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I have come to confess. I was once a beginner rider, and I even attended horse shows

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  • #61
    I'm glad I had an older sister to make all the fashion faux pas for the two of us . By the time I got the hand me downs, I had a fairly passable presentation. My first horse also jumped great over 2'6....probably because his toes were closer to 3'9 a lot of the time.

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    • #62
      No, no, my dear friends. It is not the lowly 2' hunters of the world that are ruining the traditions and foundations of this sport. It is I, the amateur rider who just last year, in my (count it) 13th year of showing, managed to display all of these atrocities in AA show rings across the country:

      I call this the "hunters are only judged on the horse, right?"

      One of my personal favourites - Having a Solid Base of Support for Dummies

      And perhaps the best one of all: When you can't afford to get your horse's teeth floated, just do it yourself!

      I shouldn't beat myself up too much - I can manage to keep it together from time to time, and sometimes my equitation is alright - I've even attempted an auto release now and again!

      But trust me - if you think the sport is on its deathbed because Trudy Trustfund paid a high price to take her three horses to show in the 18" hopeful hunters at WEF, you've got another thing coming, and it's called me, the average-riding amateur who thinks it's fun to take on the big dudes in the high performance hunters on her home bred horse that also has to pack her butt around the A/O jumpers, because heck! What are the chances of finding two horses that will put up with this gongshow on horseback?

      Comment


      • #63
        Originally posted by goodlife View Post
        because heck! What are the chances of finding two horses that will put up with this gongshow on horseback?
        OMG, the look of judgment on your horse's face is PRICELESS. "GODDAMNIT, MOM, REALLY?"
        Blog chronicling our new eventing adventures: Riding With Scissors

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        • #64
          You guys are just quitters! I started out jumping ahead of the pommel and stuck with it 40 years later.
          McDowell Racing Stables

          Home Away From Home

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          • #65
            Originally posted by PaintedHunter View Post
            OMG, the look of judgment on your horse's face is PRICELESS.
            She's probably thinking, good God, Kady. Did you actually think we could leave from there!? Hold on, let me raise my head slowly so you can get back in the tack and for the love of all that is holy, could you find a quiet one out of the corner this time around?

            Here's some further evidence to assert that notion (don't mind the ironic music it's set to): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr8BpBUfbQQ

            Comment


            • #66
              Originally posted by goodlife View Post
              She's probably thinking, good God, Kady. Did you actually think we could leave from there!? Hold on, let me raise my head slowly so you can get back in the tack and for the love of all that is holy, could you find a quiet one out of the corner this time around?

              Here's some further evidence to assert that notion (don't mind the ironic music it's set to): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr8BpBUfbQQ
              OMG

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              • #67
                Originally posted by goodlife View Post
                She's probably thinking, good God, Kady. Did you actually think we could leave from there!? Hold on, let me raise my head slowly so you can get back in the tack and for the love of all that is holy, could you find a quiet one out of the corner this time around?

                Here's some further evidence to assert that notion (don't mind the ironic music it's set to): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr8BpBUfbQQ
                This is the best thing I've ever seen.

                I want your horse/your life.
                Originally posted by BAC
                I don't think FF's post was rude (not this one at least).

                Comment


                • #68
                  This was so lovely!! Someone should start a before and after thread on here for people to post their own transformations

                  Comment


                  • #69
                    LOVE your photos OP!

                    Comment


                    • #70
                      Originally posted by goodlife View Post
                      No, no, my dear friends. It is not the lowly 2' hunters of the world that are ruining the traditions and foundations of this sport. It is I, the amateur rider who just last year, in my (count it) 13th year of showing, managed to display all of these atrocities in AA show rings across the country:

                      I call this the "hunters are only judged on the horse, right?"

                      One of my personal favourites - Having a Solid Base of Support for Dummies

                      And perhaps the best one of all: When you can't afford to get your horse's teeth floated, just do it yourself!

                      I shouldn't beat myself up too much - I can manage to keep it together from time to time, and sometimes my equitation is alright - I've even attempted an auto release now and again!

                      But trust me - if you think the sport is on its deathbed because Trudy Trustfund paid a high price to take her three horses to show in the 18" hopeful hunters at WEF, you've got another thing coming, and it's called me, the average-riding amateur who thinks it's fun to take on the big dudes in the high performance hunters on her home bred horse that also has to pack her butt around the A/O jumpers, because heck! What are the chances of finding two horses that will put up with this gongshow on horseback?
                      LOVE this post too. You guys have made me smile today. Good lord I wish everyone had a sense of humor when it comes to riding !

                      Comment


                      • #71
                        This was from one of my first lessons on the best lesson pony ever "Billy Bob". Gotta love those multi purpose rubber boots! An the green nylon bridle!!!!

                        https://www.flickr.com/photos/120835...3/13271988634/

                        Fast forward to my first horse show. Love the short sleeve show shirt! I was so proud of that 3rd place ribbon. I'm not sure how I got it. That pony was one of those great lesson horses at home but when you took her off the property she became a nut job!. Her show name was "Last Resort" that should have told me something. Meh.. I still thought she was awesome.

                        https://www.flickr.com/photos/120835...3/13271663035/


                        By now I have mostly gotten my stuff together and have figured out how to dress. I was staunchly opposed to doing my hair properly. I wanted my ears out! I loved my velvet hat and proudly wore it till it had faded and my mom bought me a new one and threw out the old one.

                        https://www.flickr.com/photos/120835...3/13271993584/


                        I did a small stint in the jumpers. Ehh not to shabby.

                        https://www.flickr.com/photos/120835...3/13271658275/


                        Flash forward to today. This was from a show a few weeks ago on my somewhat of a baby. It was his first show in the 3ft.

                        https://www.flickr.com/photos/120835...3/13271735943/
                        Last edited by hunterprincez; Mar. 19, 2014, 02:57 PM.

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                        • #72
                          hunterprincez....can't see any of your pics

                          I think you need to change your FB settings so we can see them...or you can go through another photo-hosting site like photobucket.
                          A Moments Worth - "Chance" - 1990 Chestnut OTTB
                          King Creole - "Milo" - 2006 Bay Appendix QH

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                          • #73
                            Hunterprincez - if you right click the photo and select "copy image URL", they will be viewable without altering your privacy settings.

                            Comment


                            • #74
                              overandonward: "Going back into the ring he gave me the very clear message "Shut up and try to stay on while I do this." I understood so clearly that I could give a little leg, but I was not to touch the reins, so I left it up to him! He already knew the course (basic outside-inside) and knew his job, which was a good thing because I was too nervous to think. We got a ribbon of some kind, but I mostly remember being thrilled at the end of the ride that we did all the jumps the first time, in the right order and in the right direction."

                              LOL. Reminds me of 3 horses:
                              1. Horse in "The Horse and His Boy" (CS Lewis Narnia series): chapter 2, I believe, where he's telling the little boy how to tack him up, and teaching him to ride
                              2. Little Santa standing at the start of pony hunters (outside course days) with one of Harry's youngsters, letting him know that he (like the little boy above) was NOT to touch the reins "Ordinarily, they're for guiding me, but since I intend to do all the guiding on this trip, you will hold on to them and do not move."
                              3. A multi-discipline Olympic horse introducing his new mom to the world of hunters - studying the course intently "It's OK - I got this. You sit there and look pretty & we'll show them how it's done."
                              www.ayliprod.com
                              Equine Photography in the Northeast

                              Comment


                              • #75
                                This is my first horse show in 1984. I don't believe I was jumping yet as this horse would not stay sound. Also, this show was 2 days after being driven off a 30 foot cliff into the creek bed by my grandmother as she was taking me to the barn to ride. BTW - I HATE my show clothes. I purchased the coat and shirt on sale as they were out of fashion colors. The shirt was gold with green stripes and the coat was heather brown. Who thought those went together?

                                Second show on this horse. the outfit is getting better...although we've got the patent topped boots that I mentioned in the Zooey thread. And bane of my existence...they are too short. I didn't get boots that were tall enough until I went custom.

                                Different horse but the same shirt, now with a new navy coat. Green stripes go with navy? Nope. And look, I am ducking with no weight in those heels and throwing my hands up her neck. At least my back is flat and my eyes are up.

                                then there was a 12 year break, but when I came back, I made sure to wear my old rust Harry Halls and the same helmet. Smart decision about the helmet. Please note the crazy intense spider crouch. I still like to do that.

                                And for all of you who think you can't get a good pick over 2', you just need a horse of limited scope. When they max out at 2'6", you just might get a decent shot. (and yes, that is the same coat, boots and helmet from 14 years prior.

                                Then I finally bought my first horse but I was still wearing rust breeches and the same navy coat. New helmet, though (it was navy as well. ). Horse was pretty, but green and spooky. We had many fun moments and I'm sure most people that watched us weren't that scared.. We did have some good moments

                                there was the saintly horse I loved to jump ahead on who let me do some low eventing successfully. Sadly, all my stellar (not!)pictures with him are not scanned. I wonder why?

                                I've had some lovely moments on many horses. Seems getting left is a habit when I'm nervous...usually with BNTs (Greg Best clinic was the first pic and Rob Gage was second). I can pull it together on occasion in front of a BNT.

                                I figure the good and bad are all parts of the learning curve and the if the rest of world can't suffer through watching me learn, to bad for them.
                                Keith: "Now...let's do something normal fathers and daughters do."
                                Veronica: "Buy me a pony?"

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                                • #76
                                  I'll play too...

                                  I've thoroughly enjoyed everyone's old pictures so I figured I'd play too...

                                  The best old pics are in paper form at home, so everyone will have to settle for these gems.

                                  2000 pony club D rally, on my saint of a first horse.

                                  Next mare had a huge jump and buck, which made me learn a solid seat and release. But sometimes she was good and I'd get lazy and perch with the preying mantis hands...

                                  Thankfully next horse was a saint of an OTTB who as long as I stayed out of his way could have passed for a hunter. But Dang I couldn't shake the funky hands!!!

                                  Then I took a break from jumping to ride reiners, where it is still very obvious that I am not a reiner. But sometimes when I would quit riding I'd actually look semi 'normal'.

                                  I'm in the process of making the switch back into eventing and am still trying to figure out the new mare, it's been interesting and thankfully there isn't much photographic evidence just yet...

                                  Comment


                                  • #77
                                    Alright.. ill share mine too!

                                    Ok... here is my first horse. Looks like I was just schooling at home here since I wasn't wearing a helmet, and riding in shorts

                                    https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...59921085_n.jpg

                                    Ok, someone informed me of appropriate show attire FINALLY. Much better than the last photo. This was me in Short Stirrup under saddle.

                                    https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...65176608_n.jpg

                                    This was me with my first pony, in long stirrup. Must have been part owl because I am looking to the left and slightly backwards. And what's with the superman arms? or was I taking a nap? No way to know.

                                    https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho..._1152102_n.jpg

                                    Still sleeping on that neck, but my pony looks like a million bucks to me. So does EQ REALLY matter lol ;-)
                                    https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...7121_464_n.jpg

                                    I've got some more winners but those last 3 are what was online. Definitely need to find more.
                                    Last edited by WillowB; Mar. 19, 2014, 02:52 PM. Reason: addition

                                    Comment


                                    • #78
                                      Originally posted by supershorty628 View Post
                                      Well I have you all beat... I rode in a SUNDRESS and SPACEMAN SPIFF HELMET. You're all just jealous of my style, admit it. I wore clothes that make people's eyes bleed.

                                      I had full chaps with fringe and a plastic helmet with one of those velvet covers that eventually faded to a purpley color.
                                      I jumped ahead as a pony kid
                                      I looked down as a pony kid.

                                      I've humiliated myself in public by falling off, getting jumped out of the tack, falling off (did I mention that already?)*, and one spectacular incident where I got jumped out of the tack so badly that I broke my hand on my face when I splatted and stayed on.

                                      I took a nap on my horse's neck once in the middle of an spontaneous aerial gymnastics routine to make that ordinary jumpoff more interesting.

                                      I had a horse lie down in a line up for a flat class, which assuredly wasn't pretty, and which ultimately caused a minor trainwreck on COTH.

                                      And yet, through all of this, my horse loves me most of the time (and whose love can be bought with PopTarts when I haven't earned it), my trainer is usually willing to acknowledge that we know each other, and I still love what I do.

                                      *The video of this is a really spectacular example of how not to ride.
                                      OMG - THANK YOU! I fell off in my lesson today and said quite a few curse words and "I quit!" Those pictures cheered me up and I think I will be ready to go in my lesson on Friday! I RARELY fell off when I competed in dressage. Took up hunters and I fall off more than I would like. Can probably ride circles around lots of people on the flat in a dressage saddle but put a fence in front of me and it seems 50% of my riding ability leaves my body.

                                      Comment


                                      • #79
                                        Oh Thx guys - I was sleeping over on the dressage thread (but then the dressage is almost always a - not unlike the lower level dressage shows) - then I come here and my day has instantly gotten better!!

                                        Dewey - ROTFL that pompom is so big... well you can guess the rest

                                        Comment


                                        • #80
                                          OMFG I am laughing so hard. and I'm slow here at work and sad that they have blocked a ton of these sites so I can't see them all.

                                          Somewhere out there is a picture of me in rust breeches, a green hunt coat with a peach shirt all atop a Arab (THE HORROR) accepting my champion ribbon (how did nobody die of shame giving me that ribbon?). And another one of those WIDE hipped canary breeches atop an EVEN WORSE appie hony......

                                          Forgive me George Morris for I have sinned. My transgressions are too numerous to mention in public...... Or in the space provided.

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