Hi everyone!  Yup I'm a 50+ gal too...LOVED reading all the book titles I have shared with you all.  OMGosh, some of them I had almost forgotten but when I was a kid, I read them over and over again.  Did you mention Anna Sewell's "Black Beauty" gosh I loved that one, such a heartbreak too but so beautifully written and touching.  Any of you remember Roy Rogers and Dale Evans show? (and did you know Dale was the writer of the song "Happy Trails"?)  And how about saturday mornings with Rex Trailer and Goldrush.. along with the little pony they used for the pony express (a lucky kid would be chosen to take the saddle bag and get a ride on the pony LOL... I was always so jealous).  I remember being GLUED to every possible western program on our black and white TV set.... Lone Ranger's Silver, Tonto's horse Scout?, Bonanza (Ben's buckskin and Little Joes pinto), MR ED....LOL, how hilarious was THAT!

I have spent my life being around horses, on and off..... mostly on.  Have leased or owned 17 of them to date... with my most recent being a paint gelding and a shetland pony.  They are in my backyard and I'm winging it, but having a great time.  Things sure look different from this side of 50.. sometimes wisdom can get in the way of enjoyment (at least the blissful free feeling of riding as a young girl), but I still get it back now and again.  Just taking one thing at a time, one day at a time for now.  I'm looking for a horse for husby at the moment... not sure if he will click with the whole horse scene or not but its worth a try.

Okay well, see ya around the boards.  You guys have already given me a good laugh (mostly because you all remind me of myself LOL) so I look forward to getting to know you!

Happy Trails!!!! 

 Glad to see people in my age brackett still owning horses. I am over 50 also. I do not owned a horse and have not for years. I would love to but due to the fact that money does not grow on trees I cannot have a horse. I adopt other peoples horses, looking at their pics, reading if they trail ride, show or whatever. Every horse is beautiful to me. I did own a  horse that was a heinz 57, used to be a lesson horse before I got him. I started out western at first but then I went to hunt seat. I never took any formal lessons. Had a manager at a barn that could read a book and come and tell us what to do. That is how I kinda learn how to ride to jump, show and foxhunt. Kept my first horse for about 2 1/2 years. He had navicular and I would not be able to jump him.  I sold him and got a standardbred from a friend. This horse was so laid back, gentle, never buck, rear,bit did anything negative. I enjoyed him for about another 2 1/2 years also. I had a horse all together for about 5 years. I sold my second horse as I was getting married and knew I would not be able to afford him. Been horseless since then, but I still love them a lot. If I cannot get a horse, I hope to be able to take riding lessons.

I have read all of the posts yet but will and get caught up.  I did notice on the post I am replying to that subject was horse books and Tv shows.  Read all of the horse books Black Stallion series and Black Beauty. I watch Roy Rogers and Dale, Fury, My Friend Flicka, Mr. Ed, Lone Ranger, all of the westerns and Gene Autry and his horse Champion, National Velvet and its sequel International Velvet, just got through watching for the 5th time, 'The Long Shot'.  

 Hope all have a GREAT week.

countrymouse:

RC, I've never thought of taking ibuprofen (my drug of choice ) before a ride.
Do you take 2 tablets (for ordinary pain relief) or 3 (as an anti-inflammatory)?

 I think all horses should have owners like us!

I'm not familiar with any of the remedies you mentioned Percheron Rider. What does choline do? I've heard of Arnica a lot lately as well. I've been looking at helping my horse, who I suspect is starting to feel arthritis coming on. I researched NSAIDs last night and turned away from it. I'm thinking that people have better information in dealing with themselves than what's provided in the horse world. I was also looking at the feed-thru fly stuff and turned away from that as well. When you look at the safety protocals that come with the product and you're not supposed to breathe it, touch or the horrendous side effects listed, I have to ask, now why would I subject my horse to this stuff that I shouldn't get near myself? Very discouraging.  I'm certainly not going to be taxing aging kidneys to help the knees. They are all part and parcel and significant in my book. Maybe just glucosamine is the answer. 

Welcome to Renorama and Always Horses and anyone else I missed!!  I don't know where the time goes. I am not working outside the home and it still flies by. I try to get out to the barn when we are in town at least four times a week. Gas prices keep going up so I have to conserve somewhere. The grass is finally turning green and there are buds on the trees but we are going to get snow today! It was in the 60's the last few days and now in the 30's.Well, that's Minnesota for ya. Thank God in all things.My mare is very nervous these days and we need a refresher course to get us back in shape. The BO is taking me back to basics which can be degrating at times because I feel like I haven't gotten very far in four years. Anyway, I know that is for the best.

Happy trails, everyone!  PJ

 I have been laid off since Jan 1, 2008 and I know about the time. I cannot keep the days straight LOL. Gas prices are horrible. Since I do not have a job my car stays in the garage(it is a leased car) and I drive it every other week right now. We are catching up on not having over the milage since we took it on a trip last year. Anyway our gas bill for one car is beyond my mind, hubby paid $3.49 on Tues to fill up our Saturn car for a total of $45.08. I remember when we first got the car and could fill it up on a 20 dollar bill. Now it takes two 20 dollar bills and a 5 dollar bill and some. 

We have been in the 80's all week and humid with the Ac running. Only thing is the wonderful storms we have  gotten. More to come tonight and Sunday. Once a week is bad enough but now every other day. Too much.  But God has taken care of us and kept us safe.

Thanks to all for sharing the pics of horses, they are beautiful.

 Have a GREAT week. 

Hi again everyone and thanks for the welcome PJ!  For what its worth, my opinion (LOL) is that you can never have enough lessons.. so don't get down on yourself about that woman!  Lessons are a great way to relax in getting you talking, breathing and doing.. as opposed to over-thinking or over-analyzing and obsessing over the horse or your riding.  Its especially good if you have a trainer with whom you have a good rapport, enjoying a mutually respectful dialogue. It is my nature to question everything, so I need an instructor that doesn't get insecure and defensive when something they have told me doesn't feel right (which is frequently LOL).

So.... YES!!!... the price of gas, its nuts!!!!  For awhile now (past few months), me husby and son (who has license and car) have been consolidating all our "less than necessary" trips to the PO, quickie store, bank, pizza joint...all that, MUCH more than we ever have before.  Husby has an SUV and has switched to taking my 6 cyl Volvo to work... we use the SUV only on weekends.  We can't sell it because it pulls my horse trailer.. but it is so unbelievably expensive to drive.  I don't know where we are all going with this, heathcare, job outsourcing and so many other social and economic crises this country is facing... its all pretty daunting (sorry, I have the tendency to get intense very easily).

I am back folks! I feel like I have had rollerskates on my feet with all of the traveling over the last two months.It's soooo good to be home in MN. I spent a few hours out at the barn last night and rode my horse for about 45 minutes. It went well. There are some new boarders and one who likes to trailride, so I hope to ride with her sometime. Another young one though,so we will see what happens. It is beautiful here, how about where you are? PJ

Hey Horsey folks-  How is everyone doing these fine Spring days?? Time just keeps a rolling along but the sun is shining and the weather is great. I only go to the ranch 3 or 4 times a week with the high rising cost of gas these days. I did manage to get in a 2 hour trail ride last week and there are now more people to ride with. Yeah!! It seems like the more I ride my horse, the better we get. Has anybody else been riding lately?PJ

 I wish I had a horse to ride.  Right now I need a job, with gas, food and everything else going up. 

Anybody watch the Preakness? Big Brown won again. I hope he has the energy to win the Belmont, like he did the Derby and the Preakness.   The home stretch can get to them if Big Brown does not have the stamina.  I hope this is the year for the big winner.

Have a GREAT weekend.  

always horses:

 I wish I had a horse to ride.  Right now I need a job, with gas, food and everything else going up. 

Like Vet bills?????  Consider yourself saving in that department!!!  LOL!!!!  I finally get the go ahead from my Dr to get back riding after my fall and within a week my Bri has pulled something in her left rear feltlock and her abcess is back in her right rear hoof!  She's in a gel cast on one leg and a duct tape sock on the other hoof!!!  No riding for me until she's better.  Can't hardly wait for that Vet bill.  Oh well, I figure I'd just spend it on something else if I didn't have her.  Like the chiropractor to fix my back after wrapping her abcess hoof when she can't put much weight on the gel cast leg!

Bev and Briahna

Is that her head shot, she is beautiful.  Sorry she is hurt, hope she heals quickly and you too.  At least you can pet her and brush her.  Hope the vet bill is not too much. Yeh I remember the days  of just keeping my horse in vaccinations, worming, shoeing, showing, whatever else.

Have a GREAT weekend.  

always horses:

Is that her head shot, she is beautiful.  Sorry she is hurt, hope she heals quickly and you too.  At least you can pet her and brush her.  Hope the vet bill is not too much. Yeh I remember the days  of just keeping my horse in vaccinations, worming, shoeing, showing, whatever else.

 

Have a GREAT weekend.  

I hope you find work sometime soon.  It's a difficult time for everybody with the prices on everything skyrocketing, let alone someone without a job.  Best of luck for you.

Have you ever found horsey people and asked if anyone needed someone to turn out their horses or ride them for the exercise?  Most horse people work to be able to afford their horse so time is something they have very little of.  I know at my stable there are several horses needing exercise during the week when everybody is at work.  Ask around.

Bev and Briahna

Do not have that many stables that I know of around me.  There is a small farm just across the street from the entrance of the subdivision, but a husband and wife train the horses theirselves. They also show them. I have seen both of them at different times riding a appy.  They have some other horses in a back pasture.  I have seen another appy, two sorrels out there.   Most of the stables are about 45 min north of where I live.  Thanks for the idea, I might look farther into it. 

Have a GREAT weekend.  

I'm glad to hear so many of you are out there. I have taken too many years off myself, while my kids rode and showed.  Now, I'm an empty nester, and am planning to get back to riding for me.  Wish I had the confidence now that I had 25 years ago when I was showing hunters and jumpers.

 Hope we can all hang in there together.