Young Writers Society

For a story, I have a character who absolutely is obsessed with horses. His dad was big into horse racing, etc., etc. So... why not study about them?

If you have any information about horses, share it here.

And I would absolutely love it if you had some true stories about your personal involvement with horses! I know we have some riders.

Well, what do you want to know? Exactly? Horses in general is a large subject.

As for personal involvment?
The heaviest horse will always step on your toe
The soundest horse will throw you at least once
You will soon break your collar bone (or even your nose)
Have bruised buttocks
One horse will hold a grudge against you and bite you at every chance he gets.
The tallest horse will throw you on your back (resulting in a winding and more bruises - possibly a pass out, depending on the height of the horse, 18 hands normally works for me)

Hands? I hear you ask? Hands? the measurement for horses is taken in hands, one hand is four inches, and is measured from the top of the shoulders (also called whithers) to the floor. So 18 hands is 72 inches, or 6ft, a long way to fall.

Personal involvement? it's been a few years since I've been riding, but for me the basics were:

Fat ponies are fat for a reason (they like to stop and try to eat every clump of grass they come to).
If the horse looks big from the ground, you can guarentee it looks even bigger when you're on it's back.
The idea of getting back on a horse after you fall off is harder than it sounds.
Beware of the following parts of the horse: teeth, hooves, rear legs, head, rear end. The safest place to be is in the saddle.

Any specific questions can be directed right at me. IT is possibly my favorite subject to talk about and I have trained horses, students and riden probably over a hundred horses in my life. I have many many stories that I could tell, just tell me what area you'd like. I've been exposed to racing as well if you need any help in that area. If you give me idea on breed (type of horse) or the discipline (type of riding), I'm happy to tell you anything you want to know.

I've had truly amazing experiences with multiple horses. One horse was completley wild and would not let anyone get near her except my trainer on occasion. My trainer didn't show up for four days so the task of taking care of this horse fell to me. She was out in the field when I had to go and bring her in. I sat in the field for two and a half hours. Finally, she walked up to me and began nosing me and snorting. I waited a few minutes and then stood up. She let me touch her, which is more than she'd ever done before. I clipped on a lead and she let me bring her in, which is amazing. The next day, she wouldn't let me touch her again. I finally got her into a round pen, which is a big fenced in circle. I had decided to try a join up. In this, you force the horse to keep moving with a lounge whip. Sometimes this needs to be done for ten minutes, sometimes a whole day. After this, the horse will start to twitch it's inside ear and it's mouth will start foaming. Then, if you turn your back on the horse after a few minutes of this, the horse will walk in to you. To test the bond, you can walk or run around the ring and the horse should follow. Anyway, it took me about 5 hours to do this. I did this three days in a row and on the fourth day, she allowed me to ride her bareback. Things just went up from there and she is currently in training, doing amazing.

I have tons more stories to bore you with, just post here or PM me and I'll be happpy to help.

As do I...

So yeah. Ask away.

Well, I have a miniature horse.(he is really a small pony now)He is a paint named Dustfinger. One of my experiences with Dusty, is when the ferrier comes to vist. Man, he is like a little kid getting a shot! He will hide his head, or bite my pants. And let me tell you, a horse bite hurts!

Like Snoink, I could use some help too, since I'm writing in about the 18th century. Horseback and carriages were one way of transportation and it would be awesome for some info.

I would be more interested on how to control the horse itself and the different 'areas' of the equipment, such as saddle, stirrups, reins, ect. Also, if you were to prepare a horse for riding, what steps are involved? I know you wouldn't slap on a saddle and tighten down the buckles. That would be a bad, lol.

So, I'd be very grateful for any help as well.
Thank you.

I'd like some help with this topic as well.

I know a few different words for different horses, and for describing them such as:: mare, gelding, bay, roan, dun etc. I can't remember exactly what each one means though, and I'd love it if anyone could update my list with a few more names, and exact meanings.

I've been on a horse twice, about two years ago. First time was using a saddle and helmet. Second time was bareback, and I thought it was amazing how you could feel the horse's muscles moving. I never would have imagined how high up it was either, or how far apart your legs need to be. It's no wonder people complain about soreness of legs etc. So.. yeah, that's all I can give for personal experience, except to say that having a horse step on your foot *really* hurts! Also, stables can really stink - of horses, hay etc. - and you end up having to swat away flies. It seems riders spend more time looking after the horse than actually riding from what I've seen as well - brushing, washing, cleaning hooves etc.

Fun research topic here!

Look who finally found a comp! YEAH! So horses... yeah love 'em, basically what nickle said, so ask away.

any questions on horses, you can ask me too.

If you were to prepare a horse for riding, what steps are involved? I know you wouldn't slap on a saddle and tighten down the buckles. That would be bad, lol.

Also, when you're getting on a horse, would you call it 'mounting?' Just as if you were getting off, it would be called 'dismounting' the horse? I'm wondering if that's correct.

Yeah, I love horses too.

Yes, you call getting on a horse mounting and you are always supposed mount from the left side. Why? Becasue thats the way its traditionally done. I think it has something to do with the fact that they used to wear swords on their left side so it would get in the way if you mounted from the right side. Anyway, it feels a bit wierd mounting from the right side once you've gotten used to mounting form the left.

Anyway, any other questions just ask

Cool. Thank you! And thanks for the tip on which side to mount the horse.

Yes, I do believe the proper term is to dismount a horse. Here are some things I've picked up in my riding experience.

I always keep my hands low on the the horse. Right on the neck. With my hands creating a sort of flat V shape with the bridle under the middle three fingers. But thats just me.

Always check your girth before you get started. Rather easy from the saddle, by leaning over and putting two fingers between the horse and the girth and checking to see if it's loose.

A rider should always been aware of their horse. (no brainer there) Also make friends with the horse but put yourself in a dominent position. It's weird I have done lessons with teenagers where it took me forever to convince them to talk to their horse, pat and scratch it.

Also, tip, when writing about horse, stallions are seldom ridden because of their temperments and their herd mentaliltity.

A person gets used to the way a certain horse 'rides', get on another and the rhymth can be hacked to pieces.

Awesome! Thank you for the tips but I just have two questions:

What's the bridle again? And what's the girth?

I especially like the tip about stallions. *beams*