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Horse talk for mature people over 40

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#1 ·
I thought I would start a new thread for people over 40
who love horses.
This thread is open to owners leasers an people who
love horses

I will start I am 48 years old and I never yet owned a horse
mainly because of finances.
I have been around horses most of my life. I have ridden
all kinds of horses first ponies then horses
I have ridden Arab, Quarter Horses, Morgans, Appendix Quarter horses.
Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas, American Saddlebreds and Paints and lots of mixed breeds too and all sizes 14hh-17hh
I have ridden both English and western
here is are pictures of me riding my friends Pinto 14hh
and my friends Half Arab

My husband knows how much I would love my own horse so in the spring we are looking in to leasing a horse
 

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#323 ·
Not seeing any links Foxhunter, what part of the SW are you from, I lived down near Bath for 20 something years, beautiful countryside down there
I am in N. Dorset, not so far from Bath. Very beautiful area.
We are at the bottom of a hill and the views from the top are astounding.

Not sure why I cannot get the pictures to show up, I have a Mac which I am new to and need to find out what I am doing wrong.

The big difference between the two countries is that here from the top of the hill, you can look across the Blackmoor Vale and it is like a patchwork quilt, small fields surrounded by hedgerows, it is like a patchwork quilt, ever changing as grass is mown for hay or silage. Very little arable through the Vale. Get over the hill and you hit arable. By comparison to the US the fields are tiny!
Scenery here is ever changing.

In the US, I found that you drove for mile upon mile and nothing changed.
I drove with a friend, from Salmon, Idaho to Glenwood Springs, COL. all through Utah, and was gob smacked (astounded) by the harshness and the beauty of the high dessert forever wondering how the heck they got wagon trains across the plains not knowing where the next water was or how to live off the land as one travelled.

Approaching Salt Lake there was a dark cloud over the city which I thought was probably smog but on high ground I could clearly see forest fires raging miles away, flames clearly leaping ahead missing miles of standing trees to start a new inferno miles ahead.

I had wondered why, in a small town outside of Salmon, when I went to breakfast to celebrate Independence Day, such a small town of about 20 houses needed six enormous fire appliances, had to think hard before I realised that it was because of forest fires.
I was well clear, being at least 15 miles to the east of the inferno but recognised for the first time, the power of a fire out of control. The temperatures were in the 100's with a strong wind encouraging nature to do its worse.

It was the first time I had had the chance to talk to ranchers/farmers whilst in Idaho.No big difference between the two countries at all. Boils down to hard work, risk of beating Mother Nature and the Government which keeps interfering by people who know nothing about the land making rules and regulations that are actively involving land workers filling in more and more papers that some idiots in an office somewhere either stack in a pile or burn.
In this the UK is way ahead of the USA with pen pushing for farmers!

I learned when bringing cattle down from the mountains that a good cow horse has an eye like a working Border Collie. I also learned why western saddles have a horn - for hanging onto! Heck, can them cow ponies turn!
Back at the ranch the owner actually shut one steer out of the corral and I was told to just tie the reins up on the horn and let the mare I had been riding loose. She immediately went off and worked that steer back into the corral on her own.

I loved the holiday, spent time in VA, which was very green and more like the UK, NC - which was HOT and humid! I coped with the dry heat in ID much better than the humidity of NC.
Oh, one thing I learned in NC was to never, ever order grits again! Looked like wallpaper paste and, regardless of additives, tasted like wallpaper paste.

COL was also beautiful but I was in a tourist area and never had a chance to meet the real rural folks. I knew they were hiding somewhere in the locality!

Again, with all the tourists it reminded me of the Isle of Wight, where I grew up. An area that relies on tourism for income.

I have been over a few times since 2001 but basically for only short trips that is why I want to return at leisure to just travel from one area to another, asking the rural locals to point me in the direction of the best of the beauty and to talk about making a living from the land in that area.
 
#324 ·
I'd love to see you come up to the north, Mellow Mel! If one can find employment, (sometimes requires driving great distances), the cost of a house and gorgeous acreage is unbelievably affordable!!! Often adjoining the Nat'l Forest, or with a stream running through, or on a wilderness lake... If you need to board your horse, that is 1/3 of the cost as well! Lots of good people here too :)
That is one of my dreams...to get a summer home in the u.p.....gotta wait until the kids are out of the house, the husband retires and I can convince him!
 
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#328 ·
That is one of my dreams...to get a summer home in the u.p.....gotta wait until the kids are out of the house, the husband retires and I can convince him!
My husband and I are here because it's a life we both love, and we have outdoor professions -However, if your husband needs a little convincing....
There's no time like the present!!! Start making all of his favorite dishes, put lovely notes in his lunch, put real estate brochures of all of the most pristine destinations on the counter, his bedside table, etc - Pictured Rocks, Taquamenon, Brockway Mtn. to name a few.... surely he'll become so enamored, he'll mention at the dinner table one evening, "Honey, I've had a little idea of moving up north some day!" :)
(Then I'll expect a message so I can congratulate you, but the rest is our secret!)
 
#330 ·
I am in N. Dorset, not so far from Bath. Very beautiful area.
We are at the bottom of a hill and the views from the top are astounding.

Not sure why I cannot get the pictures to show up, I have a Mac which I am new to and need to find out what I am doing wrong.

The big difference between the two countries is that here from the top of the hill, you can look across the Blackmoor Vale and it is like a patchwork quilt, small fields surrounded by hedgerows, it is like a patchwork quilt, ever changing as grass is mown for hay or silage. Very little arable through the Vale. Get over the hill and you hit arable. By comparison to the US the fields are tiny!
Scenery here is ever changing.

In the US, I found that you drove for mile upon mile and nothing changed.
I drove with a friend, from Salmon, Idaho to Glenwood Springs, COL. all through Utah, and was gob smacked (astounded) by the harshness and the beauty of the high dessert forever wondering how the heck they got wagon trains across the plains not knowing where the next water was or how to live off the land as one travelled.

Approaching Salt Lake there was a dark cloud over the city which I thought was probably smog but on high ground I could clearly see forest fires raging miles away, flames clearly leaping ahead missing miles of standing trees to start a new inferno miles ahead.

I had wondered why, in a small town outside of Salmon, when I went to breakfast to celebrate Independence Day, such a small town of about 20 houses needed six enormous fire appliances, had to think hard before I realised that it was because of forest fires.
I was well clear, being at least 15 miles to the east of the inferno but recognised for the first time, the power of a fire out of control. The temperatures were in the 100's with a strong wind encouraging nature to do its worse.

It was the first time I had had the chance to talk to ranchers/farmers whilst in Idaho.No big difference between the two countries at all. Boils down to hard work, risk of beating Mother Nature and the Government which keeps interfering by people who know nothing about the land making rules and regulations that are actively involving land workers filling in more and more papers that some idiots in an office somewhere either stack in a pile or burn.
In this the UK is way ahead of the USA with pen pushing for farmers!

I learned when bringing cattle down from the mountains that a good cow horse has an eye like a working Border Collie. I also learned why western saddles have a horn - for hanging onto! Heck, can them cow ponies turn!
Back at the ranch the owner actually shut one steer out of the corral and I was told to just tie the reins up on the horn and let the mare I had been riding loose. She immediately went off and worked that steer back into the corral on her own.

I loved the holiday, spent time in VA, which was very green and more like the UK, NC - which was HOT and humid! I coped with the dry heat in ID much better than the humidity of NC.
Oh, one thing I learned in NC was to never, ever order grits again! Looked like wallpaper paste and, regardless of additives, tasted like wallpaper paste.

COL was also beautiful but I was in a tourist area and never had a chance to meet the real rural folks. I knew they were hiding somewhere in the locality!

Again, with all the tourists it reminded me of the Isle of Wight, where I grew up. An area that relies on tourism for income.

I have been over a few times since 2001 but basically for only short trips that is why I want to return at leisure to just travel from one area to another, asking the rural locals to point me in the direction of the best of the beauty and to talk about making a living from the land in that area.
DO make northern Michigan your next US destination! The Great Lakes are like freshwater seas surrounded by millions of acres of vast forests teeming with wildlife, pristine rivers and lakes.... I think you'd find it spectacular :)
 
#331 ·
Country Woman - your blankets are beautiful! You should set up an Etsy.com shoppe, I bet they'd sell quite well! (more horse money :)
 
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#334 ·
How would I do that? Some advice

Go check out etsy.com It's easy to set up a "store front". I have purchased many hand made gifts from that site...and have always loved every item received. I think they require you set up a paypal account fof payments. You just list your items on there (kind of like ebay) with good pics, and leave them there til they are purchased. Then just mail them off when they sell.

Also, you can offer to do custom orders as well - I had my kids comforters made this way - I sent the lady material, with what I wanted her to do, she gave me prices on it, then made and sent them to me. They were so much nicer than anything I could have found in a store, and way more affordable too. I love Etsy!
 
#337 ·
Hey everyone! Glad to see this thread is so popular!

I just wanted to let you know that I rode Izzy yesterday for the first time since she was delivered to my boarding facility. Right after she was delivered, I developed pneumonia so I wasn't able to ride until this weekend.

I was a little nervous but everything went great. I am taking it slow with her since she hasn't been ridden regularly in a few months. She is so patient with me. Even though I hadn't been able to ride her, I did spend quite a bit of time just visiting her and forming a bond while I was sick. I really think she is going to be a confidence builder for me and I can't wait until our next ride.

I still have to pinch myself sometimes because I can't believe I actually own a horse.

I will try and post some pictures in the pictures section this week.

Country Woman...you could definitely sell those blankets. Very nice!
 
#339 ·
Well over 40. Vintage 48 and like others have the odd health issue. Just started riding again after having a heart attack in late December. Some what of a surprise to me and my family.

However the bright side, still trying to ride and fall off with style. The latter I have acomplished. :oops:
 
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