she has graduated to 30 inch jumps..

 

wow. nice. didnt know she does equestrian.

Wow thats awesome Tony!!! Very impressive! She looks like a pro! How long has she been doing it?

she has been riding for 3 years..

Should see if she's interested in those mounted shooting courses!

 

I took riding lessons for about a week when I was 10. The instructor used to kick dirt at my horse to make him go faster because I was too scared to do it myself.

Nice. She'll be ready for the big jumps in no time at all.

 

 

Ken - I keep looking for the wings on that horse in the first picture.

Ken - I keep looking for the wings on that horse in the first picture.

That was a very nice jump, even for the high level of that competition (National Young Riders Championship). She cleared the water by about 2 feet.

When you see it in person it is even more impressive. A friend up here has been doing it since she was four and rides in competitions all over the east coast. It can be somewhat hazardous though. She recently had an incident where the house rolled over on her after a spill. But she would never consider giving it up. You would have to duct tape into the saddle to get me over those jumps. And I want a saddle that had something to hang on to besides those thin reins.

 

It's a lot of effort to ride competitively. The transportation of the horse, the prep time just to braid the tail and mane and grooming.

 

I limit my dealings at feeding them carrots and apples.

 

I'm babysitting him while his owner is in Florida with her other horse. He cleared a six foot fence from a dead stop during a thunderstorm last year.

 

We have a deal. I don't ride him and he doesn't kick me in the nuts.

she did about 6 competitions last year, only one with jumping and it was about 10 inches off the ground.. they were all entry level competitions.

Tony how old is she?

 

I assume a sport like this you need to start out pretty young, right?

 

Ken, those pics are amazing! I can't believe the height in the first photo.

15 when she started..yes the younger the better.. they can start out on pony's.

 

funny thing the one horse she rode ( lucy ) does not like pony's would get out of control when one would come around.

 

I have video of lucy throwing her off when two dogs at a show ran up barking outside the ring certain things would trigger her..

wow...I guess the fear level is lower at 15. Crazy sport man, such powerful animals. Truly amazing.

 

On a side note...you'd better get some sleep...you have a long night / day ahead of you! lol...what time you heading out?

not sure have not recieved a call yet, only have about 1-1/2 snow so far..i am assuming soon.

When you see it in person it is even more impressive. A friend up here has been doing it since she was four and rides in competitions all over the east coast. It can be somewhat hazardous though. She recently had an incident where the house rolled over on her after a spill. But she would never consider giving it up. You would have to duct tape into the saddle to get me over those jumps. And I want a saddle that had something to hang on to besides those thin reins.

 

It's a lot of effort to ride competitively. The transportation of the horse, the prep time just to braid the tail and mane and grooming.

 

Wow I didn't realize the braiding and all that was required. Is that something you learn as part of riding lessons?

 

We have a deal. I don't ride him and he doesn't kick me in the nuts.

it was about 10 inches off the ground.

Nine inches too high for me. One day I have to get off my ass and take lessions. I have a bunch of people willing to teach me. My motorcycle riding friend up the rode has 180 acres and a bunch of horses and an indoor arena. He's be more than happy to teach me. My friend pays people to ride her horse up here. I'd be saving her money...

 

As far as the braiding it is usually done by the horse's owner. My wife's friend owned four horses and rode in area dressage competitions. Hours before she would be out there braiding the horse's hair. Years back she had a staff member of the barn do it. As these horses are BIG, she would have to stand on a ladder to do it. Competition riding is a tremendous amount of work, not to mention the expense of owning horses. Before any additional expenses such as vets, lessons, special treatments and medicines, she pays $1700 per month for two horses. Add to that the fact that everyone had heavy duty pickup or SUV's to haul the trailers and the trailers themselves..... BIG money.