It’s silly question day!
Mar 18 2010
We started this topic while we were temporarily over on the old site, but I want to continue it!
Let’s celebrate silly question day! If you have been thinking about trying a different show class or going to a certain kind of event for the first time, but you are afraid of looking silly and think you might have a silly question, post it here and get it answered with no shame! Whether you’re wondering what kind of saddle you need for AQHA competition, whether a bit is legal for training level dressage, or what you’ll need to know before going to your first team penning, let’s post those questions here and help each other out!
Posts about good places to get value priced tack to try a new discipline are always welcomed. Feel free to promote your benefit tack sale if you have one coming up!
And don’t be shy about sharing your stories about your own mistakes when trying a new discipline or showing for the first time. I’ll share mine. I went to my first open show with a standing martingale on my horse in flat classes. I was 17 or 18 and had NO clue that wasn’t allowed. I had never been in anything but an in-barn schooling show, where it was allowed. So of course I got disqualified, not that I was going to be in the ribbons anyway with my hotheaded TB-ASB cross who saw a lawn chair and teleported laterally at light-speed, almost taking out the judge and ring steward. I felt really, really stupid! I think almost all of us have been there.
Here’s another source of potential error: If you haven’t shown in many years, guess what, they freakin’ change everything to confuse you, LOL! When I was showing, you stuck to that rail like glue. Only the real beginners ever cut their corners – we blue ribbon winners hugged that rail, going deep, deep, deep into the corners in Western Pleasure to make our horse look ever slower and give the illusion that everybody else was flying by like a rocket ship. Now, I’m told this is out of style. Now, the winners ride off the rail to show that they can and avoid being “pinned” in the corner by others trying to ruin their ride. Likewise, all the bits have changed. When I was showing in the early 90s, every QH hunt seat horse wore a kimberwick. Now that is totally unacceptable and the only bit seems to be the huge D-ring snaffle, the bigger the D the better. If you aren’t quite sure what is trendy, ask today and find out so that you don’t look like you got lost on your way to an 80s party in the show ring.
If you show or rodeo or do competitive endurance or whatever, feel free to hand out some tips for a beginner in your discipline! What do you WISH someone had told you?
Try to stick to topic everybody…yes, I know there have been a few new neglect busts, I’m well aware of them, and we’ll talk about them soon but once in a while I like to have a topic that ISN’T depressing, so let’s enjoy that today. I’m going to be kind of strict on this today – your posts about starving horses on Craigslist or the news aren’t going to make it through today.
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Here’s a silly question: Can anyone recommend a good showjumping barn in the PNW, on the West Coast, or in Europe? My gap year begins in June; I have 10 years of riding experience, a summer’s worth of Pony Club/4-H/camp teaching experience, plus some barn management/training experience, and I’m looking for a good learning position. A live in with some sort of salary in exchange for groom/exercise duties would be amazing. No horse to bring or anything like that, and I’ve showed up to 4’6″/5′ in the past. I’d just love to get some more experience under my belt, and recommendations would really help with that!
I don’t know any show jumping barns, but I do know a hunter/jumper barn in Eugene, OR. It’s Triple Rise Equestrian Center: http://www.triplerisehorseshows.com/
I was taking lessons there for a bit and they are fantastic! They are well-known and respected, so they might be a good place to get in contact with.
There are tons of barns in the PNW- just google Flying Changes magazine and go to their directory and most of the bigger-name show barns are there.
When I was shopping for a hunter trainer for my pony, everyone was really nice and helpful. I can’t say whether or not there are working student/work trade positions available anywhere (seems like those are insanely competitive) but I would contact someone at Oz, Inc., as they always seem to be the ones who know EVERYTHING that is going on in the h/j world, and which barns are doing what. And they’re super-nice, too.
Good luck!
Thanks so much for the suggestion — that’s exactly the kind of thing I was looking for (Craigslist was getting me nowhere). I’ll look into some of those barns. I knew Fugly readers would be able to help me out!
Oh, and I’m not too worried about working student positions or anything — honestly, as long as I’m riding, I’m happy, and I’m not perfect, but I think I can hold my own as an exercise rider. Lessons would be awesome, but if that’s what everyone’s looking for, I’ll spend a few hours trotting on the young’uns and muck some stalls
Also in the Eugene area is Christus Farms: http://www.christusfarm.com/
I never showed with them, but they were very good with my silly mare, and they let me work off part of my board with stall mucking and stuff, so they might be amenable to a situation like what you’re looking for.
Those horses are GORGEOUS. Thanks for the recommendation — that’s the first barn that’s really popped out at me, and I’ve been looking for weeks!
I WOULD NOT recommend Storybook Farm in Issaquah, Washington.
LOL! Um, yeah.
I have been showing carriage horses for a bunch of years now and have a couple of war stories under my belt. Here’s my favorite: A couple of years ago, I was at a show with my coach. He was showing a green horse for its owner and I was showing my own horse. It was a multi-day show, and before I left home I checked the weather report and they predicted a nice week, so I left my rain gear at home, because I absolutely hate it (it’s an Aussie oilskin and is very hot and too long). The first day of classes started with dressage. It was quite overcast. We got my coach’s horse hooked to the cart, then I took his dog and the golf cart and followed him out to the carriage field. Just as my coach entered the ring for his test, it started to pour. Oh yeah, he wasn’t wearing rain gear either! We all got soaked. So after we got back to the barn, I had about an hour before it was time for my test — just enough time to get back to the hotel and change into some dry clothes. By this time the rain had stopped and it looked like it might be clearing up. So off I go – and nearly killed myself walking in a side entrance because there was no floor mat and I was wearing those green rubber muck shoes. My feet slid out from under me and I went crashing into the wall, then down on my butt. Oh great, thinks I – I’m going to die here in this Motel 6 side door with no ID on me. But I was fine. So I run up to the room, rip off my wet clothes and throw some dry ones on, then high-tail it back to the show ground. My coach starts harnessing up my horse while I’m changing into my show attire… a very pretty light purple cotton blouse. I emerge from the dressing room and get ready to help hook my horse and happen to glance down… at two small but spreading wet spots on my chest. oh crap! In my hurry I forgot to change bras! Did I mention I’m very well-endowed in that area? I give my coach a look of horror, and he grins and says `it’s too late to change now” and so off I go, the wet spots getting ever larger. So I get up to the ring and the show organizer, who happens to be a friend of mine, comes over to make sure I know when it’s my turn and of course glances at “the girls” in all their wet glory. “Obviously I’m lactating” says I. Well obviously he thought that was the funniest thing he’d heard all day, so he went directly to the judge to let him in on the big joke, unbeknownst to me. Did I mention that the judge that day was one of the foremost carriage/turnout judges in the US? Yes indeed-y. At the conclusion of the test, he said “nice job, and you’re lactating too” or words to that effect. On any other day, that might have been the end of it, but I was driving two tests that day and had scheduled them back-to-back. So I exit the ring and while I’m circling outside waiting for the bell — you guessed it — it starts raining again. Remember my description of the blouse I was wearing? Remember the words `light’ and `cotton.’ In about 2 minutes I didn’t have to worry about the headlights on my chest, because my clothing was plastered right to my body and left nothing to the imagination. Still, I drove my test with aplomb, and if I recall correctly, ended up in the top 3 ribbons. And henceforth, every time the judge had a chance, he made a lactation joke, and we both had a good laugh. Moral of the story: ALWAYS bring the rain gear, even if you hate it. And if the worst happens, keep a good sense of humor about it – that’s the kind of attitude that will serve you well.
I WOULD NOT recommend Storybook Farm in Issaquah, Washington.
No Shit.. I think we all know the owners connection with the Enumclaw Auction and her personal horse. What a heart she has. I’ll be sure to remind her of it with the middle finger salute and a personal copy of FHOTD blog covering her heartless activities — posted on her stall at competitions.
In the meantime. RockMeadow might be an option. They’re located in Issaquah. I haven’t been there for quite some time but they had some of the top PNW H/Jr trainers.
http://rockmeadowec.com/default.html
They have a good rep AND they have one of our old rescue ponies!
You might consider Bab Brawley http://www.brawleyfarms.com/ I haven’t been around his barns but I did audit a clinic and he gives really good instruction and will push his riders to exel.
After reading pretty much all of the comments I finally found one to respond to! I’m a long time reader but I’ve never posted anything before, I’m part of the Canadian equitation world so I usually feel a little out of my element on here.
Anyways, this one caught my attention because Judy Brawley is actually doing a clinic in my area this weekend. I’ve never participated in any of her clinics but I’ve watched significant portions of them over the years, and I’ve got to say she’s an amazing coach. I know a number of people who will trailer many hours and across borders just for her to tune them up.
They definitely push their riders but are worth the work from all I’ve seen and heard
Here’s a dumb one!
If you are riding a couple of hours at a time, three to four times per week (as in warm-up, schooling, and then hacking-out/buddy time riding), when during the day and how often should you feed? I worry about putting feed times too close to excersize, but I know it’s important to keep the feeding schedule regular.
You can hay anytime and water anytime. Always give at least an hour after grain before exercise is the rule I was taught and I think that’s pretty accurate but I’m sure others will have opinions. Oh, and of course never grain a hot horse but again, a hot horse can have all the hay and water he wants (but really shouldn’t be standing in his stall – if they are hot, of course, they should be walked out until they are not).
I have a funny story about being clueless in a different discipline. I might have told this story before–oh well.
Many years ago, I bought an 18yo Appy mare for $600, from a person who had bought her from the Chehalis auction, just to keep my yearling colt company. Apache was decent to ride, somewhat laterally stiff but obedient, I figured she’d be a good babysitter for my colt and fun for me to have someone to ride, tooling around on the local trails until my colt was ready to start.
It turned out Apache knew ALL KINDS of things–wish she could have told me her history, it would have been a Black Beauty type of story (I went on to train her for low-level Eventing, she did well for me as well as leasing to Pony Cub kids later, lots of stories there, awesome mare. )
Anyway, in the beginning I entered us in a local Pony-Club-Benefit schooling show. She’d done fine in a few schooling horse trials and open shows, so it would be fun to do a bit of dressage, some low-level jumping, some rail classes.
But, my truck was being fixed, and in spite of their promises, it was not ready in time–I got to the show too late for all the English classes I’d entered.
The show officials wouldn’t refund my entry fees, but they were nice enough to let me substitute classes, unfortunately all that was left was Western, which I had no clue about.
However, there were Trail classes, which didn’t specify rules about tack or attire, so here we go to do Trail (d’oh, whatever that is) in Dressage tack, breeches, helmet, black gloves matching coat, etc. People were snickering. I could see them grinning and whispering to each other in the stands. My Appy Apache was seriously embarrassed. She wished I could just go away.
So, the first obstacle was a gate. I rode us to it until I could reach the gate, and attempted to turn Apache into some contorted position to walk through it. The way I was trying, I would have had to open it, go through, let go and turn, make Apache back up, let go of the gate, etc. As I was sitting there thinking, Apache craned her neck in half 180 degrees to pin me with her stare, like “WTF do you think you’re doing, idiot?” Then she did a turn on the forehand until she was perfectly lined up, folded her neck in half once again and look at me to say,”time to open the gate now, moron.”
From then on, I let her go.. I just steered her from each obstacle to the next, then dropped the reins and let her do what she knew she was supposed to do, which was a lot more than I knew. Bridge-no big deal. Tarp-I’ll walk over it, unless you tell me different. Mailbox–shut up, put a stamp on it, and pay your bills. Poles–can I please make fun of you by being your precious eventer and jumping over them in front of all these Trail Horse friends? OK, not….
We ended up taking 4th place, out of a class of over 20. I was proud of us, and thanking Apache for teaching me a new thing. She was ashamed of us, and cursing me for holding her back from first place that she would have deserved if her rider hadn’t held her back.
REALLY silly question here.
I was driving across a couple of southern states with my son, and in a nice roadside pasture, I caught sight of the most GORGEOUS horse– normally I’m not attracted to “purty colors,” but this horse, in the pasture with white, sorrel, and chestnut buddies, was GOLDEN. Like, seriously the color of gold!!! I have never before seen such a thing. His mane and tail were the same color as his coat, so not palomino and not dun– he seemed like *some* form of dilute chestnut. But what gene combination could possibly give rise to such a vivid, striking shade of gold?
And how do I steal him inconspicuously? (KIDDING, kidding!
)
Google “Akhal-Teke.” There are some good photos of them. They are known for their metallic colored coats.
Long time reader, first time poster here.
I saw a horse like this a few years ago, although I am pretty sure it was palomino. But, omg, it was GOLD! My dad and I were on our way to go backpacking and we were driving past this pasture when this shining, golden horse came galoping up the fence along the road. This was before I had a horse and my dad, who is not a horse person at all, turned to me and said “Can we get a horse like that?”
I always day dream of getting him a nice, old, palomino when I can afford it, just for him to have as a pasture pet, since he really doesn’t like riding.
Somewhat OT but my question is about feed. Can you replace the oats in horses feed with barley?
Yes, but it has less caloric value so you have to feed more and it also has to be either cooked or crushed before you feed it (otherwise it is very poorly digested). Keep in mind that the change still has to be gradual and from what I’ve read some horses find it to be rather unpalatable (you may also have to supplement to adjust the calcium to phosphorus ratio). The quality is also highly variable, so be aware of that.
For more information on any kind of feed, check out the National Research Council’s Nutrient Requirements of Horses, which is very information dense, but has all sorts of useful information in it.
I have a couple silly questions about showing western pleasure.
I’d like to take my 8 year old paint mare to some little shows this summer, just to get her out and doing stuff. I showed her when she was 3 but I haven’t even been t a show since then. What would be appropriate show attire? When I showed her 5 years ago at little shows I wore a nice button up shirt and black jeans. I didn’t wear chaps and hats were excused that day because of the ridiculous wind that was happening. I just want to do some small, local shows. Would I need to get full chaps, show jackets, and a fancy show saddle for that? I have a nice saddle but it’s a darker color (which I like better than the blond, blinged out saddles which seem to be popular) and has minimal silver.
Do the western pleasure classes still want peanut rollers and woggers and 4-beaters? I know every show and judge will be different but just some basic guidelines would be greatly appreciated.
I mainly want to just do something fun with my horse but I don’t really want to get laughed out of town at the same time.
Thanks!
For an open show, your dark oil tack should still be just fine but I would probably invest in a pair of chaps (fringed ones) for sure. You can find them for $20 or $30 at a tack sale. Your shirt should be fine.
Open shows really are all over the map in terms of what the judge will like. I have seen horses with a 1970s headset win blues in more rural areas, but if you are near a major metropolitan area, the open shows will tend to mimic the breed shows. Definitely in Seattle, it takes a breed show quality horse to win an open (non-novice) class at any of the large open shows. I’m told this is particularly true right now because people are going to open shows instead of breed shows to economize. So you may very well run into a $25,000 horse at your local show these days. The good news is, since your mare is green, assuming she didn’t clean house as a 3 year old, you can compete in those classes for horses who haven’t won a blue or haven’t one three blues.
Thanks so much!
I live in the bay area, California, where lots of people have super nice horses and more experience than me, so I’m sure we won’t be getting showered with ribbons, haha.
I’m just looking forward to spending some time with my horse this summer after being away at my freshman year of college and I think some small shows would be a fun goal to work towards and a change of pace from trail riding and arena work.
So here’s my silly question…
I was a huge horse fanatic as a little girl, but my parents couldn’t afford lessons or a pony for me or anything like that, so I had to satisfy myself with books and Breyers
I eventually “grew out” of it, but I find that the horse bug is back and biting me really hard as an adult.
There are several great looking barns around where I live that offer lessons for adults, but I have concerns because of my weight: I weigh 270 lbs. I’m a real beginner to horses so I don’t know what they can reasonably handle. Can an ordinary horse handle a person of my size, or would I need to find a place that had a draft x lesson horse? I’m especially concerned because of my lack of riding ability… I’d feel terrible flopping around like a sack of potatoes on some poor old pony’s back at my weight
Just be up front and ask if they have a suitable horse. It won’t necessarily be a draft cross but you’d want a horse who was short backed, big boned and broadly built (i.e. quite a bit of distance between the front legs). The typical rule is that rider & horse should add up to no more than 20-25% of the horse’s weight. So, no, you can’t ride an 800 lb. Arabian but you can ride a 1200 lb. Quarter Horse, Appy or Paint if he’s built the way I described.
I would also add that if you’re in the process of getting fit and want to feed the horse bug without any concerns at all, consider taking lessons in showing halter and showmanship, or driving!
Fhotd is right. There are lots of horses out there that you can ride without issue. I’m a heavy person as well and although I never let it stop me from riding, I let it stop me from showing and basically going out in public with my horses…but that was years ago and NOT ANYMORE. I compete in competitive trail and reining. The competitive trail riding used to give me ulcers because you have to dismount for water stops….and I was always worried about mounting without a mounting block…but there is always some nice person around that will give you a leg up. And I got to be really talented at finding a high spot for me to stand.
I still gringe a bit if caught away from my mounting block at reining shows, but the desire to ride, train and compete in that sport outways the momentary embarrassment of needing to find a spot to mount. Follow your dreams baby. The up side is that you’ll lose some weight with all the riding and chores that come with the riding. Best of luck.
Thanks for the great replies! I’m glad to know that the stockier breeds can support me as I definitely live in Quarter Horse country
I’m not too worried about my athleticism, I walk and ride my bike instead of driving and carry my 50lb geriatric dog up and down the stairs 2 or 3 times a day to go potty. I feel like I’m more agile and strong then many of my slender friends…I just wanted to make sure the weight itself would not be an issue. Maybe I should work on developing my upper arm strength more to help with mounting? Thank you again 
Does any one know of a jumping or dressage barn looking for a working student from August till October. I am a New Zealander so looking for something with accomodation provided.
Any particular area or anywhere in the U.S.?
Prefer something around Texas (my partner has a job here) but not really to fussed. Something with instruction and food in exchange for labour and riding would be ideal.
Here’s a silly question, does this horse look okay for his age (30 years old)?
http://s854.photobucket.com/albums/ab107/magootoyou/?action=view¤t=IMGP0008.jpg&newest=1
I think he looks like he’s about to die from starvation, but the Umatilla Sheriff’s Dept in Oregon says it’s only age that makes him “ribby”.
He is about to die from starvation. The Umatilla Sheriff’s Department needs a lesson in senior horse care.
So, send me the address the horse is at (if you already did and I missed it, sorry, I just get so darn many emails I lose track) and I’ll give it my best shot at getting action taken.
I have to say—I just went and looked at the 30 yr old skinny horse, who is clearly starving to death…and it being in Photobucket, whatever photo you are viewing appears in the left corner upon printable merchandise, such as coffee mugs, mousepads, keychains. It was seriously disturbing to see this poor thing’s bony topline plastered across a coffee mug.
By the way, whoever posted that image included this address as being the location of that horse:
72032 Hwy 395, Pendleton, OR 97801