The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Horse talk for mature people over 40

2M views 29K replies 352 participants last post by  Blue 
#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
 

Attachments

See less See more
2
#13,823 · (Edited)
Rick I do have a problem now with getting bugs up to speed. When he went through the fence he threw a shoe so now I'm waiting for the farrier to get here befor Saturday.

I'll take off the other front shoe to balance him a little more and revert to riding short distance over the farm but it is not going to be enough to get his or my fitness up for the two day event at the end of the month. Not enough time at the end of the day for a long ride It has also been 5 weeks since he has been out and we have spring grass. Like a kid after a can of coke, sugar rush, and I want to sit on top:shock:

Hi every one, and Hunter I hope you horse is feeling better or was it just using the doctoring as an excuse to be lazy.
Its 6 am Tuesday and work is waiting

Cheers
 
#13,824 ·
Rick: no, I only took the "say hi" post as a prod that I should say hi, even 'tho felt like I was getting boring; but you'all just said No Way, so ok! Cool. And this,of course,was my HorseMonday this morning, just got home 45min-ish ago,shoved a laundry load in to get started (me muck & riding stuff),looked @ my to-do list, & will-do after while.

Muckin' was ok, got to do 4 less horses,as the owner is on own-care @ present, & moving those horses out @ the end of the month. Another owner/co-owner will be moving out 2 more. Told Janice this is freeing up room for the real therapy horses that she needs for her new adventure (& also "free-ing out" a couple of people who have gone negative on her..like, lose THAT energy! [right, Miss Nicker?!]).

Yes, you'all that are around your horses on a daily basis: you're very lucky. I'm happy to contribute my passion as a reminder, as can only "be around" on Mondays. And, that, is a whole lot better than the past!!

As for mucking, I liked Ricks comment; it's so regulur, when you do it every day. For me right now prob'ly always, I get to just be in THEIR atmosphere. I listened today to the quiet, but it's a "filled" quiet, if that makes sense...they're hanging out,but thinking & feeling & communicating w/each other in their subtle ways. Also, I look out for stuff, in case I should tell Janice: checking to see if each one is acting as-usual, watch them walk to notice any problems in feet or gait or legs, pet each one, but while doing it check for any wounds or areas where they might indicate an "ow", look @ their eyes while they're lookin' @ me, to check if all normal...you know,basic stuff. I also scan their pen fencing, to make sure nothing has happened that that might injure themselves on. Am real sure I'm not the only one that does this scan-thing @ Janice's place (God knows she does), but another set of eyes never hurts.

Have to go deal w/the laundry load, & just got a phone call I have to respond to. Since my comp likes to time-out on this site, will be back in a few...
 
#13,825 ·
There & back again...I've learned to toss baby Beauty some hay to distract her, so can clean her area (learned I wasn't the only on she's nipped, but she's getting better).

After I mucked & filled the water tanks (now on the winter-things, so the water doesn't freeze) had a lesson. Well...lol, think I'm finally learning how to ride, since got frustrated & didn't do as well as I always want to. We went straight to the arena, which is good (& a good step-up from the roundpen for both me & Tommy).

Ringer in the works is that we didn't have the headstall that I'm used to as the long rubber reins had broken last week. Janice put on Tommy the owner's bit/bridle/reins. Rope reins were really short, for me (roping reins, Janice said, & the owner has long arms), & I had trouble handling them properly..kept leaning a bit forward, then had to compensate for that, & end result was my hands were way less than quiet & Tommy got frustrated (plus the usual turn-to-Janice thing he does, which I had trouble correcting as usual, because of the reins).

We did do a good walk around the arena, to warm us both up. The Janice did a lesson re turning his nose & me doing my leg back for turning. New lesson, & I kept pulling back on his head, instead of just lightly turning his nose. Did it right a few times, but w/the bit sensitivity & my hands being stupid, both of us got frustrated.

Not that I yanked him, no way, but I couldn't get it together very well. Was only on half an hour. Even walking back to the tie-up I had trouble, but since he kept wanting to walk directly into Janice's back, the light bulb went off: use my leg!!

Dang. At least dismounting this time I didn't slither, more of a decent slide...

Will practice w/my home-made rein board this week. W/all the stuff going on @ work, practicing will be a goal.

Hope we all have a good week!
 
#13,826 ·
TJ reads like you have had a good run But the reins get your own with quick release clips on the ends and that sorts the problem.

As for mounting and dismounting reminds me when I had to sit my skippers tick (when I was young and fit and stupid I owned a commercial fishing boat) 8 years of my life spent at sea fishing for a living, not good on the marriage though, came home one day and the kids and then wife said who are you. I went back to sea.

Which brings me back to the tangent I had embarked on. When sitting my skippers exames we had to describe how to approach and pick up a man over board and the answer is. If you manage to get him back onboard without killing or maming him, it was the right way and with that, getting on the horse, if you manage to get into the saddle without incident whether you have used a ladder leaning against the horse, a ladder hanging of the saddle horn or a couple of boxes stacked on top of each other it was the right way and the same for dismounting, slip, slide or slither as long as you get off safetly it was the right way.

I have ended up in the saddle under the horse. Now that is not the right way to dismount.:shock:

The ladies will have noted I use the word. Man over board and no, I am not discriminating against women they just arn't stupid enough to go falling over the side of a boat. Something to do with the water being to cold or salty or something like that.:)

Cheers all
 
#13,828 ·
Happy Tuesday morning to ya! Here stays the snow!:D

FIFY..lol
Don't want that stuff down here.


Terry, I agree with Stan about anyway that didn't hurt you or him was the right way to dismount. For soft hands I would suggest a practice that I read or heard some where a few years ago and have used it to teach my wife and kids. Fill two coffee cups to the rim with the hot coffee and walk around the house, yard and up and down stairs. This will give you the practice to keep the reins quite to the horse's mouth.

Cogi, he reminds me of some of the pics I saw of me when I woke up from the heart cathe procedure.

Stan, how long will it be before a farrier can come out to do his shoes? I'm not sure I ever heard you say the availability of farriers in NZ or atleast to your area.

I got the money box installed finally. Once I got it there the other day we decided it needed to go up against the bottom of the cabinet rather than on the counter top taking up space. I had to cut another slot in the front of the top as the original was in the top of the top. It turned out pretty good and everyone seems to be very happy.

Good morning everyone and hope you have a great day.
 
#13,830 ·
Hey there! takeing time during my lunch to jot some things down. Decided didn't want to go into 'negative' land today. :D

So Saturday at the university was great! I don't know why....but I finally felt comfortable and easy going around my coauthor. He is a super nice guy...but I have always been intimidated by him....he's like my superstar. I don't know if it is because I bombed a lesson in front of him, and survived...or what....but this was the best time we spent together. Very relaxed and we laughed a lot!:D

I got to speak a little, but mostly there to rub elbows with the profs. One in particular comes and visits my school.

Went to the football game after the gig and then at half time I took off for the tack store.:D Found winter riding pants, like snow pants but for riding. a new stocking cap, and something else, which I can't remember. :wink: Found lots and lots, but waiting for Christmas!

TJ, glad you are back to sharing. I love hearing about every bodies everyday life as well as the horse stories! :D

Mom and I rode on Sunday. It was cold and very windy, and I wasn't sure how the horses would do with the wind. But they were champs! We rode at least two hours. The last 15 minutes we started ot get a bit cold. I have a pic, but not on this computer.

After the ride, I crashed and burned....and I am still crashing and burning each night1 I think last week is starting to catch up with me. I still have a commitment here at the school Thursday night...which I am NOT looking forward to, but after that I think my schedule slows down a tad.....we can at least HOPE!:lol:

Got Jay's feet trimmed last night. Not too much horse time going on around here. I have been hanging in the stalls, and getting him used to me hanging all over him while he munches on hay. He did not like that when he first came to my house. But I like to lean and smell. LOL As a teenager, I wiould climb on my QH back as she munched and lay there....not sure if I am brave enough to do that now! hahaha

Oh, last night, as I was cleaning stalls, Rainn decided to escape...into the goat part of the barn! Of course I had left the gate open....:? as I always do when I am cleaning. When you enter this section of the barn there is a skinny aisleway that goes around the goats' pen. she walked clear around there to the exit door. Thank goodness tha twas closed, or she would have been OUT. BUT...it's so skinny, she really couldn't turn around safely, plus there are ladders and such laying around since we have been putting in electric. I called to her, told her to stay....she listened and just stood there, no panicking. I had to climb through the goats' pen, to the gate, lead her into the goats' area to turn her around, and back out the skinny aisle......I had to laugh. It's always something! :lol::lol::lol: I always feel so fortunate I have two level headed horses! My nut horse Skye did that once....went bizerk and found a way to turn around! Lucky she was small!

OK, gotta run. Time to work!!:D
 
#13,831 ·
FIFY..lol
Don't want that stuff down here.


Terry, I agree with Stan about anyway that didn't hurt you or him was the right way to dismount. For soft hands I would suggest a practice that I read or heard some where a few years ago and have used it to teach my wife and kids. Fill two coffee cups to the rim with the hot coffee and walk around the house, yard and up and down stairs. This will give you the practice to keep the reins quite to the horse's mouth.

Cogi, he reminds me of some of the pics I saw of me when I woke up from the heart cathe procedure.

Stan, how long will it be before a farrier can come out to do his shoes? I'm not sure I ever heard you say the availability of farriers in NZ or atleast to your area.

I got the money box installed finally. Once I got it there the other day we decided it needed to go up against the bottom of the cabinet rather than on the counter top taking up space. I had to cut another slot in the front of the top as the original was in the top of the top. It turned out pretty good and everyone seems to be very happy.

Good morning everyone and hope you have a great day.

Farrier, I have one coming today so that will sort one problem next is I will have to ride in the evenings to remind him what he has to do to earn his keep. I put another fence post in last night and the horse was head down giving advice. He is a very mouthy horse and I expect him to give a nip soon. Thats just a feeling I get from his over all body language. Not aggreation more trying it on in fun.

As for the money box I have a couple of good citizens that would love to test the security for you. :) I locked one up last thursday, he thought he could intimidate one of my female colleagues by threatening her safety and the safety of her family. He picked a bad day I was prosicuting that day.

One of the things that may also help TJ, along with the coffee cups is with Bugs inorder to get him to turn and keeping my directions soft i hold my hands out wide so when i want a left turn that arm is extended so he can see it as well as feel. It also makes for a light touch. Thats just in the training stage, but it works, takes away any confusion. Not much of a help when reining him but it did sort the confusion between a left turn and asking for his head at my boot when teaching a one rein stop.

And its Wednesday so as thay say in the States its hump day and I beat you all to it.

Spelling mistakes belong to me so dont copy
Cheers all.
 
#13,832 ·
Good Heavens, Nicker, YOU'RE a superstar! It would take me 4 days to do what you accomplish in one. So happy the co-authorship is on a roll, much kudos.

Rick: attach a note: "This money box protected by Angels". Might work. Maybe.

Stan: I've got the coffee cup idea of Rick's in my head, cannot buy myself my own reins @ this point, & really like the idea of bringing my hands out on whichever side I'm going for, so that Tommy can see. I will try that next lesson, for sure, & will run it by Janice. BTW...I love your Bugs, way long-distance; what a personable fella he is.

I did the job today, plus #1 Health1 CE fixings. Chief said it was appreciated. I noticed in breaking down the set-up, that the chips & dips had been well munched on. Cool. Same thing tomorrow. Next week's thing for the PI (Health1 bigwigs) will be fancier. Hopefully, MileHi Ambulance will have settled into their new digs by January, & won't have to do the CEs (none in Dec, & maybe no PI either). Chief concerned for his mtg-food-etc $ budget, & 3 back-to-back this month has been a $ crunch for him (& kinda a PIA for me,really...I like the PI stuff...but the CEs are a little weird).

That's my chatter for the day. I didn't want to wash my hands yesterday, because of horse smell (had to eventually, of course, lol..). My cats are funny; have never seen a horse in their lives, but have to roll joyously on my boots & jeans when I come home on Mondays. Think they have the right notion. It's a danged good smell.

Hope all are having a good week!
 
#13,834 ·
I don't know about a super star TJ....but I'm sure beat! :wink:

One word for you all........FREEZING!!!! My car read 27*!!!! My hands were so cold while cleaning stalls, my fingers HURT, bad! I even had good gloves on. I think I have that disease where cold bothers your extremities. My sis does.

Had a good day today. Kids make me giggle. Gotta cause all the work is frustrating me....I'm writing lesson plans as I do them!:shock::shock: oops! :wink: makes it easier, hahah especially if they go well, hahaha. I just chasing my tail, and I refuse to stay at work til 5:00 and do more when I get home.:evil: I'm getting too old! AND, you never hear anyone on their death bed say they wished they worked more! Enough of that junk....


Here's a pic of mom and I riding on Sunday. She looks happy, huh? I think I had just told her RA said we could celebrate her 70th bday at his home in the Virgin Islands!! Her DH will never take her, so I offered since she has done so much for me barn wise.

Oh, also.....got my DHs blessing on a trailer! Mom and I will go soon and haggle on that one we fell in love with at congress!! Woohoo, Now we just need a truck!:wink:

Oh yea, I remember what else I bought...now that I see the photo....traffic safe vest that says caution horse and rider. It getting dark early here, thought it was a good idea.

TJ, glad your day went well, good luck with the next one. I like the idea....guarded by angels.:)
 

Attachments

#13,836 ·
We're going into town tomorrow-do some banking, look at UTV's, pick up some more pellets, cubes, etc. & then go to the horse meeting. DH will go w/me & I'm looking forward to meeting some new horse folks. We have to figure out what we need to build a roof for Cha Cha & hopefully get that done this week. Rain will be coming soon. And we want to build a solid three-sided shelter for the donkey in addition to her roof shelter. Always something!

Hope to get a good buy on a driveway alert system soon-our neighbors have one & it does let you know that someone is coming in your gate-even if they are walking-or it's just dogs.

We lost one of our bachelor neighbors this W/E-he was quite frail & I tried to visit him at least every couple of weeks-I saw him Friday-his landlord found him Sunday-so sad.

NM-glad you are getting a bit caught up. Your Mom looks so happy! The safety vests are a good idea-isn't it fun to go shopping at tack stores?

Enjoy all your story's-whether horse or life. Hope to have something interesting to post tomorrow! Didn't do much today-except for all the laundry!
 
#13,837 ·
Nicker that's a great photo. And I can't wait to hear about the new trailer.

TJT, sounds like a good plan to throw hay for a horse that bites while you clean out the stall. Much easier than really getting into it, and that shouldn't be your job to do that anyway. Just make sure you watch for the hind end and keep a safe distance.

Cacowgirl, sorry that you lost your neighbor. I hope he went peacefully.

Stan glad you locked that bad boy up! What a prat.


Everything is fine here, am just busy. It's annoying as heck to not be able to hop in a car and go do the things I usually would, and with all the kids, it takes some planning. The nights I fail to do that, thankfully Domino's delivers.

So the two finished football, and are now weight training ready for basketball. Kid 4 is trying out for wrestling, and kid 3 is doing a student government club. So all 4 kids doing activities. Yikes.

Kid 3 is now having home passes, where he spends all day Sat with his family, and will be home before Christmas. Kid 1 should be going home in Jan/Feb. I am not a tremendous fan of the families, typically. So we arrived at the meeting point for kid 3 on Sat, and mom showed up 20 mins late. Arrived back there to pick him up later, and she was 35 mins late. If she had not been late to pick him up, I might well have called the police as I wasn't sure if she was bringing him back or not as I was calling and texting and she wasn't replying.

Anyway, any remember when my Mum was here, and my kids went to other families for 10 days? Remember the <insert curse word here> who would not take kid 1 to his baseball games, and I had to come back 3 times to take him to his games..... well she had 2 kids runaway from her house two weeks ago, 1 is still missing, the other was picked up by the police today. So now he has moved in with me. Welcome aboard kid 5.

I've heard stories about this kid for a long time, how terrible he is etc. Well it was only his first evening, and he might well not be an angel, but he's no demon either. I can tell the REALLY bad ones within a few hours.
Anyway, I read his last review, and considering his former foster parents ranks very lowly in my opinion, I can see how this would go down.
He became argumentative when she told him off for having an item of clothing on his bedroom floor. And then again when he took off his shoes inside instead of outside the door. Knowing this woman, she freaked on him, as she is on the kids cases about everything.

I am excited to see how he does, as I don't sweat the small stuff like that. And from how he was tonight, I think he will be fine.
 
#13,838 ·
I am a terrible human being!

It was just 2am and the dogs start going ballistic, so I shut them up, and I am hearing something.

I go upstairs, and it's someone knocking on the bedroom door.

'Miss Alex' (I open the door)
'It's just Alex'
'Can I please use the bathroom'
'Yes, you don't need to ask, or knock, you can just use the bathroom when you need to'
'I am sorry I just really need to go and I don't know where the bathroom is'.


You have to be kidding me, I was so caught up in washing bedding and towels and going through the house rules and 'the talk' ... I didn't even show the kid where the bathroom was!

OMG!!!!
 
#13,839 ·
He must be a good kid because I would have found the first house plant and watered it. When asked about it I would have said since you didn't show me a bathroom in the house I assumed it was "find a bush" rules here and there is no restroom.


Terry, hopefully MileHI will have their stuff together so your company can get back to your regularly scheduled programming. Sounds like you made a big hit with the eats. BTW< I'm sending you a pm.


NikerMakcer17, I bought an orange and yellow one from Wally World the other night. Glad everything is going so well with you and your mom looks very happy. I hope things work out so you can take her to the VI for her b'day.


Ccg, glad you are finding hard to find things at your TSC and hope you get the material for the donkey hut up and going before the rain.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top