~*~horses~*~

[superlion]

I see. You might want to avoid horseback riding then. Trotting (until you learn the standing trot) is VERY bumpy... and on some horses even then... then again you might be able to find a horse with a nice smooth trot... it varies individually.

[KittyCatt]

Yes, all horses are different. The palamino I am learning on has a VERY rough trot. But the first horse i rode has very smooth gaits, a wonderful horse for a young child or a beginning adult.

[Wolfyu]

Yeah, trots do vary a lot. On one horse, the trot kills me while on another it's perfectly fine. I've heard from a friend that foxtrotters have very smooth trots, though. Never ridden one, however.

[pkboo]

My horse goes weastern and english and i have seen several western shows though i have never compete in western.

You hold them where they join with one or both hands (inexperienced riders will want to hold on to the saddlehorn with one hand and the reigns with the other) To steer, you pull the reigns to one side or the other, in the opposite direction you want to go.

that isnt true for western you only use one hand to steer in western you use neck reining to steer which is where you lay the oppisite rain on their neck say you want to go right you lay the left rein on their neck they are supposed to move at the slightes pressure but some need more pressure than others.

Usually the bronco riders in rodeos hold on to the saddlehorn with one hand and their hat with the other

i havent actually been to a rodeo but i watch them on tv and the saddle bronc riders tie there hands to the saddle and have a special way to untie it when they need to get off

[KittyCatt]

Lol, well arent you an expert. Lol, that is true though...

[firelupe]

I LOVE HORSES!!!!!

I love Arabians and quarter horses!

[Sundance300]

My favorite color would be the Classic and Golden Champagnes. I also love the sabino pinto color.That's an extremely rare gene in any breed (except the clydesdales, they're all sabinos), even the paint horse breed. It's not officially recognized by the American Paint Horse Association. More info here: Pintos and Paints
I personally love the english saddle. I have a western saddle that is seet in the same position as my english. I feel off balanced in normal western saddles. I figure I'm just use to mine. I trail and train in it, I don't trust/know a horse...that's the saddle I use.
I grew out of my old english and I have a brand-new junk one. I rode it twice and it's already falling apart. Couldn't take it back, got it in winter and didn't ride it until early summer (no breaking horsies in new saddles). Said I could trade it for another one. Don't want another junker. It slides off my Paint/Draft cross. Luckily he doesn't panic, had a bunch of close calls. A lesser horse I'd be dead now.
Hate cloth Abetta saddles, they flip up and throw ya like a catapult (true story) or the horse can slip you off like a belt (happened twice, on two different horses). Tried different girths, blankets, breast collars... I got one for christmas, haven't gotten around to selling it yet.
As for side saddle, I'd imagine it'd hurt, doesn't look comfy. Of course a guy riding a high withered horse (Think horse spine in male *emm-hem*, yeah) would hurt. Doesn't seem to bother the guys. *shrugs*
Now the horn in the gut hurts like heck, don't duck under trees while your horse is jumping a puddle.

As for my riding style, don't have one. I stay on, don't look like a flapping duck, and can control my horse. I was suppose to get lessons....Every year the training facility held an open hunter show. Some idiot tied their horse to themselves while attempting to wash it, horsey spooked, drug her to death taking her over the jumps. Ground rule #1: Don't loop reins and/or lead ropes around any part of your body. She TIED it! Big lawsuit, closed down. Common sense...some people are sadly lacking this.There was nowhere else close enough.

I like grade horses. It seems the papered horses know they're papered, or maybe it's the imbreeding.... Either way, all my injuries are from registered horses except one. But he was a gray (logical in my mind). Gray horses and I don't get along at all. 6 out of 6 grays have maimed me.
Don't like racetrack thoroughbreds either. Psycho, mean beasts. Better to shove them all into that category than risk it. A friend of ours had her bussom removed just walking down the walkway. Recently a horse got lose, knocked down a stable hand and proceeded to rear and buck on top of her. They had to shoot it to stop it, girl died. Another got out and cornered a stall cleaner and kicked him to death. I've had my own experiences with them, we used to board at a racing stable. I did meet a few nice horses, made poor racers though.
I've always wanted an Arabian, closest I've ever been is my 7/8th Arabian/Andalusian Razzamataz. My first and favorite (don't tell Goke or Phantom) horse. Then Sundance my Quarter horse/Arabian Gelding, and Terra my Welsh pony/Arabian mare.
My current horses are all sound and sane...or are getting there.

Goukou or Goke is the biggest horse we've ever had. He's 16.1 hands (5'4) at the withers (tip of shoulders), and built like a draft horse. He was sold to us a 4yr old 14.3hd paint horse/saddlebred cross. He's part saddlebred, he has the gait; but he has the huge feet, build, power, and gentle nature of the draft. Think Gypsy Vaner without the feathers. He's also one of the smartest horses I've met. He unties himself and unlock doors. I'm tempted to teach him to laydown so I can mount him.
Goke is the horse I'll try anything on. We trust each other with our lives. Through thunderstorms, raging creeks, semi traffic, attacking geese, bridges, kayaks, to killer baby bunnies....umm yeah. He was attacked by a dog on the trail recently, and I'm working on getting him over that. I understand where he comes from, scared the crap out of me too.
Goke's the pasture peacemaker. He's also the mother hen, helped Terra raise Phantom when her Dam wouldn't.

Phantom was a surprise. Her mom was sold as unbred...obviously she was bred. First baby we ever had/raised. She thinks and acts like a human. I've never seen a horse with such human facial expressions before, and we've had quite a few horses (over 20). Phantom is a purebred Tennessee Walking Horse, but we can't get her registered b/c of her sire's owner. She's a black and white tobiano with a sleek build and an arab head, gorgeous long and wavy mane and tail. Spoilt brat.
We sold Phantom as a 2yr old, the guy was suppose to finish her training. They ended up getting into business with a false rescue. The lady has starved at least 10 horses. We managed to buy Phantom back; scrawny, wormy, lame, and severely depressed. She luckily made it. I had to start back to square one with training. But now anyone can ride her and she's not going anywhere.
Where Goke's the peacemaker, Phantom's the instigator and plotter. The grass is always greener on the other side. She will find a way to get it. You can see her thinking.

Akira...this mare is one of the most beautifally marked pinto horses I've ever seen. She's a bay (brown with black points and hair) tobiano. She was bought by a friend at a kill auction. She had injured herself trying to get to her foal. They brought the lame mare home; their horses wouldn't let her eat or drink. By the time we got to her she was in poor shape. We finally got weight on her, and found her to be pregnant. She was still lame, her injury was growing out of her hoof and had snapped off. She was constantly lame. You know how you slam your finger with a hammer and the new nail grows out disfigured and weak, same difference. Sometime during the winter she aborted her foal. We were worried, but she was fine. Kira was abused, she'd rear up when you went to touch her halter, raising your voice at all caused her to panic, nothing went above her head, she saw you with a crop or whip and you didn't get near her for a week. I was finally able to approach her and pet her, farrier came in and got rough with her. Couldn't get near her for a month. Once you catch her she's a totally different horse, catching her is the fun part. Nothing works twice.
We're finally able to ride her, and she's awesome! Somewhere along the way she's had some reining or team penning training. She pivots and guards (not to familiar with the terms)like a cow sorting horse does. She's relearning everything quite quickly. She's been on several trailrides already and has came off sound.
Kira is the lead mare, but around people she's extremely shy and wary. There's a love triangle going on here, Kira has claimed Goke and Phantom is constantly trying to whisk him away. Funny watching the two mares bicker while the object of their affection walks off to talk to the boarded horses.

Well there's my three horses. Yes I love them. Goke as a best bud, Phantom as a sister, and Kira as a partner. I'll put up pics of them eventually.