Horse Riding

Had a few lessons on a shetland when I was a kid, then progressed to an exmoor. A friend of mine had a horse that I would go and ride, it was a horse that she picked up cheap from the Quantock Stag Hunters.
Since those days I had helped out at a mare and foal sanctuary, but the horses there were in no shape to be ridden. Bless.
The last time I rode a horse was four years ago in Hawaii, on the island of Kauai. It was heaven.


The arm of my parents sofa got ridden every Saturday afternoon,whilst watching the ITV7, when I thought I was John Francome. :lol:
 
Dims - your sofa-riding reminds me: I rolled an empty oil drum onto its side in our back garden, held it in place with bricks, chucked an old bran sack over it, made wire stirrups, named it 'Flicka' (after the heroine horse of the book) and rode it to death between riding lessons! Guest riding was also available, via two old paraffin tins also thus adorned. :D
 
I've never had a lesson and have never been near a horse, nearest i get to is when they walk past me. Although i would love to learn - i have I thought about it but its a little odd though to start learning on my own...
 
This afternoon I sat on a horse for the first time in my 57+ years. Jasper, the 16.2 hand Belgian Warmblood/TB consented to be walked up and down the lane a few times. Think I'll take a few lessons.
 
Good on you Archie - sounds good!

I like the TB/Warmblood mix actually - down the yard there is a very nice one who is out of an Irish TB racemare by a warmblood sire. He's great fun to ride too. My friend lent his owner her race exercise saddle to have a play with in the olympic-size arena as she was fascinated by it - as was everyone else; the yard is predominately made up of advanced, international-standard dressage horses and showjumpers. She gave me a leg-up to canter him around too and show her the correct style of riding short in such a saddle. He was great - he absolutely loved it, trying to have a buck too!
 
You'll be OK...

Web.Hannover-Nebel.jpg
 
Colin, depends on what you plan to throw your leg over! Given a regular riding saddle's the best part of 14lbs (one stone), your riding instructor will calculate which horse can take you, and it, most effectively. There are plenty of people around the 13st mark who hunt, so that's 14st and more to be carried by heavyweight hunters for hours on end, often over rough terrain. There are some Masters who've porked out to 18st, plus the saddle, means their nag's been thundering around with 19st or more on board. I'm sure you're just a weeeeeeny bit less than that? :D
 
Originally posted by fudge+Oct 16 2005, 03:29 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (fudge @ Oct 16 2005, 03:29 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-jinnyj@Oct 5 2005, 09:21 PM
Iv'e been on one or two!
Click to expand...
What donkeys? :lol: [/b][/quote]
The only donkey was that horse you had with us :lol:
 
What is it about you Welsh chaps, eh, Colin? Of course, it's purely well-toned muscle, I realize...

It's an Irish Draft for you then, as it should be for me, too! Up to any weight, and not too likely to go too far too fast, which is important when condition ain't what it used to be! :lol: Oooh, my inner thighs are aching just thinking about it...
 
:lol: :lol: Just stick with what you know best... :lol:

I had to laugh when I visited some very horsey pals some time ago. The husband of one of them had recently started to learn to ride, in his 40s. His regularly-riding wife said "Of course, he sits very high in the saddle, like most men who start riding late in life. He'll never sit really deep in the saddle now." The husband replied, "Listen, I'm not bloody sitting any lower, it's ruining enough as it is!"
 
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