<3 *Starstruck* <3 (First time riding my horses English!)

[Dakota Sunrise]

Hehe, I'm so excited!:p :D I rode Dakota English for the first time yesterday and Beauty today and had SO much fun.:clap: My equitation is for shame, my posting skills are terribibble, and I don't have a clue what I'm doing, but it was FUN!:p I definitely need to find half chaps that will fit my shockinly wide & short hobbit calves though because the leathers pinched like crazy.:doh:

Here is the video, as promised.:) It's pretty lame and probably boring, and the song is just one that has been stuck in my head for three days, but I found it amusing.:p Of course I'm easily amused.:innocent: But at least the whole thing is never before seen footage, lol.:p
Sorry the quality is pretty bad, my camera takes sucky videos unfortunately.:doh: Someday I'll get a decent one.

Oh, and ignore the random hand gesture in the beginning of the video. I was waving at my dad, lol.:p Also, the timing is off on the video. It changed when I uploaded it. Which is very annoying because it was almost perfect before!:doh:

YouTube- First time riding my horses English!!!

ETA: Please don't comment now saying "Beauty is lame." She is off and you can see it in the video, but I am aware of it. I appriciate your concern, I just don't want this thread to turn into another one about her various hoof issues.:( Thanks.:)



And a few pics of my ponies in their new english tack::)

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=1280&pictureid=18094

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=1280&pictureid=18093

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=1280&pictureid=18092

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=1280&pictureid=18104

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=1280&pictureid=18103

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=1280&pictureid=18102

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=1280&pictureid=18100

[PoniesRock101]

SOOOO, Since youtube hates meh... I'll post my comment here! but I did favorite your video! :DD

AHHH Kota and beauty are so ADORABLE! LOVE the pic at 3:23.
You look really good! Especially your first time english on your ponies! :)) Keep working on it Lizzy!
Oh and thanks for getting Lady gaga in my head!
--your hobbit friend o-:)

[Equine_Woman]

Very cute! You're great with the video editing!!! I haven't been following along but I assume you know Beauty is pretty off at the trot right? Both of them look really cute with the saddle! Riding English is great for your balance! A very good thing to do! Although you seem to have great balance to begin with! ;)

[All4Grace]

EW- I was going to ask the same thing, Beauty did look a bit off at the walk and more so at the trot.

Nifty trick to remembering yout diagonals at the trot, which you got most to the time, "Rise and fall with the wall" up when outside leg is forward, down when it's back.

I am a english snob so I LOVE seeing western riders try english. :-D Don't feel bad about feeling awkward at first in the english, you looked really good. You should see me ride western, it's comical!

[ImaBronsonBear]

Cute video! Yes, i noticed that Beauty was off at both the walk and trot - left front, i think.

[AUEquine]

Actually the both looked off to me.

Dakota, you have a very nice natural english seat. Need a little work on your hands, but your body posistion was very nice.

[Petra]

I loved your video Lizzy. I always enjoy watching them!
I don't know much about riding, so I have no comments, except you looked great to me! :)

[vicklynn]

You always make fun videos Dakota!!:) I got a chuckle out of the stop on Beauty, ment for a western saddle. ;) I wish I Myst could do that stop.
I saw Beauty off also, wasnt so sure about Dakota.
Question, is the saddle to far up on Beauty?

[Dakota Sunrise]

Thanks for all the nice comments, guys.:)

As for Beauty being off- yep, I'm aware. I wasn't before, but am now. That was actually sort of a test ride, I wanted to see if she was off. She was okay in the pasture, wasn't limping or anything so I wanted to get her out and moving and see how she did. She was tossing her head and fighting the bit when we were trotting because, well, she's Beauty.:rolleyes: So some of what might look like head bobbing is also her head tossing/bit fighting, it's a very annoying habbit she has, I must say.:doh:
It was weird because I couldn't really feel that she was off at first, and I usually can. But I did notice a little head-bobbing and then I finally was able to feel her moving not quite right. So I just trotted her by the camera a couple times so I would be able to watch the video later and see what she looked like (I didn't ride her long). Once I watched it I could tell immediately that she was off, I think it's her left front. Which is her shoeless hoof so I'm not surprised. This horse has more hoof issues than I know what to do with.:(

As for the saddle being too far forward, maybe. I'm not used to tacking up English yet.:o

Oh, and about Dakota- he's definitely not lame. He does have very weird gaits because of his conformation that make him move a little differently, but it's normal for him. He also doesn't like the arena so he either bucks (which he usually reserves for when I'm bareback;)) or goes into turtle mode.:rolleyes: But yeah, he's fine.:)

I made an "edited to add" in the original post saying that I know she's off and it doesn't need to be mentioned. That's not aimed at you guys, I appriciate your concern.:) I just don't want this to turn into another thread about her various hoof issues.:(

[HeavensEast]

Cool video! You looked great for your first time riding English. :)
I did notice that Beauty was a little gimpy as well. Does she still only have one shoe on?
ETA: We posted at the same time.. nevermind that question, lol.

[Dakota Sunrise]

Cool video! You looked great for your first time riding English. :)
I did notice that Beauty was a little gimpy as well. Does she still only have one shoe on?
ETA: We posted at the same time.. nevermind that question, lol.

Thanks.:) And yep, still only has one shoe on.

[Dakota Sunrise]

SOOOO, Since youtube hates meh... I'll post my comment here! but I did favorite your video! D

AHHH Kota and beauty are so ADORABLE! LOVE the pic at 3:23.
You look really good! Especially your first time english on your ponies! ) Keep working on it Lizzy!
Oh and thanks for getting Lady gaga in my head!
--your hobbit friend o-

Thank you, my fellow hobbit friend!!!:D <3


Riding English is great for your balance! A very good thing to do! Although you seem to have great balance to begin with!

Thank you.:) I thought I was an equitational trainwreck with zero balance!:p

Dakota, you have a very nice natural english seat. Need a little work on your hands, but your body posistion was very nice.

Wow, thank you! And yeah, I definitely do need to work on my hands, at one point I was actually neck reining.:rolleyes: What can I say, I'm a cowgirl at heart. I'm more comfortable western and bareback!:p



You always make fun videos Dakota!!:) I got a chuckle out of the stop on Beauty, ment for a western saddle. ;) I wish I Myst could do that stop.


Lol, thanks.:) Beauty is actually very good at stopping, we've done tons of work on that and it's paid off. All I have to do is sit back and say "Whoa!" and she instantly halts. But slowing down it a whole nother issue.:rolleyes:

[gaited07]

for your first time you did quite well.:) Just keep practicing and you will have it down pat!

[WashingtonBay]

I've only quickly skipped through the video.... glad you got out in the new saddle and started to get a feel for it. :)

Too bad about Beauty not being 100%. Just being uneven in front can't be helping either.

Dakota looks good in it though.... did you ride long enough to get a feel for how it fits him?

[Dakota Sunrise]

for your first time you did quite well.:) Just keep practicing and you will have it down pat!

Thank you and will do.:)


I've only quickly skipped through the video....

Don't blame you there, it wasn't that exciting.

glad you got out in the new saddle and started to get a feel for it. :)

Me too, it was fun.:)

Too bad about Beauty not being 100%. Just being uneven in front can't be helping either.

I know.:( I'm beginning to think I have a first rate pasture puff and loveable pet, but not a saddle horse. I'm running out of options for her hooves. I don't remember what it's like to actually be able to ride her without worrying about soundness issues.

Dakota looks good in it though.... did you ride long enough to get a feel for how it fits him?

Not really, I was kind of afraid to. I'm absolutely terrified of him getting another bump on his back.:o
But eventually I will ride him in it for longer and see how it fits, especially since Beauty's lame again.

[WashingtonBay]

Don't blame you there, it wasn't that exciting.

It's not that :trout:... it's that I have a lot going on here today :)


I know.:( I'm beginning to think I have a first rate pasture puff and loveable pet, but not a saddle horse. I'm running out of options for her hooves. I don't remember what it's like to actually be able to ride her without worrying about soundness issues.


Aw - don't think that yet. Think "I need to make taming Beauty my spring project". Work on her feet. File and bang on them. She can get over this. She's not abused, she's just acting like it. Just be more stubborn than she is. :)



Good luck with EVERYTHING....

[shewasmyshadow]

Good video. You look good. Find some respectable english riders on youtube, watch them and copy them. That's actually how I learned to ride HUS. :D I would sweep all the english classes too. It made all the other 4-Her's with trainer moms SO mad. LOL. That said, you can do it!! Emulate and you will get it. I'm living proof.

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

COOL!!!! I love your videos!

[Fork]

Dakota, you have a very nice natural english seat. Need a little work on your hands, but your body posistion was very nice.I agree! :) You have a fantastic seat. Really good english riders always have their elbows at their sides, bent at a 90 degree angle. This gives a lot more control. It's less work on your arms when you ask for a whoa or get yourself into a sticky situation.

There are a couple threads around here about posting on the right diagonal. I like to watch the outside front leg. Every time it goes forward, you should rise up. You can feel it if you put your hand against their shoulder as you're trotting. Once you get the feel of the rising leg, you'll know you're on the right diagonal.

Lookin' good!

[Dakota Sunrise]

Aw - don't think that yet. Think "I need to make taming Beauty my spring project". Work on her feet. File and bang on them. She can get over this. She's not abused, she's just acting like it. Just be more stubborn than she is. :)

I had that in my head like a week ago, I thought for sure we could overcome this hoof issue. I was all ready and determined and had a great plan. But the training session was an absolute disaster and accomplished nothing and made me realize just how impossible this situation with her really is. I don't know who was more upset, her or me. I swear sometimes she must have been abused because she is just unreasonable when it comes to certain things. She doesn't learn like a normal horse.

A good pair of hoofboots, maybe even with the insert pad thingies for extra comfort, is my last hope. I won't shoe her again. My farrier won't do it anyway and I don't want to put him in an unsafe situation. And I don't want to put Beauty through that again. I'm really hoping the last time didn't tramatize her too much. I'm so hoping she'll at least stand for him to trim her like she used to.



Good luck with EVERYTHING....

Thanks, I'm going to need it.:o


Good video. You look good. Find some respectable english riders on youtube, watch them and copy them. That's actually how I learned to ride HUS. I would sweep all the english classes too. It made all the other 4-Her's with trainer moms SO mad. LOL. That said, you can do it!! Emulate and you will get it. I'm living proof.

Thanks.:) That's a good idea.xD


COOL!!!! I love your videos!

Thank you!:)

[Gypsy Rose]

I agree! :) You have a fantastic seat. Really good english riders always have their elbows at their sides, bent at a 90 degree angle. This gives a lot more control. It's less work on your arms when you ask for a whoa or get yourself into a sticky situation.



Well, not exactly 90 degrees, but close.:) Elbow to hand to horse's mouth should make a straight line. I stink at it, because of Gypsy's low head carriage, lol!:p

I think Dakota looks more like an English horse than Western, to be honest, now that I see him tacked up in an English saddle.

I think you've remembered more of your English lessons than you think. You actually look pretty comfy for first time out!

[Dakota Sunrise]

I agree! :) You have a fantastic seat. Really good english riders always have their elbows at their sides, bent at a 90 degree angle. This gives a lot more control. It's less work on your arms when you ask for a whoa or get yourself into a sticky situation.

There are a couple threads around here about posting on the right diagonal. I like to watch the outside front leg. Every time it goes forward, you should rise up. You can feel it if you put your hand against their shoulder as you're trotting. Once you get the feel of the rising leg, you'll know you're on the right diagonal.

Lookin' good!

Thanks.:) I'll work on it.:D


Well, not exactly 90 degrees, but close.:) Elbow to hand to horse's mouth should make a straight line. I stink at it, because of Gypsy's low head carriage, lol!:p

I think Dakota looks more like an English horse than Western, to be honest, now that I see him tacked up in an English saddle.

I think you've remembered more of your English lessons than you think. You actually look pretty comfy for first time out!


Thanks.:) It's probably the Saddlebred in him that makes him look Englishy, lol.:p Since he's my trail horse he'll still be western and bareback most of the time, but we will have fun fooling around with english in the arena and stuff.:) I'd really like to get Beauty used to English since she's my arena horse, but that's very difficult to do since she's off all the time.:doh:

I didn't think I remembered anything from the English lessons I took when I was 10 or 11. I felt so off balanced and like the worst rider ever!:p

[TheBadLands]

I clicked on a lameness thread and posted here lol. Must be my connection

[allie0]

Can I just say you did AWESOME for your first time. And they look BEAUTIFUL in the english saddle :)

[GrungeEquestrian]

You look great, I understand exactly what your going through. I felt so off balanced when I got back into an english saddle (I used to ride english a little bit when I was 8). But after almost a year of riding english I feel so balanced in english and more balanced while riding western.

I know those leathers are ouchie. I did somehow got used to them where I was no longer sore, but half chaps are probably a good investment.

[Dakota Sunrise]

Thanks, guys!:D I bought a pair of used half chaps and they should be on their way soon so that will make riding in the saddle much more comfy.:)