Outriding Thomas at Rolex

[Rt66Kix]

I have some photos of Thomas and me at Rolex. They were taken Saturday morning; I was assigned to the Keeper's Brush (#23). He's 18 hh and I'm 5'6. I don't think I look like a kid on him!

He did an outstanding job. He also figured out that being an outrider's horse means "treats from the crowd." He had 2 apple cores, 4 whole apples, 5 carrots, lemon Girl Scout cookies, and a Little Debbie Cream-filled Oatmeal Cake. That made his eyes roll back in his head; he loved it!

He drew quite the crowd, and nothing fazed him. He whinnied to the first horse that went over the fence, but after that totally ignored the other competitors. I think he would have been happy if he would have had another horse to stand with, because he was calling to the other ones that he could see.

I'm pretty proud of my $1.00 2008 Rolex rescue horse!

http://pets.webshots.com/album/571467997Wzpltg (http://pets.webshots.com/album/571467997Wzpltg)

[ChocoMare]

Awwwww, I loff him! :yes:

Fingers crossed that I can get in next year on Penny. We'll be the Draft Cross Invaders. -- You on your 'Norman Warmblood' and I on my 'American Cob' :lol:

[kmsf]

He looks sooo happy and so do you! No peeps for treats?

[MistyBlue]

double post...I'm a moron.

[MistyBlue]

What a great head and expression on him!
And no, you don't look tiny on him. I would picture 5'6" on 18hh (and he doesn't look slight built) to look a lot smaller but you two make a nice looking team. :yes:

BTW....am I the only one who thought Thomas was the UK poster from here?

[talkofthetown]

BTW....am I the only one who thought Thomas was the UK poster from here?

Nope, I thought the same thing...Wow, he must be a die hard fan to come all the way over here just to be an outrider.:lol:

Handsome boy!

[LaurieB]

You guys look great together! I always look at the outriders and think that looks like such fun. I hope you had a wonderful time. :)

[Chief2]

Handsome horse! :eek:
You look great together! I'm glad he enjoyed the snackfest! :lol:

[eyesontheground]

I saw you guys!! In fact, I commented to my friend that I wanted to wander over and beg for a test ride! :winkgrin: I thought he was too cute!!

Darn, now I wish I had...at least I would have gotten to meet a cother!

[FalseImpression]

Wonderful to see Thomas back at Rolex!! Did the people who sold him to you for $1.00 get to see him this year? He is beautiful and you look great on him...

[Skeezix]

It would be tough to debate who looks like they are having a better time :)

What a lovely boy, and you both look nicely put together!

[Trakehner]

What a beauty.

[Dispatcher]

I also first thought the thread was referring to the other poster Thomas!!

The horse, Thomas--he goes in a bitless bridle? Any special reason?

He does look wonderful in all those photos!

[Angel Undercover]

Aww he is gorgeous!! Great pictures too!! :)

[furlong47]

Awww... I saw you and your big boy there! Didn't know who you were, though. There should be some kind of COTH secret sign :lol:

[Huntertwo]

What a great head and expression on him!
And no, you don't look tiny on him. I would picture 5'6" on 18hh (and he doesn't look slight built) to look a lot smaller but you two make a nice looking team. :yes:

BTW....am I the only one who thought Thomas was the UK poster from here?

lol...I thought the same thing.. duh :confused:

[Rt66Kix]

The horse, Thomas--he goes in a bitless bridle? Any special reason?

He does look wonderful in all those photos!

Thank you! I use Dr. Cook's Bitless Bridle on all my horses. I read his book and he strongly feels there is a link between balance and movement and having something in the horse's mouth. Since most of my horses are rehabs that have lameness issues in their front ends, I have found tremendous improvement in their way of going AND in their recovery by not using a bit. And with my OTQH that can get "hot" when riding in a group, he doesn't have anything to lean and brace upon.

I ride all the horses in Dr. Cook's bridle, even when I foxhunt. Buddy had foundered and rotated over 5 degrees, and when he was ready to resume riding, I rode him down the road in a Kimberwicke w/o a chain, and he tripped 3 times. Came back and put him in an eggbut snaffle; same tripping and stumbling. Came back and tried a French link; he didn't trip as badly but kept his nose on his chest. I'm thinking, "I can't foxhunt without a bit! I'd be insane!" He tripped and stumbled so badly that I thought all our work was for naught. But then I thought I'd be more likely to die from him tripping and stumbling, versus him getting away from me in the field. So I put him into the Bitless Bridle, and immediately his nose came off his chest; the stumbling and tripping stopped; his stride lengthened and I had a sound horse. This experiment took about 30 minutes to conduct, and I've never put a bit in my horses' mouths again. Atikus, the Danish WB that had been abused, refused to let me put a bit in his mouth. He actually was my first horse I rode in this bridle, and his self-carriage and movement are wonderful.

I don't think I own a bit big enough for Thomas. His bridle is the draft sized synthetic Dr. Cook's, and I can also use it on Winston. Since Winston had a fractured jaw at one point, and it was dislocated for who-knows-how-long, he doesn't mind the Bitless Bridle either.

It was nice to have several people come up and tell me their success stories with this particular bridle as well. It's a lot of fun to meet everyone, and yes, I agree we need to have a COTH pin or badge or some type of identifying sign!

[Artful]

yes, I agree we need to have a COTH pin or badge or some type of identifying sign!

some sort of coat of arms, with a peep, a curb chain, and a crayon in it maybe....