[dressagexlee]

Share with me your stories about different things you've attempted or wanted to do with your horses! Do you think it was a good experience? Do you think it's good to variate a horse's routine?


Well, last night High Country was holding a little Gymkhana Party, and I thought it would be fun to go to with Freddy. He's been getting rather gamey lately, since he's bored with arena work. It's difficult finding things to vary the routine because the arena is always so crowded in the winter here.
So, they had a little pole bending competition, and Freddy really enjoyed it because he could run around like an idiot. <33
After that, they had an obstacle course set up, and I actually got to jump Freddy for the first time! It was the first time I've jumped since late '08.

I think Freddy had a great time, and he really enjoyed the fact that the Dressage Queen took him over fences, and also that he can actually run over the "ground carrots" and kill them. ~

 

[sillybunny11486]

I want to train seeing eye horses (well minis)

 

[pony hunter rydr]

Bumping back up

I have slid off my old pony's butt, she didn't care at all. She just turned her head with a puzzled look lol.

 

[Pinto Pony]

pony hunter rydr, I love that pic of you sliding off, hehe, what a great lil pony you have there

 

[ridergirl23]

I taught my horse bridless, and i jumped her that way, and it went great!!! I also play polocrosse with her, i do it bridless too!

I just teach her everything bridless, lol.

 

[pony hunter rydr]

pony hunter rydr, I love that pic of you sliding off, hehe, what a great lil pony you have there

haha thanks! She was the best I could do (almost) everything on her

 

[JumpingTheMoon]

I love gymkhanas!

 

[Carleen]

I haven't really done anything that weird, but I've seen some weird stuff.
I live in a town that's RIGHT in between the farming area and the city, I once saw a girl ride her horse through an A&W drive-thru thats nearby LOL.

 

[rocky pony]

I did all sorts of things with my previous horse. I taught him everything I could, even if I was just learning it myself, haha
I taught him to be ridden with no saddle, bridle, etc, stood on his back, taught him to do a nice sliding reining stop and spin, jumped him..you name it

the only thing I tried on him that was really a bad idea was when I tried to jump him over a little stream crossing over the path I regularly rode him on- on the side of a hill. he jumped it okay the first time, I got lucky, but then he decided not to jump it again (because he's smarter than me) and I flew off and came an inch away from rolling down that hill, but got lucky. instead I just landed in this huge thorny weed and got thorns stuck all over my bare skin (I was wearing a spaghetti strap tank top), some of which took a month to come out! and I had this big scar across my cheek that stayed there for about a year.
yeah, that wasn't a smart idea..

 

[my2geldings]

I think its a fantastic idea. Always varied my routine with all my horses. Makes them very willing to go out ad work, keeps them happier and healthier as well.
There are all sorts if things you could do with them from trail riding to other disciplines or sports(as posted above). I think you should go ahead. Good way for you and your horse to bond as well.

 

[Marrissa]

When I had my riding horse Storm I'd take him out through people's field (they were too big to be noticed in really. Then I'd turn him in the direction of home and pretend to be running from attackers (he ran all out when running in the direction of home :wink. I'd also grab a big thick stick and practice be a knight by using it as a sword to hit my intended targets while galloping by. Never too old for this.

I still like to put a big black sweater on, put the hood up, and take my mom's antsy mare out and pretend to be a ring wraith.