parents to let me buy a horse with money I had saved. <br />The change I have noticed most recently is that working with the horses is hard work. I never felt it was difficult before. But, now, I get tired, my hands hurt, I get out of breath. That all makes it less fun and carefree than it used to be. But, the sadness of this is overcome by the many joys the horses bring into my life.Dreaminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02113432418609414054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-88287914090954591032011-10-26T10:24:22.906-07:002011-10-26T10:24:22.906-07:00Thanks kel. I did do things backwards to most folk...Thanks kel. I did do things backwards to most folks, kidwise. When all my friends were having children I was showing horses. Now my friends' kids, like yours, are grown, and I am enjoying raising a little boy.<br /><br />Mary R--I've sure discussed the helmet thing and how I know I ought to wear one before--I don't know if you caught that. Brief summary--no one I know wears a helmet--their kids don't either. I bucked tradition and got funny looks by making my kid wear one. This is not an excuse for my helmetless state--its just an explanation. Talk to anyone else who grew up with ranchers, team ropers, cutters...etc, they will tell you the same. Doesn't make it smart or right. I recently decided to go get a helmet, and found that not one of the dozen models at the tack store fit my large, oddly shaped head. So now I am going to order one that supposedly "might" fit me. <br /><br />So, anyway, I'm working on the helmet thing. But please be advised, a helmet will do much less to keep you safe than riding the sort of bombproof little horse that I am currently riding. I have seen a great many horsewrecks in my life and some fatalities, and I'm afraid that NONE of the injuries I saw would have been prevented by a helmet. That doesn't mean a helmet is not a good idea--it surely is and I should wear one--but riding a safe horse and making good choices is by far the best way to stay whole and healthy with horses. Just ask those three old cowboys I rode with yesterday. (And again, I am not defending not wearing a helmet--I should get one, I'm working on it.)Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-16336841227499804842011-10-26T10:10:25.061-07:002011-10-26T10:10:25.061-07:00Kate--When it comes to riding until you're rea...Kate--When it comes to riding until you're really elderly, I have some good role models in my life. I rode yesterday with three men who are 78, 79, and 82, respectively, and these guys aren't just still riding, they're still team roping. Pretty inspiring.<br /><br />Shanster--Yeah, I enjoyed finding photos of the different stages of my life with horses. And I think looking forward to what life shows us is key. The one thing we can be sure of is change.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-73463095734275928412011-10-26T10:09:57.604-07:002011-10-26T10:09:57.604-07:00So glad to see your son wearing a helmet. PLEASE ...So glad to see your son wearing a helmet. PLEASE wear one yourself. It might give you a better chance of being there for him in the future!Mary R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03526089233313745212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-72308977255067209682011-10-26T10:08:37.098-07:002011-10-26T10:08:37.098-07:00I think we all do things in our own time and how i...I think we all do things in our own time and how it fits into our family situations. You chose to do your competitive life and horse training when you were younger. I got married young and had my family in my 20's and 30's. I spent that time of my life living through my children. Instead of working with horses, riding and competing, I was being a 4-H leader, making dance costumes and a travel agent for a gymnastic team. I loved those things when I was in the thick of it. Now if you asked me to be the president of the parents association I would think that you had bumped your head. One thing about horses is that no matter what changes you make in your life or where you are at in your horse "career" you can make new friends of all ages who understand where you have been and where you are going.<br /><br />ps - I love the pictures. You have been truly blessed to have such wonderful partners.horsegeneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614136458074519322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-53818239436126396312011-10-26T08:46:21.066-07:002011-10-26T08:46:21.066-07:00What neat pictures of you throughout your journey ...What neat pictures of you throughout your journey with horses... I love them! Thank-you for sharing....<br /><br />I can see the slowing down part... I enjoyed competition much more in my teens/20's...not so into it now . Still enjoy learning dressage and moving up the levels..because of the mental/physical ways I have to use myself...<br /><br />I've slowed down and I have no idea what is in store for me around the corner! Looking forward to it tho....Shansterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04397551985965117012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-86321795769541622482011-10-26T08:02:10.036-07:002011-10-26T08:02:10.036-07:00I've made some of those transitions myself. I...I've made some of those transitions myself. I no longer show and really don't miss it at all, although I (mostly) enjoyed it at the time - I was into the competition.<br /><br />I like variety in my riding now - and like trail and arena riding equally. I hope to be riding until I'm really elderly, but I also love a lot of other things about horses, like taking care of them and grooming, and just being around them, so if and when someday when I can no longer ride I can do that instead and I think I'll be pretty content with it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-68326862986779006212011-10-26T07:27:31.307-07:002011-10-26T07:27:31.307-07:00Angie--Having a child was the catalyst that change...Angie--Having a child was the catalyst that changed my horse life, too. I hear you. We never know what the future holds. Maybe some day we'll both move back into more active horse pursuits. Change is "the very most natural thing", to quote Jerry Jeff Walker.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-27099144409196596262011-10-26T06:36:03.510-07:002011-10-26T06:36:03.510-07:00I like you philosophy here. I feel I might be head...I like you philosophy here. I feel I might be heading into a similar direction as you, but it hasn't been a conscious choice. The last couple of years have been very relaxing due to pregnancy, a young child who loves horses, and a horse who was only sound for light riding. But now that I have a new horse, who is sound, I find myself pining for when I was training for eventing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18370670423819447249noreply@blogger.com