@caballo718 @Miles2go and other horsey friends

cchild101010 · January 2014

I have been so excited to see how many other May 14 Bump friends are horsey people. I was just wondering who is still riding? Jumping? How is it going? How much longer you plan to ride if you are still riding?

I am still riding a few days/week but I am not jumping very high (primarily because it is the off season and it is nice for my horse to have a little break too). I do plan to ride through the end of January as long as I have no issues and continue to feel safe. I am not sure yet if I am going to full lease my horse for a few months when I do stop riding or not. He is half leased right now but I am not loving the situation.

caballo718 · January 2014

I sold my last horse a few years ago before I moved to Brooklyn. I was only riding greenies after that but now I'm doing no riding at all. I miss it so much that I dream of it like every other night lol I can't wait to get back in the saddle. I'm trying to talk my husband into buying me a hunter prospect after the baby is born. I think it's awesome that you're still riding. Where are you from?

cchild101010 · January 2014

I live in North Los Angeles and ride about 45 minutes away from where I live - towards the coast. I primarily do 3'-3'3" equitation medals. At the end of last year I qualified for 3 year end finals for the 2014 year so I feel ok about not showing.

I really hope you can talk your hubby into getting you a hunter - maybe a push present

kat8805 · January 2014

I haven't ridden since October or so. I despise winter and cold. We also moved from MD to IN in November. Add in my lack of personal time, and DD having a cold on and off since we moved, and it nixes any chance of riding, even if I wanted to. I ride western, so no jumping. My mare is a retired western pleasure show horse, so she's pretty laid back in the ring, but the trail is not her forte. I've also been combating her picky eating, lack of weight gain, and a genetic disorder, so her health has also been a concern.

I think leasing is a great option. Are you signed into anything with the current leasee? Maybe someone else would suit you better for a full lease.

Miles2Go · January 2014

I'm not riding since I'm on pelvic rest, otherwise I would be. I'm working in the USDF Bronze, so I hate to miss this show season. My horse will be 15 in April, so I also hate to waste a season for him. I work him in hand and on the lunge and hopefully will be able to show in the fall. Dd was born in May '12 and I was showing that August, so it's not unreasonable.

I despise leasing my personal horse. I'll lease any of my school horses (and most of then currently have a partial lease) but I get too controlling when it comes to Miles. I have tentatively agreed to let an employee of mine half lease him in the spring. She is a good friend and a stellar rider, and wants to start working with my trainer so I'm hoping it's a good match. She doesn't have a lot of dressage experience so she is really looking to ride a horse that can help her move up, and it will be good for him to get fit before I'm ready to ride again.

Last time I rode until about 35 weeks, with one single ride at 38 weeks. I only walked, just got on an old schooler of mine (who is very narrow, which helped) to demonstrate a turn on the haunches to an adult student. We were in the outdoor ring, so I stayed in the corner of the ring where the view from the house is blocked by the barn. I knew Dh would freak out if he looked out and saw me on a horse, even an old steady Eddie. My mom happened to come down to the barn, and I threatened to never let her see her granddaughter if she told Dh!

I wish I was riding. I have dreams of trotting 20 meter circles. That would be enough for me right now.

caballo718 · January 2014

That's awesome you accomplished all that! The medals aren't very competitive where I am. A lot of people just use them as a warm up for the A/A hunters. I've always heard Cali Adult Eq was competitive. The push present isn't that bad of an idea. Maybe I should aim higher and ask for an A/O hunter while I'm at it.

dwnslde · January 2014

I fox hunted until about 21 weeks with my son on my moms mare that I love. Then my sister read my mom the riot act and she made me stop. I can't wait to be around barns again.

momthatlifts · January 2014

I rode around bareback when I first got pregnant but nothing fancy. I have given up riding completely. Not just because it got so expensive and we are trying to be frugal ... But because of the dangers of it while being pregnant (and not being pregnant) but mostly for being pregnant . Although not that I think about it I guess a western pleasure lope isn't exactly a bumpy ride.... Edit:added words

cchild101010 · January 2014

@kat8805 - I just feel too controlling to lease out more horse. But my dad hates the idea of me riding and as silly as it is, his opinion still matters

the woman 1/2 leasing now is so big too that I'm concerned about all of the weight she is putting on my horse's back. I'll see what January brings. I really want my horse to stay in the barn.

@Miles2go - my competition horse will be 14 this year. I was hopeful he could have a little down time to preserve his legs but I totally understand not wanting to waste a show season. You are my hero for how long you rode with your first pregnancy. Is training a job/career for you? @caballo718 - Ask for something really good/extreme and then maybe your DH will be happy that you pick something more reasonable!

@dwnslde - I've never done fox hunting. Is it like actually out in a field jumping logs? Sounds fun!

cchild101010 · January 2014

JKBMA2014 said:

I rode around bareback when I first got pregnant but nothing fancy. I have given up riding completely. Not just because it got so expensive and we are trying to be frugal ... But because of the dangers of it while being pregnant (and not being pregnant) but mostly for being pregnant . Although not that I think about it I guess a western pleasure lope isn't exactly a bumpy ride.... Edit:added words

Did you ride regularly before you got pregnant?

babyaotw · January 2014

I just stopped at twenty weeks, but largely bc the horse I was leasing is only 4 and I've been schooling him with my trainer. He's not very reliable, so I decided it was time. If it were my own horse or a dependable one, I'd keep riding within reason. It's been two weeks, and I'm dying to get back on! I can't wait to get a horse of my own again, I lost my mare a few years ago.

momthatlifts · January 2014

JKBMA2014 said:

I rode around bareback when I first got pregnant but nothing fancy. I have given up riding completely. Not just because it got so expensive and we are trying to be frugal ... But because of the dangers of it while being pregnant (and not being pregnant) but mostly for being pregnant . Although not that I think about it I guess a western pleasure lope isn't exactly a bumpy ride.... Edit:added words

Did you ride regularly before you got pregnant?

Yes mam! I also showed in the aqha circuits in western pleasure, showmanship, horsemanship, halter and trail (for points) and some English classes to try to get highest over all points. Loved it but it just got to be way too much

sold my horse for less than what I initially paid plus all the training... Still took lessons though!

cchild101010 · January 2014

JKBMA2014 said:

cchild101010 said:

JKBMA2014 said:

I rode around bareback when I first got pregnant but nothing fancy. I have given up riding completely. Not just because it got so expensive and we are trying to be frugal ... But because of the dangers of it while being pregnant (and not being pregnant) but mostly for being pregnant . Although not that I think about it I guess a western pleasure lope isn't exactly a bumpy ride....

Edit:added words

Did you ride regularly before you got pregnant?

Yes mam! I also showed in the aqha circuits in western pleasure, showmanship, horsemanship, halter and trail (for points) and some English classes to try to get highest over all points. Loved it but it just got to be way too much

sold my horse for less than what I initially paid plus all the training... Still took lessons though!

That's awesome you rode so much! Financially it does add up and I do think about that so much. My dad said riding was always cheaper than rehab, raising a grandchild (if I was a teen and pregnant) and that it kept me out of trouble. Up until this year it was still keeping me from getting pregnant ;-) one of my biggest fears is not having riding in my life anymore

momthatlifts · January 2014

That was a huge scare for me too, I absolutely miss it. It was my drug. I did it every single day... Even before the shows. Sometimes I wish I didn't get involved in showing because it made me resent riding for a while. All It made me think about was money, but I couldn't stop

kat8805 · January 2014

Whether you continue to ride or not is a personal choice. DD1 has tagged along to the barn as often as possible since day 1. I have my limits with that, but she gets mad most times I go without her. She claims my mare as hers, but I hope to get her her own pony/horse when we have our own land.

momthatlifts · January 2014

I would love to get miss Scarlett her own. I'm definitely going to try to get her lessons when she is old enough and hope she loves it as much as me loll

Mikki62 · January 2014

I am still riding, whenever the weather is nice since I don't have an indoor. I haven't jumped lately but that was more because my horse hurt himself. I will still jump him over small courses, maybe 2' for a while and quit when I don't feel comfortable. I rode my whole pregnancy last time, I think the last time three days before having her and I was back to riding about five weeks after.

cchild101010 · January 2014

I really hope if I have a girl she loves horses as much as I do. We also have my old jumper retired in our backyard so I know that my kid will be around horses no matter what. Everyone still riding or who previously rode really encourage me to keep going as long as I'm comfortable. My DH's family looked at me crazy when they asked about my show schedule and then I told them an hour later I was pregnant. They were all so shocked (and maybe a little judgmental) that I was still riding. Lucky for me DH is super supportive.

caballo718 · January 2014

I was hoping for a girl so I could buy her a pony. But we are having a boy so I guess I decided to buy myself a
horse lol it's great to see so many horsey mamas

Miles2Go · January 2014

@cchild101010 Yes, I own and operate a "BLT" - Boarding, lesson, and training barn. I primarily ride dressage now, but teach mostly hunt seat.
@caballo718 My dd loves to ride. She did her first lead line class at 16 months old. She will take me by the hand and say "barn? Ride?" I just bought her a toddler lead line saddle. So stinking cute. When she wants to trot, she says "ok. Bounce." I am thinking of buying a pony in early summer, since I could use one for my camp and lesson programs anyway. And usually the first thing she'll tell me in the morning is "barn? Horses? Hays." At a year and a half, she knows we go hay horses first thing, before we eat breakfast ourselves. Training her up right lol!

Mimaloo · January 2014

I'm so jealous of you ladies who are still riding. My trainer gave me the go ahead to ride up until 20 weeks but as a FTM who dealt with IF and a slew of other crap, I was too nervous and stopped earlier

DH also hated the idea of me riding while pregnant (even super early on) so that played a role too in my stopping so early.

Next time around, however, I will definitely keep going as long as I can.

Btw, my horse KNOWS there's something going on - he nudges my belly every time I see him which wasn't a thing for him before I got pregnant. Anyone else have a horse who knows what's up?

haltandsalute · January 2014

I'm late to the par-tay, as usual!

I'm 19 weeks and still riding.

I've had my mare for just a couple years, but she is a 20 year old schoolmaster that I feel totally safe on. I mean, she used to do GPs and upper level eventing, so she's not some old nag, and still has PLENTY of juice, but there is no spook, buck, rear or bolt in her so I'm not worried. I also fear giving her too much time off...at her age she really needs to keep in work.

I'm being careful and have decided not to jump until Little Man arrives, but I do want to keep riding as long as I can. I'm still taking dressage lessons here and there, and I will still hack out/trail ride and do conditioning work on the hills in our cross country field.

It feels good to me to keep moving, and prior to getting pregnant, this was my main only source of exercise. If I ever get to a point where I'm not feeling comfortable, say, doing gallop sets in the open then I'll turn it down a notch. I'm hoping to be able to ride up until I'm due but we shall see.

One thing I think I need to change is how I'm dismouting. Evidently I'm sliding too much on my stomach...I either need to push off and away more on the way down or go cowboy style and keep one foot in the stirrup. Yesterday I was getting down and didn't like the pressure on my belly and hesitated...and got my right leg sort of hung up on the cantle at my knee. It was very graceful. I was trying to shimmy my way down from 17.1 and not land on my rear. It was fairly comical.

@mimaloo - I don't think the Old Lady knows anything is up, per say. But she DOES want to run away from me whenever I go to bring her in, which is sort of new. A bucket of grain doesn't even work. I have found though that the Super Star treats from SmartPak do the trick. I think she might be trying to tell me she has noticed my weight has increased. ...or possibly that I'm not quite as finessed as I once was. Yesterday DH actually came out to the barn to watch me ride and said, "Every time you smack into her back she grunts."

Allow me to translate that for you: smack into her back=sit down for a beat while posting - Thanks a lot dear. And for the record, that's how she ALWAYS sounds. Wait. No. That can't be good. haha...she's just a rhythmical breather. Like a freight train.

I must say, I'm pretty tickled we have so many of us on this one board! Maybe we should have our own little support group.

kat8805 · January 2014

You shouldn't be too worried about the added weight. The 20% rule is a guideline, but an overweight rider with a balanced seat is much easier on a horse than an underweight rider with an unbalanced seat. But that could be the problem, we aren't exactly balanced anymore

)

cchild101010 · January 2014

@Miles2go - that is so cool you operate a facility. That is so much responsibility. My last trainer was a mom, wife, trainer, barn operator - she had so much on her plate. The effort that goes into all of that is amazing. Your daughter is so lucky to be raised around the horses so much. I hope my LO loves horses as much as I do. I love having my retired horse in our backyard and still think it must be every kid's dream to have a horse in their backyard. I actually brought her into our house when we first moved to this house just so I could say I had the horse in the house (the little kid in me).

@Mimaloo - I swear my mare knew something was up. In the beginning (right around my BFP) when I would go out to feed my mare in the morning she would rear and back away from me. It lasted for about week and happened every morning. It was so weird and so not her normal personality. My dogs on the other hand seem to have no clue and still insist on standing, laying on my stomach (LO probably hates our dogs).

@rioandrooney - glad there is someone else here also riding! I am jumping so very little and at any point I am happy to just participate in the flat part of the lessons (there is still so much to be learned/practiced). I know other people talk about loosing their center of balance/gravity but I don't feel that way...yet. I have only put on 8 lbs so maybe thats part of why I still feel balanced (and all of my Pilates). A woman I ride with said she use to dismount on the mounting block with the assistance of someone else when she got bigger. Maybe someone could hold your horse for you to help you get down?!? My horse is also 17 hands. Getting down hasn't been a problem but sometimes he is a stinker about standing still for mounting. I think I may require assistance at some point. Right now I can still get on quickly.

@kat8805 - I have heard the 20% rule. Which means my horse should be able to carry 280lbs. However, the woman 1/2 leasing my horse probably weighs 60+ lbs more than I do and I think her issue is the unbalanced seat like you mentioned. She strikes me that she rides like one of those weebly dolls.

(

kat8805 · January 2014

Does she take lessons? I know one lady who would require weekly lessons with all her leased horses. For her it was more money, but it would be good to know this leasee is at least attempting to ride better.

And let's be real here for a second. As much as I love that my DD loves horses, and as great of a lifestyle and teaching tool it is, I would never wish a person to be this passionate about something that costs so much money lol. As long as she finds something productive and positive to be passionate about, I'll be happy. Her loving horses now just makes it easier to include her when its barn time. But I've seen my siblings grow up and not know, or not have something they are consistantly passionate about, and I couldn't imagine the void that leaves in creating long term plans and goals. My 16 year old sister is having such a hard time deciding what college to go to, let alone what to go for. She is great at a lot of things, but nothing really grabs her like horses have me.

cchild101010 · January 2014

Everyone at our barn is in a training program - because we all show. So yes, the woman is taking lessons 3-5 times/week. And my horse is still being ridden by my trainer so that's good.

I definitely don't know if my DH and I would be able to provide the horses for a child the way it was provided for me. Horses and ice skating are about as expensive as it comes

but I do feel fortunate to have been/ be so passionate about something. My sister had soccer which I'm grateful for because had we both picked horses my parents would have been poor lol!

Mimaloo · January 2014

cchild101010 said:

Everyone at our barn is in a training program - because we all show. So yes, the woman is taking lessons 3-5 times/week. And my horse is still being ridden by my trainer so that's good. I definitely don't know if my DH and I would be able to provide the horses for a child the way it was provided for me. Horses and ice skating are about as expensive as it comes but I do feel fortunate to have been/ be so passionate about something. My sister had soccer which I'm grateful for because had we both picked horses my parents would have been poor lol!

Oh man they are so freaking expensive. But at the same time, so worth it

dwnslde · January 2014

@cchild101010 - it's sort if like riding cross country for 1-2 hrs with the option to jump or not jump. It varies from trail riding paths to dirt roads and open fields. I tend to ride around the perimeter making sure the hounds don't go where they aren't supposed to. We chase them but call off the hounds if they get too close.

cchild101010 · January 2014

dwnslde said:

@cchild101010 - it's sort if like riding cross country for 1-2 hrs with the option to jump or not jump. It varies from trail riding paths to dirt roads and open fields. I tend to ride around the perimeter making sure the hounds don't go where they aren't supposed to. We chase them but call off the hounds if they get too close.

that sounds like soooo much fun!

Hallil · January 2014

Oh add me on to the horse person list! I rode mainly western, 4-H and reining growing up and then the past 3 years worked and rode for a friend that opened up a hunter/jumper barn. She built a huge indoor and has a nice facility that is available to me but I was too busy this summer to start my own 4 year old much so when I got KU I kicked him out to pasture with a handful of rides on him.

We're moving out to our land this winter so this fall I bought myself a present, a 4 year old AQHA stallion that I love, named him George. I also have the last foal we bred before my grandpa passed away a few years ago named Finale (bay APHA) and this summer will be looking for a good mare or two to add. We've got lots of room. My plan this spring is to do most of the groundwork on both boys while I'm still pregnant, and have them ready to ride again in May(ish.) A good friend of mine likes to do the first handful of rides and typically I do that myself but this spring I'll let him ride both for a couple weeks then take over after I'm cleared to ride. Both have been started, but not ridden much so I don't expect too much trouble.

The pictures are of George (AQHA palomino stallion) Finale (APHA bay gelding) Me schooling a broodmare back into riding (bay mare jumping) and dd riding one of the young barn prospects this fall (big chestnut gelding)

(You have to expand the thumbnail to see all 4 pics, I made a collage to simplify and it only shows 2 of the pics.)

cchild101010 · January 2014

Where do you live that you are moving onto land? That sounds so nice for your horses to have so much space. I love your photos! I attached one of me doing an equitation final at the end of last year!

Hallil · January 2014

cchild101010 said:
Where do you live that you are moving onto land? That sounds so nice for your horses to have so much space. I love your photos! I attached one of me doing an equitation final at the end of last year!

I am in the middle of no where, Saskatchewan, Canada

we have 160 acres so there is plenty of room for them, plus quite a few more

Hallil · January 2014

That's an awesome pic! I started out taking English lessons when I was 7 before my 4-H/reining time. I loved it when I got back into jumping for my friend at her barn.

caballo718 · January 2014

cchild101010 said:
Where do you live that you are moving onto land? That sounds so nice for your horses to have so much space. I love your photos! I attached one of me doing an equitation final at the end of last year!

I love your pic! What a beautiful horse and rider combination. I see why you kicked butt in the eq

haltandsalute · January 2014

@cchild101010 - lovely photo! I did the hunters and eq back in my junior days. While I have switched to eventing and the jumpers, my goal is to always make cross country look like a hunter derby round. I can't totally shake the hunter princess thing.

Okay...so here's a question for all the barn ladies...

We are having quite the time trying to figure out what on earth we are going to do for a stroller. I need something that is workable for suburbia (taking it in and out of the trunk a lot) and for the barn (so some off-roading capability would be nice).

Of course the BOB would be great for the barn. Our BO has year old twin boys, and she takes her double BOB all over the farm no problem. However, that seems way too bulky for running errands and stowing it in the trunk. Also, said trunk is that of a Mazda 3. Not exactly spacious! Of course DH just got himself a pretty new truck, but it's too soon for me to commandeer it.

Any suggestions? I'm looking now at the Baby Jogger City Mini or City Elite. The Summit looks like it would take over my wee car.

Or am I doomed to a BOB...AND a City Mini .... AND a frame for the infant carrier? Decisions decisions. Help!

dwnslde · January 2014

My husband is military so I am hoping that next place we are I can find a place to ride or at least be around a barn. I have no idea where we are but I would like to get back into riding post babies.

caballo718 · January 2014

rioandrooney said:
@cchild101010 - lovely photo! I did the hunters and eq back in my junior days. While I have switched to eventing and the jumpers, my goal is to always make cross country look like a hunter derby round. I can't totally shake the hunter princess thing.

Okay...so here's a question for all the barn ladies...

We are having quite the time trying to figure out what on earth we are going to do for a stroller. I need something that is workable for suburbia (taking it in and out of the trunk a lot) and for the barn (so some off-roading capability would be nice).

Of course the BOB would be great for the barn. Our BO has year old twin boys, and she takes her double BOB all over the farm no problem. However, that seems way too bulky for running errands and stowing it in the trunk. Also, said trunk is that of a Mazda 3. Not exactly spacious! Of course DH just got himself a pretty new truck, but it's too soon for me to commandeer it.

Any suggestions? I'm looking now at the Baby Jogger City Mini or City Elite. The Summit looks like it would take over my wee car.

Or am I doomed to a BOB...AND a City Mini .... AND a frame for the infant carrier? Decisions decisions. Help!

Funny those are the strollers that came to mind first. But I'm sure other people have different ideas. I live in the city so we are getting the uppababy Cruz since it's light and compact.

kat8805 · January 2014

Have you also had a chance to try out a rear facing infant seat+base in your Mazda 3 yet? I can say from having a Mazda 6 with infant seat... it's a tight squeeze.

haltandsalute · January 2014

kat8805 said:

Have you also had a chance to try out a rear facing infant seat+base in your Mazda 3 yet? I can say from having a Mazda 6 with infant seat... it's a tight squeeze.

Yes, we're going with the Chicco Keyfit. It's not ideal, but if ever the three of us are going somewhere we'll just take the truck. Or DH can drive and I will have my knees crunched in the passenger seat.

This car is only a 2011, so DH isn't ready to get rid of it. And he just got his new car, so that's part of the reason. I have a feeling a small SUV may be in my future...

haltandsalute · January 2014

caballo718 said:

Funny those are the strollers that came to mind first. But I'm sure other people have different ideas. I live in the city so we are getting the uppababy Cruz since it's light and compact.

I like the Cruz, too. I just hate to spend that on a stroller and then need to buy another expensive one that is just going to get gnarly at the barn. DH thinks I'm very high maintenance.

Miles2Go · January 2014

BOB for the barn! Can't beat it. It will go through anything. Sand, gravel, mud, grass... Anything. I've taken it to shows, clinics, you name it. We call it the all terrain baby mobile. We had the adapter bar for when dd was in the bucket. Baby wearing or snap and go for around town. I'm contemplating a double BOB for the new little guy.

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