Laney (*filly* 4/10-Tinkerbelle) *New pics pg 187*

[AnnaC]

LOL!! Diane - that video is a scream!!

Megan this all sounds so exciting - yes, would love to see some pictures please.

A tip for getting on a horse in a dignified way - use a strong garden chair (puts you more or less on a level for the stirrup - if you ride at a longish dressage length). Where have all those wonderful solid 'mounting blocks' gone that used to be in all stable yards in the old days?

Of course once you are 'up there' you then have the problem of getting off again???

 

[Wings]

LOL!! Diane - that video is a scream!!

Megan this all sounds so exciting - yes, would love to see some pictures please.

A tip for getting on a horse in a dignified way - use a strong garden chair (puts you more or less on a level for the stirrup - if you ride at a longish dressage length). Where have all those wonderful solid 'mounting blocks' gone that used to be in all stable yards in the old days?

Of course once you are 'up there' you then have the problem of getting off again???

I ALWAYS use a mounting block, even on a pony! I think it's better for their backs.

Plus it makes an awesome excuse

 

[cassie]

I ALWAYS use a mounting block, even on a pony! I think it's better for their backs.

Plus it makes an awesome excuse

I'm exactly the same Bree

I even have a purple mounting block hehe

its made by the people who make the plastic water tanks here in Australia ( one of our suppliers so I get it cheaper

its the best! lol)

and it has three different levels for smaller or higher horses, or smaller or taller people

like me!! lol and its great I leave it out where I ride and don't have to worry about weather

love it!

 

[MeganH]

I remember having to get up on 15-16hh horses at the barn I rode at when I was like 10 or 11 without a mounting block. Someone would help push once you got your foot up in the stirrup.

Austin's barn has a mounting block and they make you use it every time. Luckily, the farm we are going to board at has a mounting block too

They are expanding the riding arena they have too

We are going out to my son's barn today or tomorrow so I will remember my camera to take pictures. I will be giving Austin's notice to end lessons after he finishes February

Good thing is that several people from his barn own horses at the new place we board so that is fun!

 

[a mini dream come true]

Mounting blocks sounds like the cats meow. I used a 55 gal barrel. of course I rode my horse bare back. Didn't have a saddle. good thing she was so gentle.

 

[Eagle]

Maybe I could just hire a helicopter to air lift me and drop me in the saddle!!

Good job you own a private jet

 

[Wings]

Never used a mounting block before!! Where were they when I needed them?? But at my age -- I think I'd have trouble getting on top of the mounting block!!!

Maybe I could just hire a helicopter to air lift me and drop me in the saddle!!

:rofl

Back when I started mounting blocks were a major no no, we had to be able to mount anything without assistance!

But now there's a huge push to use them to reduce the yank on the saddle of mounting a tall beastie and every riding school and agistment I know of uses them. I just have a milk crate to clamber onto the pony but will need something bigger if I get my next baby!

 

[MeganH]

They tell Austin at the barn he rides at now it is bad for the horses back and shifts the saddle when you don't use a mounting block. It is much easier with the block for sure.

Ricky is responding to a loud 'AANT!'

he's starting to do better

Still have to be careful when you have your back turned as he loves those surprise attacks and he got me once today while I was cleaning his pen.

We are going to lessons this afternoon- Not sure if Austin will be on Jake or not since this is a makeup lesson, but his normal horse, Diablo, is already being ridden so it will have to be someone else. I will bring my camera. We stopped by real fast yesterday to give Diablo and Jake a carrot (my hubby wanted to see him bad lol) and Jake was such a sweet boy. Handsome and has some long legs. He could use some meat on him in my opinion- but that can be sorted

He is being kept in a paddock with some very rude young boys who picked at him a little so I am sure he would be glad to move elsewhere.

More foal movement today and last night

I love being able to feel them

Will post some pictures later!!

 

[cassie]

Yay for foal movement, yay for riding lesson, yay for visiting jake!! Yay for everything lolWhen I used to do vaulting ( gymnastics on horses) we used to vault on to the bum of the horse hehe the poor horses I can't believe the crazy stuff I I'd lol of course couldn't do it now lol

 

[MeganH]

Jake

Ricky

Laney

 

[AnnaC]

Ooooo great pictures Megan - loved the one of the cheeky Ricky!!

Your Jake is a nice looking boy - he's got a real sweet look about him too so I can see how you all fell in love with him. Can I ask how old he is and how tall? And how tall/old is Austin? (sorry if you have already posted all this elsewhere.)

Providing Jake is the right age, sensible and well trained then I think that he may suit Austin very well. BUT and I'm sorry to say this (just my opinion I hasten to add) Jake is not going to be up to your hubby's weight.

Jake is a lightweight in build, he is lacking the bone to ever be a weight carrier no matter how much one could build/muscle up his body. To get an idea of weight you need to weigh the rider plus weigh the saddle that will be used, and remember the riders clothes/boots etc especially if the weather is cold. Then you also need to factor in the experience of the rider. An experienced rider will be able to 'carry' their own weight when on a horse and correctly position themselves to be as light as possible on the horse's back. Did you know that a rider who loses their balance even for a moment (small sway backwards as the horse moves off) TREBBLES their weight at that moment!! The correct position when riding needs the rider to be sitting upright, but relaxed, with their shoulder, hip and heel in a straight vertical line. Anyone who sits in a saddle with their lower legs forward in front of this line, is putting the weight of their body behind the movement of the horse and thus increasing the weight the horse has to carry.

Another point regarding the horse is that the 'plates' on the ends of all its bones only 'close' slowly starting from the foot upwards and over time covering all the bones in the body until those on the length of the spine close - the horse now has a fully matured and strong skeleton. The spine finally 'matures' during the horse's 6th year!! This is why so many horses that are broken at 2 and 3 and ridden hard at 4 and 5 have problems with their legs and spines (backs). So even if you are buying a horse who is older than 7, it is often a good idea to try to find out what sort of life he has had during his younger years.

I hope some of this is helpful to you - even if it is not what you necessarily want to hear. maybe some of the others will give you their opinions. Whatever you choose to do (maybe as you will be moving, Jake for Austin and another horse for hubby!!????) I wish you the very best of luck.

 

[Equuisize]

Gosh Laney is moving along closer and closer.

I always think that last months are the hardest when you tell Mommy every night,

'Give me that baby, please" 11 months is just to long to wait. LOL

I like Anna's thought's on Jake.

The more details you get on him the best you'll be able to decide if he's the boy for you.

I like him cause he's a red head. I always 'see' red headed when I'm looking for a horse.

I love those gorgeous red coats, shining in the sun.

 

[MeganH]

Thanks

Austin is 9 years old and 70lbs. Jake is either 8 or 10 years old and 15hh. He was trained western pleasure for showing but his owner was injured on a different horse and couldn't ride anymore. So he is gaited and well trained- but wasn't being ridden or worked so she opted to sell him.

I want more weight on him for sure. Do you think I will be able to get him in better condition weigh/muscle wise? With good food and being worked? I do want him to have more meat as I will ride him too. That picture of him with my husband makes him look smaller then he really is. He looks like a pony lol

Here is another photo- you can tell he is not wide at all in this photo- but his head is very nice and fits his height so I hope I can help him fill out and get in shape? (please ignore my husbands expression lol)



here is him next to a horse (who is a little shorter then Jake but still 15hh) that is in good shape. I like to see the nice round hind end and you can see Jake needs more weight.



I really appreciate all the input and info! It does help a lot. Luckily, there are other horses at the place we will board hubby can ride.

 

[cassie]

I agree with Anna and Nancy, Megan. Jake is a lovely boy, love that blaze and with a bit of conditioning love and attention I think he looks a gorgeous man!

I have to agree about your hubby maybe being a little big for Jake, I think he would be the perfect size for yourself and Austin, but I think your hubby might be better suited to a hunter something with a thicker bone set so that both the horse and hubby can have a great time, and reduce risk of injury.

Hope this is ok for me to say this, he is a lovely horse! and as Anna said looks really kind!

he looks his height! with a bit of work he is going to be a gorgeous horse! I am so excited for you!! Yippee!!!!

 

[Equuisize]

This is my opinion.

8 to 10 years old is a nice age for a gelding.

They've had some life experiences, hopefully good and have the first edge of

foolishness off them, plus a long useful life ahead of them.

Jake needs some more groceries & conditioning, to slowly bring him to what will be his peak condition.

Muscling goes down pretty darn quick when they aren't being used.

I think what you need to consider is how he will be used, how hard he will be used and

what kind of riding you desire to do with him, as a family.

If he's going to have light use by your husband, I don't see any long term issues.

If you're going to ask him to take your husband, up in the mountains and on a week long

pack trip, probably not the right horse.

If your son is going to possibly use him in 4-H, or something similar, as a performance horse or a

gaming horse with conditioning and training he'll be perfect.

I know when we got our first horse many many moons ago, it was a family horse .... supposedly. Didn't last

long like that. We ended up with a horse for each person and when my sons were showing, heavily,

no one rode their horses, but them.

It became serious activity for them so the letting friends come 'ride' who had no experience,

who sat on the horse and used the horse's mouth as a steering wheel, well, that ended.

Trust your experience and your gut and you'll know what horse is right for which rider in the family.

Plus have tons of fun!!!!

 

[cassie]

Nancy, you have said it exactly right lol good work

Megan hope you all really enjoy your jake

He is lovely n sounds like the perfect horse especially for you n you son

 

[Eagle]

Megan I love the pic of Ricky

he is just way too funny! Laney is moving along nicely and getting a good shape to her tummy

Jake is a real cutie and has a wonderful eye, I bet Austin is really excited, there is nothing more precious than the memories of your first horse/pony. Mine was called Mr Perkins.

 

[MeganH]

Thank you everyone

We are so excited right now. I could cry. Things have really fallen nicely into place for us and with some work I think Jake will be a wonderful horse. His face really does reflect his sweet nature. Austin's trainer said if she had room for him she would have bought him in a heartbeat. She is a big fan of him.

I love getting shots of Ricky horsing around. He is such a silly boy. He was trying to pull my muck bucket around by the rope yesterday as I was cleaning out his pen.

I don't know how you couldn't love him lol

Laney's belly is looking so good! She really is growing these last months. So exciting! Only a few weeks and she will be on camera.. then a few weeks after that and there will be a little foal!

 

[AnnaC]

Megan, thank you for not taking objuection to what I said in my last post. I also think that Jake will be the perfect horse for Austin, plus he can start off with him right away and they can progress slowly together as you get Jake fitter and more muscled up - just be careful that a lot of good food doesn't make Jake too lively! Improving him slowly will give you a chance to work it in with Jake's gaining confidence and experience.

And if there is another horse at your new boarding place that hubby could borrow, then that will be perfect (until you get another horse of course!!

)

I cant wait for Laney to be up on Marestare.

Be sure to keep that extra food going, she must not be allowed to drop any weight (I still think she could be carrying a bit more weight at this stage of the game) as a lot of mares will suddenly give more to their foals in this last month and lose it from themselves.

Wonder what Ricky will think of his new little bro' or sis'??

 

[cassie]

haha I reckon Ricky will LOVE his new bro or sis!!! I can so imagine him running around trying to show the new baby how to roll in the mud, rear up hopefully not how to nip mummy Megan...

shhhh lol

I am so excited for your new baby Megan!!! yippee!!

:yeah