Getting my groove back

I hate that 'back in the saddle' feeling. It comes back quickly though... it just takes a few weeks of seriously sore muscles.

My TB has never really bucked, however my other one made up for it. It is funny Pete has been in our barn since he was 4 (now 14) he does "lead changes" when he is fresh. At first we thought he didn't know how to "get off the ground", which usually they figure out once they start jumping. Nope he never has really bucked, he has "kinda sorta" 2 times with me (in 9 years) and only once or twice on the lunge. He will in the paddock. I do say he is one of the most settled OTTB's I have ever sat on.

My dearly departed Sayler had a buck on him though WOW!!!!! He sent many a person to the ER. His buck was not a ''fresh" thing, it was a pissed off thing. If you pissed him off lord have mercy on your soul. He bucked only once with me when I first got him. He would give you a "get off" warning but if you did not heed his warning your a** was his. The one time he did with me, I didn't know the warning, I was at a show with a different trainer who didn't know Sayler. When I talked to my trainer that night she was "oooo that was a warning". Anyway he did NOT buck me off but it was the biggest most powerful buck I have EVER experienced. He went straight up in the air, it felt like 20' then just fires like firing a cannon. He landed and stood there. The person I was riding with was my old trainer (my trainers old trainer too) he was standing there with his mouth hanging open and said "wow....I am impressed you stayed on" I wanted to get off. I once saw Sayler throw my trainer off. He launched her 180' down the long side of our indoor arena. I was AMAZED she was not hurt. She landed under a horse up against the mounting block. Once he bucks you off he just would stand there, "my job is done".

To me the WORST part of not riding for a while and then getting back on is you remember muscles you forgot you had about 2 days later.
 

haha no one loves a bucker but often horses when fresh will crank that trick out. I have worked with Mel since he was starting his race career ie/ I was the first to jump him out of the gates. He actually is worse once he starts to get fit at the moment we are experiencing the calm before the storm. It will be in a couple of weeks that he starts to show his gymnastic skills hehe.

I remember when he was about 3 taking him for a gallop at the track, just about to set off with another horse next to us he just dropped his head suddenly I'm perched on top in a racing saddle and let out a huge buck. Cause I am a show jumper firstly track jockey 2nd I just dropped my feet out of the stirrups and drove him forward. All the boys thought I was a goner they laughed at my technique ended up galloping with no stirrups. But was better than eating dirt.

I would rather have a bucker than one that rears! I am hard to get off, I will say that (unless you are a pony they can dump me good! LOL)

Sayler could buck WITHOUT dropping his head. He also had a bit of a sway back so you would think you could just hunker down in there and be safe...NOT!!!

One of my favorite memories, my trainers husband Tom is a farrier. He had this kid named Shiloh apprenticing with him. Shiloh was a bull rider, and was trying to "impress" me. Now I am a HUGE bull riding fan so I do know a bit about the game. We were at a show, and Tom was shoeing Sayler, and Shiloh makes a statement "there is not a horse that can throw me off!" I saw that as a challenge. Tom had been listening to Shiloh trying to B.S. me, and he sets Sayler's foot down, stands up looks at Shiloh, pets Sayler and says "do NOT under estimate what this little chestnut can do!. There is no way in hell you would stay on!" Tom had been the first to experience Sayler's "airs above the ground" and like me managed to stay on, but he was in western tack! No I did not let Shiloh on my horse!

I used to want to gallop horses at the track in my younger days. Now I don't think I could. My "only" issue with racing is that they start so young. I think you are asking a baby to do a man's job. The lady I worked for in NY is a TB breeder (one of the top in NY) and when I had to back a yearling to get it ready for race training, I just thought it was wrong. I thought it should still be romping in a field with other babies. I don't mind watching racing on TV, you can distance your self from the fact these are serious young 'uns. I know why it is done, I just don't know that I agree with "that" aspect of racing. I do not necessarily believe that is why Barbaro or Three Bells broke down though. I believe they did because horses are extremely FRAGILE animals. Most lay people do not realize that.

I had a crappy day yesterday (at work) Last night I had the most AWESOME ride on my horse. I love when that happens. I really need to get "me" going better. It gets so much harder when you are older   I know "what" I need to do, I just can not make my body do it. I need some serious flat work to get me back in line.

Maxs Mom

 No I did not let Shiloh on my horse!

haha you should of I thnk mouthy people need a lesson, I was once warming up a hanno X gelding that I had been schooling. He had a really huge jump so I would warm up away from everyone then just canter in do two practice jumps normally the same height or a bit bigger than the class. He would launch over them, this woman piped up that I should take more care with my warm ups etc so I would jump a better class & telling me how to ride the horse. I got off handed her the reins said if you can do it better show me. She ended up on her bootay on the other side of the fence, he popped her clean out of the saddle hehe

I used to want to gallop horses at the track in my younger days. Now I don't think I could. My "only" issue with racing is that they start so young. I think you are asking a baby to do a man's job.

I agree plus the whole racing industry is corrupt and sexist. I got out of it mainly cause I was sick of the treatment I was getting from men, I got banned from the track for two weeks after I let loose on a guy that had been pushing his luck every time he legged me up on to a horse. I had told him to not touch me like that for a whole week. He ended up getting whipped a few times hehe

I had a crappy day yesterday (at work) Last night I had the most AWESOME ride on my horse. I love when that happens. I really need to get "me" going better. It gets so much harder when you are older   I know "what" I need to do, I just can not make my body do it. I need some serious flat work to get me back in line.

Yeah it's hard getting it all to fall into place I really need some lessons, once I get my horse fitter I am going to put some money aside for lessons. A good trainer is the best tool aye? Plus if you have a good lesson you feel inspired with your horse

Hunterwayit

 A good trainer is the best tool aye? Plus if you have a good lesson you feel inspired with your horse

I love my trainer. We actually have been "buds" since we were teenagers. She was 15 and I was 13, when we met. My problem is right now, she is off to horse shows and I am at home   Since May I have had 4 lessons. It should "improve" in about 2 weeks because there will only be 3 shows left through to the end of Sept. However in Aug and Sept I have a lot of dog activities planned. I think if I ask she will help me on a Friday, until school starts. She has a son going into 3rd grade, I can't blame her for wanting to be home in the evenings.

That was what I was so bummed about last fall when my horse went lame. I wouldn't have liked it in the summer either, but I missed the winter when I get the most of my lessons. So in reality since Aug 2007 I have had 4 lessons.

Your in NZ right? I had a friend years ago who moved to NZ to live with a boy. She rode, then she broke up with said boy and moved to Australia where she worked for the Bonds, she returned briefly to the States, and is now in Germany. I loved it she came back with the Aussie accent. I love that. I spoke to her a few years back after being in Germany for several years, she still had the accent. She laughed and said she had all the Germans saying "bugger" and "crikee" (no clue how to spell it I hope you know what I am trying to say)

Ah horses, my favorite topic!