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| Switching or adding disciplines...; tell me about it and did it work out? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 30 2010, 03:17 PM (391 Views) | |
| 3Bays | May 30 2010, 03:17 PM Post #1 |
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Well, from reading the board lately I see that both FishCheeks and I have decided to stick our toes into the Western pleasure/trail riding activities with the new ponies. So, it got me to wondering about all the rest of you...who here has switched completely from English to Western (or vice versa) or added a new riding style to their activities (ie, had ridden huntseat and then added or switched to dressage or driving or endurance)? Did the change remain or did you try it and go back to previous riding styles? Did you get a new horse to do the new style with or did you have to train your horse into that new discipline? What made you consider the new style and to make changes? I'm bored laying here recovering and stuck in bed...so, I'm being NOSEY...tell me!!!!!!!!!
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| Bearhunter | May 30 2010, 05:31 PM Post #2 |
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Magical Leopluridon
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I rode Saddlebreds for 20 years. I had always wanted to ride hunters growing up but my mother rode ASBs so when I finally got to ride (didn't get to as a child, my mom's thing, long story) it was actually with my mother, as an adult but ASBs (she funded it .) I loved it and we owned the best of the best (i.e. the 5 gaited WGC and the 3 gaited WGC.) After my mother passed away, I really had a hard time keeping up the traveling to and from CA (where I live) to KY (where the horses were - the heart of ASB country.) I had young kids and it wasn't fun anymore anyway. I finally decided to try my hand at what I truly had always desired. So, four years ago, I switched disciplines to hunters. The change was really hard. I thought in would be easy but the balance issue (having been in a chair seat for so long) was tough BUT I love it. Yes, I was hard on myself because I didn't master things as quickly as I hoped but I am hard on myself in general. I have a fantastic horse who takes care of me and amazing trainers. It was the best thing I ever did!
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| CDE Driver | May 30 2010, 06:04 PM Post #3 |
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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My first foray into showing was jumper ponies as a child. Then I had a big crash and my Mother lost her nerve So I switched to QHs. I showed on the QH circuit from age 12ish until I graduated high school. When I went to college I wasn't showing or riding much. When I came home college my Mother went on a trip with some friends of hers with the intention of buying a couple of minis at some farm they were going to visit. Well, as luck would have it they stopped at a Freisian farm. The owner took a shine to my Mother and told her he would sell her a mare and breed her while they were on the rest of her trip. So she came home with a pregnant Freisian mare! Come to find out she was the first Friesian born in the United States and was a real gem. We had her till she was 34, she was thought to be the oldest one at that time. Anyway.... she bought another one, a gelding. And what the heck do you do with a Friesian, why ride dressage of course. So I started riding dressage. We lost that wonderful fellow to colic years later and I got a Swedish Warmblood that I showed through I1. My Mother had always had Morgans that she drove and showed at Morgan shows when I was really little. She decided to go to Germany and buy a pair of driving horses. The pair she bought didn't work out and she sold one as a ridden dressage horse. Well, when she wanted to compete in CDE's she told me I was on! Since this was something she always really wanted to do I sold my Swedish horse to help her do the driving thing. She asked me to drive him in one event, and well, she pretty much never got her horse back! I was hooked (no pun intended) So that is how I went from a wild child on the bare back of ranch horse spending all day exploring and sharing my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with to competing in combined driving. And that, my friend 3Bays, is probably WAY more than you wanted to know!
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| Fish Cheeks | May 30 2010, 06:08 PM Post #4 |
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Helllooooo 3Bays! I did h/j as a kid and again as a re-rider when I was in my 20s. Started in hunters, moved to jumpers. Then when I had a horse who started stopping I moved over to the dressage arena with him and did that for a couple years. We never showed, but it did wonders for him physically and I eventually started jumping him again (on my own - not with horrible trainer who got him stopping in the first place! ). I realized, though, that he would never be the kind of horse I wanted - bold and confident - so I sold him to a lady who loves him and still has him.Then I decided I wanted to still jump and I wanted to try eventing because it looked like so much fun and it was more affordable than h/j. When Mr. Fishy and I moved up to the country I was so lucky to find our coach, she is the best! I got Paddy and the very first time I jumped a XC fence was when I tried him out - OMG, it was so exhilarating! And scary...but fun! Paddy and I evented for a couple years but I got tired of fighting with him to the fences. It was pretty predictable that one day a week when we'd jump we'd have a horrible go of it and then another time we'd have a great time. It became emotionally exhausting because I didn't like arguing with him but he didn't quite want to pay attention to me! We'd always done well in the dressage phase of eventing so I made the switch last year. Paddy does well in dressage - the judges love him, he's a nice mover, and he seems to like to show off. He's very mellow at the shows (usually snoozing at the in-gate before our go) and it is a lot of fun. I like the detail involved in riding dressage - riding every step, precision, communication, development of the horse, etc. It was hard to go from my forward h/j seat to a more balanced dressage seat. It has taken me years to sit up and look up and get my hands out of my lap and I still don't do it right half of the time! Now you know my story with Mac and getting a western saddle. I've got a "natural horsemanship" trainer coming over on Tuesday to work with us and I'm excited about what that's going to bring to my toolbox. I'm not planning on riding western per se, but this is a guy who starts a lot of horses and I think Mac needs a re-start so that's what we're going to do. Oh, and in between there I did entertain the idea of doing competitive trail riding with Miles but just never found the time since I was competing Paddy. I do LOVE trail riding and if I had trails out my back door I would be the happiest of happy campers! |
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| FlashGordon | May 30 2010, 07:19 PM Post #5 |
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You're BANNED!
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I started riding when I was 9, with a pretty intense dressage trainer. Had no idea what dressage was back then, but thankful that I landed at her place as she gave me a great foundation. Switched to H/J when I was 14 and then dabbled a bit in dressage as an adult. I would seriously LOVE to go western. There is nothing I love more than going to our county fair each August and drooling over the gorgeous WP Arabs. Seriously. Love them. Would happily take home a WP trained QH or Morgan too. Part of the fun of this sport is the fact that there is so much variation in breed, disciplines, etc. You can spend a lifetime exploring different avenues. I say switching it up now and then is a good thing. Keeps riding interesting and exciting. |
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| 3Bays | May 30 2010, 07:53 PM Post #6 |
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Thanks, all, for your TRULY interesting "riding lives" stories!!! WOW, what a talented bunch we have here on TOC...you guys really ROCK!!I say switching it up now and then is a good thing. Keeps riding interesting and exciting Hey, Flashy, I agree with you there! You are so right that there is ALWAYS something new to learn in horsemanship and care and riding and showing and just dealing with horses...takes all our lives and they STILL can show us people a thing or two, my grandad used to say! Soooo, all, keep the stories and experiences and opinions coming! I am not laying here bored anymore!
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| FlashGordon | May 31 2010, 08:28 AM Post #7 |
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You're BANNED!
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3Bays, I hope you are feeling better ASAP! Are you able to get up and about at all? Maybe a few snuggles from your horsey friends will help to ward off the boredom? Take care of yourself friend! |
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| Trialbyfire | May 31 2010, 01:11 PM Post #8 |
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You're BANNED!
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Interesting timing on this because I've been thinking of "taking up" western....for one, our new mare was started western so I know she can do it. But part of the drama that led me to switch barns with my girls is also because of me; we were riding at a H/J barn and I was taking lessons 1x week. I could learn to jump but can't take jumping lessons there without a flat lesson too, but getting there for 5+ lessons a week for me & my kids is just never going to happen. So I've been taking just flat lessons and I think I've sort of hit a plateau. I'm never going to be a fabulous rider for lots of reasons (including my own conformational defects), so I'm essentially riding circles around an arena with the same problems and listening to the trainers tell me the same things.....I'm sort of thinking "what's the point in all this?" I don't want to quit riding, but I need a new challenge. Maybe I could work really hard to overcome some of my problems (tight hips that basically prevent me from really riding well and keeping a deep heel and tight lower leg) ...or maybe I could consider something that suits my own abilities and schedule better. I actually bought (and haven't really told anyone) a synthetic Wintec A/P saddle and really like it! I've dropped my stirrups two holes and am working at home with just sitting back and stop fighting with my own body - (a work in progress, ha ha)....but we'll see. My kids and I are also going to start showmanship with both our mares....something new and interesting for both of them (and us).....and then maybe I'll buy/borrow a western saddle and take a few lessons from our trainer....who rides all her horses both western & english. So I've been reading your posts with keen interest! I'm more worried about messing up the horse so I definitely need to work with the trainer so I don't confuse our poor young mare.
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| Plaza Suite | May 31 2010, 01:14 PM Post #9 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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I started riding hunters at age 11. I pretty much haven't stopped since then. I do add in the jumpers from time to time. Well, almost 4 years ago I bought my horse (a 4yr old QH). I was ponying at the racetrack at the time and needed another horse. He was everything I hated but something really drew me to him. A week after I bought him I got hurt and was out for 3 1/2 months. I took him to a farm and decided to make him my riding horse. I really doubted he would ever be able to jump but I got with my trainer and now he can do the 3 foot no problem. I had a really awesome year in 2009 and for the first time had watched reining. I decided it was something I at least wanted to try. So after our last big show in Sept we went into western training. He's got a great jog and the rest we are still working on but it really breaks things up. We do the reinging and western pleasure classes at our little schooling shows and while we aren't the best we have a ball. I've noticed that he is going better in the hunters since we started with western. I don't know if its the fact that he can be his lazy self doing western or that he doesn't need to use his brain so much jumping, but he seems much happier doing both. It also keeps me from getting too bored. That and we also have some pretty cool trails to ride and he is a great trail horse as well. I never thought he would be the horse for me but you couldn't pay my enough to sell him.
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| FlashGordon | May 31 2010, 06:05 PM Post #10 |
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You're BANNED!
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TBF have you thought about working with a Centered Riding type dressage instructor? Someone really into biomechanics? They can be hard to find but I rode with one for 6 months a few years back, only stopped because she moved to FL. She was fabulous and was really able to pinpoint the root of some of my issues and help me to overcome them, hip/pelvis tightness being one of them. Physical therapy can also do wonders. I went last summer for a neck injury, but the guy ended up working on my lower back and pelvis as well and doing some chiropractic work. I saw a huge difference in my riding and I was much more comfortable in the saddle too, no lower back pain or hip soreness. |
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| SnackPack | May 31 2010, 06:21 PM Post #11 |
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You're BANNED!
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I have a hard time remembering the order of my riding life: when I did what. I do know that I started western. I don't have any idea if the lessons or the pleasure riding part came first. I took western lessons as a tween with a neighbor friend. that lasted for a year or so. There was another friend that moved on to a trail riding/rental barn (remember when they still had those? ), so I would go spend the night and we'd get to take horses out all day, rather than just the hour. It was great fun being crazy kids, riding through the creeks, in the arena, doing whatever we wanted. The switch to English came when lesson friend switched....so I just followed. Back then you started in the hunters and eq no matter what. Jumpers were for the more experience riders...so I did H and E. It felt like home. When friend moved I kept on. Then there was a period of time when I wasn't allowed to ride at all because I wouldn't wear the rubber bands for my braces. That lasted over a year. When I started back, I never questioned that it would be anything other than H/E. I guess I'm lucky in that I found what I wanted to do early on and am completely satisfied with it, successful or not. I think it's fun to sit in a western saddle or a dressage saddle (only done that twice in my life), but I don't ever want to do so long term....although I do say when I'm too scared to jump anymore, I will do reining.
Edited by SnackPack, May 31 2010, 06:23 PM.
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| Trialbyfire | Jun 1 2010, 04:53 AM Post #12 |
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You're BANNED!
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There might be a Centered Riding instructor around here but I can say that dressage is not common; I've never heard of a barn that offers dressage lessons around here so I'd definitely have to travel. I have considered physical therapy, but just don't have it in me (or my schedule) to embark on something like that now. This is how I've been my entire life - I can barely sit cross-legged, even though I am flexible in most other directions. I can remember this even as a young child, so it's not an injury or just old age....so I think changing this at 42 would be pretty hard. I'm sure you've all tried putting a Barbie doll on a horse and it doesn't work because they don't have enough flexibility in their hips.....that's sort of my issue....although thankfully not quite that bad! The end result is that the shorter I make my stirrups, the harder it is for me to bring in my lower leg to the side of the horse and keep them still, and stay soft in my hips. I can still ride, but it's not as pretty and I personally don't feel as balanced as when I drop my stirrups a hole or two. But considering that I don't show, and really have no desire to show, I'm not sure it matters. But in thinking about other disciplines, western (or dressage) might be something I could try that wouldn't be a continual fight against my own conformation. So we'll see.
Edited by Trialbyfire, Jun 1 2010, 04:55 AM.
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| OpticalIllusion | Jun 1 2010, 06:55 AM Post #13 |
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You're BANNED!
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My mom was wonderful and made sure I had a taste of all disciplines so I could choose what I truly loved. I primarily ride hunters, and I also do western pleasure and reining as a second thing. But I have and am able and do on occasion ride sidesaddle, dressage, cross country, saddle seat, can do trail class, horsemanship (pre pro years), working western, team roping, jumpers, showmanship and halter, speed events, team penning, trail riding, driving.... I think thats it lol. My junior horse was a wonderful mare that let me do anything I wanted on her. Im actually doing a reining show at the Lexington Horse Center on Saturday and a hunter show on Sunday. Edited by OpticalIllusion, Jun 1 2010, 06:56 AM.
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| MayaTy02 | Jun 1 2010, 07:07 AM Post #14 |
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You're BANNED!
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I just have to pipe in that I have never really switched disciplines though I did dabble in eventing when I was a kid and enjoyed it (though my horse didn't). I think it's great to try different disciplines, particularly if you have reached a plateau or loss of interest where you are. Kudos to all of you! TBF, do you do pilates? I really think it would help you....and yes you can change your body even after 42 years
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| Trialbyfire | Jun 1 2010, 07:50 AM Post #15 |
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You're BANNED!
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I did, but don't anymore. I took two classes a week for two years and it definitely *helped* but it definitely didn't fix anything. I even met with the instructor privately and discussed my hips and trying to become more flexible specifically for riding, and she gave me some exercises to work on at home. One side of my pelvis is sort of locked, and it gives me a nice stable leg on that side, but my more flexible side is too loose and overall I struggle because I'm not the same on both sides. I really do think I have a conformational defect -- my brother has it too. I am planning to get back to pilates even if just here at home because I really felt like I was stronger and more flexible when I took it...but I do think it would probably take some significant physical therapy to pinpoint the problem and change it. In the end, though, this issue was never an "issue" until I started riding, and it doesn't actually keep me from riding. It just will probably keep me from being a really "good" rider [from an equitation perspective] even if I was a good "able to stay on the horse" rider. So it brings me back to the original issue....what are my goals, and should I just keep taking weekly H/J flat lessons and listening to my trainer say "shoulders back, keep that lower leg tight, sink into those heels" again and again? I don't think I'm likely to get more specific instruction at that barn, especially only taking 1 lesson/week. So, I'm looking for something new. But rode my little mare this morning and she was great.
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So I switched to QHs. I showed on the QH circuit from age 12ish until I graduated high school. 
). I realized, though, that he would never be the kind of horse I wanted - bold and confident - so I sold him to a lady who loves him and still has him.
I'm more worried about messing up the horse so I definitely need to work with the trainer so I don't confuse our poor young mare.
), so I would go spend the night and we'd get to take horses out all day, rather than just the hour. It was great fun being crazy kids, riding through the creeks, in the arena, doing whatever we wanted.
7:09 AM Jul 11