Hi everyone! Just wanted to introduce myself and my favorite thoroughbred, Hobbes. Hobbes is a 16 yr old OTTB that I have been leasing for over a year now. He's quite a packer, although he is not what I'd call a schoolmaster. He was a show hunter for years until he became too lame to do the bigger stuff, so he was donated to a school in VA, where I found him. I've been dumping money into him trying to keep him sound enough to teach me a few more things and take care of me! I've been riding since I was a kid, but I have a tendency to be a nervous rider due to too many dishonest horses in my past...Hobbes is very level-headed and trustworthy!
We're currently concentrating on dressage, but all of our flatwork is revealing some lameness that I CANNOT get rid of; my vet is great and has done as much as he can. When I told him I was thinking about buying Hobbes, his reply was, "Dont make an emotional decision." So...I'm now starting to look at sound horses to purchase. I am so heartbroken about returning my giant pony, but it would be such a bad decision to buy him now as I'd have to board/pay for a horse that couldn't show. He's sound enough to ride regularly, and does better w/ regular work, but I'm not comfortable showing a horse that has even a minor hitch in his giddy up.
I will attempt to keep ya'll updated on my new horse search and my training w/ Hobbes.
Speaking of training, I've been riding in my dressage saddle for months now. I switched back to my cc saddle for a change last night and I felt like I've never ridden before! My hands were all over the place, I felt like I was gonna tip straight over his shoulder, and he was loving the opportunity to dig a whole while he was on his forehand. Note to self: switch back and forth more often.
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6 comments:
Welcome Ellen and Hobbes!! That's good advice from your vet. :) And that's weird about switching saddles, but at least you discovered it so you can focus on working in both.
Yay! It's Ellen! I'm so sorry to hear you're having to give your favorite boy back, but I'm excited to hear about your horse shopping experience!
Btw- pm me...I may have something up your alley.
Welcome!! I am sorry to hear that your buddy won't be sound enough. Hopefully you will find something that will make you feel just as safe and will be able to show.
Welcome!
I'm sorry to hear about Hobbes's lameness issues. I hope you find just the right horse, though. Good luck on your search!
As for the saddles, could it be that your cc saddle is actually throwing your balance off and making it more difficult for you to ride? I have a Wintec 2000, and I have discovered that it throws me off balance (pitches me forward) and I have to fight the saddle to keep my position. I can ride in it (I did so a while back because it was raining) and then switch back to my Germania saddle and it is oh so much easier. (Right now I am only keeping the Wintec because it is good for riding in the rain, or in case I go on a ride to Sauratown and get wet in the river!)
I too have ridden in a dressage saddle for years and rode in an english saddle while I was riding someone else's horse for a while. Boy was it a change. I miised my deep seated dressage saddle.
I agree with your vet on not buying Hobbes. I too fell in love with a horse that was for sale but he toed in way too much to stay sound in the future. There are plenty of affordable horses for sale that are sound. Keep us updated on your search.
I totally understand about the saddle-switching causing major changes in ability to maintain your position -- since with eventing, I have to switch back and forth all the time! I've found I really need to make sure that I switch frequently (ie: mix up my dressage days with jumping days or conditioning/hacking in the jump saddle) or I find my legs and my shoulders going in all the wrong places :P
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