More horse shopping updates--Saturday

[Ottakee]

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1168310 He is close to us and my instructor has seen this horse in shows. OK--talked to my instructor, the farrier and a friend who had this horse in her 4H group. All said horse would be FUN to ride (I don't need FUN, I need SAFE) but really would likely be too much for me as he will get the Arabian high strung attitude if you ask him to do something he doesn't want to do---so, he is off the list.

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1141320 Trail and show experience. He is 2 1/2 hours away though. Got the video of this one. Looks GREAT in the video. Owner will be out of the country though for 1 1/2 weeks. I will show the video to my friend where I board and my instructor to see what they have to say.


http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1165480 My 12 year old's dream of Freisian. He is the one I thought was way too wide. IF I could get a saddle to fit him, I will strongly consider him. He had a wonderful personality. My instructor is asking around to see if she can find a draft horse saddle we could borrow to try on him.


http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1165108 This is the one we are seeing on Friday. Well, this one is still in the running but haven't seen him yet. His owner was in a car accident and was air lifted to the hospital with a broken back. We might try for next week if the weather cooperates. He is just over an hour away so I want to make it worth my time and be able to see him in an indoor.

There is also an Appy about 45 minutes north of here but I think he might be a little too much.

It is hard to get people to understand that we need something for an older, overweight mom and 2 special needs kids. 2 year old stallions just DON"T fit the bill. (and yes, I was really offered one).

[Mekanamom]

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse...rse_id=1165480 My 12 year old's dream of Freisian. He is the one I thought was way too wide. IF I could get a saddle to fit him, I will strongly consider him. He had a wonderful personality. My instructor is asking around to see if she can find a draft horse saddle we could borrow to try on him.


If the only issue is saddle fit, do some research on treeless saddles and see if there is one out there that might work for you! I do know that many manufacturers have a trial plan where they will send out a saddle for you to try, so you're not stuck buying a bunch of saddles that aren't quite right.

Here is a yahoo group with lots of reviews!

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/treelesssaddles/

[Ottakee]

I am checking into these. Of course, I don't want to put money into stuff that won't fit. Still waiting to see if my instructor can come up with a draft horse saddle for me to try.

They said that he does NOT ride bareback but will ride with a bareback pad. Not sure why as that was just passed down to this owner from his previous owner and she never tried it. I don't know if a bareback/treeless saddle would be OK then or not.

Our other issue is that they don't have an indoor at all and the weather stinks. I really don't want to buy a horse that I haven't even trotted on. It is hard to trot/lope in snow past their knees. Anywhere it is plowed it is VERY slick so that isn't an option either. The joys of horse shopping in the winter.

[Laurie]

I found out about hippotherapy a few years ago and was all set to get my dc involved. We visited a therapeutic riding center but unfortunately my 2 city slickers walked around holding their shirts up over their noses because they didn't like the smell of the horses and had no interest or intention of riding one. I was disappointed but I just didn't have the energy to fight with them about riding horses.

Then last week I saw an ad in a catalog for something called the igallop, a core/abs exercise machine. It was on sale, so I called the local store to see if they had one to try out. We took the dc to the mall and came home with our phony pony! So now we've got our own homemade version of hippotherapy going on in our family room.

Good luck with your horse shopping! I'm green with envy!

[Remudamom]

As for someone offering you a young stallion.........people are stupid.

I gotta run and my herd in. Farrier is coming today. I finally found out the way to get him is to talk to his wife. :D

[Ottakee]

With all of your horses, you should be your own farrier.

I fixed the links. Sorry they didn't work.

[Ottakee]

I have heard of these and would LOVE to try one out but have never seen one in person. I would say they are a LOT easier to clean up after than the "real thing".

We did therapeutic riding for several years with my oldest 2. It was wonderful but it is easier to have their own horse than travel to the therapeutic riding center---almost cheaper too.

[Cindyg]

I would love to have one of these! I rode one in a mall once, and it was fun in a quirky sort of way. I didn't think it felt like a horse though.

There's a lady who gives equitation lessons on a "equisimulator" that is supposed to move just like a real horse, in all three gaits. She claims she can correct riding mistakes in minutes because she can stand right beside you and help you in to the right position since you're not actually moving at speed. Wouldn't that be awesome?! If you're curious, here's (http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/index.html) her link.