#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Hiya everyone, I'm new here
Umm, let's see... I'm thirteen (fourteen in mid-April!) and have been riding for about three and a half years - since May 2001, shortly after I turned ten. Needless to say, I've loved horses all my life! Unfortunately, I don't own a horse of my own at the moment. However, I have had the fortune of half-leasing a few horses over the past year or so. (WARNING: following contains some horsey rambling!)#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I first started with Billy, a young little Appendix Quarter Horse/who knows what else around January 2004. He was rather pushbutton but still very green. Unfortunately, he also happens to be a schoolie at the barn I ride at and so all the trainin I put in would be undone every afternoon as others let him get away with absolutely anything. He's a cute little guy and I actually got around to jumping around 3'-3'3 pretty easily my last few rides on him, which was quite an improvement from a horse that regularly wimped out on 2' jumps in the school
I stopped leasing Billy around the end of June.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I started leasing again around October, this time on another schoolie by the name of Sutherland. He's an awesome horse - also pretty small but still capable of a ton. He's got an amazing jump and I occasionally get to do some courses that are about 3'-3'9 with him
Although he'd much rather be a 'llama,' especially in the school, he always is pretty nifty at dressage. I'm still leasing him but am gradually switching off. For the past month or so, I've sometimes been riding a little mare named Eclipse instead of him on Sundays (with my half-lease, I ride three times a week). After being lame for quite a while - I think she had bowed tendons - she isn't jumped any more for fear of her soundness, but she was a nice jumper in her day and she still is a lovely dressage schoolmaster
#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I was also riding a horse named Yukon instead of Sutherland on Tuesdays for the past little bit. He is, as my coach puts it, a 'real horse' (that is, not a schoolie). He's a really lovely horse; about 16.2hh, around 5 years old, and some crazy cross - I think he's part Clydesdale, Thoroughbred, Hackney, maybe Quarter Horse... you get the point. However, he's an AMAZING dressage horse - I didn't get to do that much but I know that he's doing really well for his age. He also is a fantastic jumper. I've only tried him over fences a bit since my first time jumping him was in a dressage saddle and the second time he was feeling spazzy (long story lol) but he's really athletic.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Currently, I'm working on switching off of Sutherland and onto Napoleon, Yukon's half-brother. Nap is about the same age (different dam, same sire) but more quarter horse and less thoroughbred. He's a bit shorter than Yukie and still pretty chunky, lol. Again, he is a 'real horse.' I've only ridden him once so far and I absolutely adore him; tomorrow's going to be my second time and I can't wait! I haven't jumped him yet although I have heard that, like Yukon, he's amazing. Also like Yukie, Napoleon's great at dressage
Actually, I've heard some funny stories about from from some of their earlier days at my barn... Hehe.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Anyhow, I guess that that's enough rambling for now!
Hopefully I'll be able to get some more pictures of the boys soon (maybe even tomorrow!) - I've only got a few of some horses at my barn, and none of them are of Napoleon or Yukon.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
Just kidding, welcome to the board!!!!
I -did- manage to get one of this tiny little pony named Poomba, but I doubt that my picture of Sudz was saved in time and I didn't bother after that. However, my friend's dad took a few photos and my dad's going to be watching my lesson on Tuesday