I was just wondering! I have a pony called Kelly. She is a dark bay 14.2 pony with two white socks on the back and a large hour glass shaped blaze. She loves galloping and jumping, but is just recovering from a locking stifle so can't actualy do much. But shes awesome anyway! She realy thinks she is a racehorse. She is pretty fast too.

awwwww!!!!! I love horses! I took lessons and stuff and I like western riding the best. I wish I were a coyboy. hahaha. But I love how smart horses are too. They are just too amazing lol

i saw "horses" and i knew it was yours!
i love horses too, they're amazing. i wanted to take classes once, too, but i haven't start with that. i don't know why actually. and horses can heal ill people (especially psychicaly ill). it's really amazing. i envy you! you have a horse... i live in block of flats and there are many other of them around etc. well, i live in the capital city, though just 600 000 occupants, it's still the capital city..

First off, I'd just like to issue a general warning concerning signatures -- everyone, please take a moment to review the rules (link in my signature). You're allowed a maximum of only five lines of text, and I see that a couple of you have pushed just over the limit.

All right, onto horses.... yep, I'm an equestrian myself... been riding non-competitively for about ten years now, although I don't own a horse. I joined a lease a little over a month ago, however, and it's been awesome so far! And the horse is named Harry, which is just too cool for me. I've been trying to train him to respond to "Potter," and now all my friends think I'm a raving lunatic, if they didn't already know that I was sort of nuts. Anyway, yeah, I ride English, do some jumping. It's a fun sport and good for your mental health. Anyone care to share pictures of their horses, by any chance?

Oh yeah, lutsija, you're absolutely right about the effects of riding on the physically and mentally ill. I worked at a branch of the NAHRA as a volunteer when I was fourteen/fifteen-ish -- basically as a groom, barn management and that sort of thing -- and it's truly amazing what therapeutic riding can do for people psychologically. Have any of you been involved in similar programs?

Aww, I miss horseback riding! I was deadly serious about riding from when I was about seven until my freshman year of high school, but then track and cross country got in the way of my lessons I think I'd like to get back into it though, because I really did love it. I normally rode English, and I leased a quarterhorse named Jake for the longest time. He was totally sweet, but he was over seventeen hands - huge! Awesome for jumping, though

Allie, i hope my signature is better now
no, i haven't been involed in anything like that, but i've heard and read about it and i think it's really amazing. btw, (though this isn't about horses) i've read the true story about mute boy who started to speak again thanks to dolphin. it's perfect if it really is true!

Oooh, I LOVE horses! I'm planning on taking lessons, if I have the time. I'm already booked...With friends, the mall, school, and art...My dad wants me to do PIANO! Uh...

Piano? Not that I'm anti-music, but riding is better Honestly, I think that riding lessons was one of the best things I've done in my life. Not only is it just generally awesome, but it's good for the self-confidence and all that. Really. I strongly promote that you take riding lessons

Definatley take lessons. Even though I have been riding for years and got my own horse I still have them. You can never regret to many lessons. I was spiecialy glad I had them when I did work experience because they saw my riding ability and let me ride one of thier race horses!! I felt so honoured. They have the longest legs imaginable. I got to canter accross the beach on him which was completely breathtaking. Also, if you want your parents to take your riding seriously, help out at the riding stables. It teaches you soooo much.
And I used to play the trombone and run cross country and do archery but riding took over because it was so fun, and when you have a horse it can't take a back seat. You have to be there everyday.
I wish I could learn to ride western, but there is not many places that you can learn it in Wales, exept for this one place that is amazingly expensive. But I tought Kelly neck-reining anyways. How do you put pictures on? I have tonnes!

Don't worry, lutsija -- signatures are looking good all around now!

I used to be obsessed with being a jockey when I was a lot younger and really into the Joanna Campbell books -- "Thoroughbred," I think the series was called. I got extremely absorbed in the plot and the characters, and I didn't stop reading them until I was, um, much too old to be reading those books. Like when I was twelve -- it's that pathetic. Then I read Laura Hillenbrand's book about Seabiscuit, and my whole perception of racing changed rather significantly. Became less of the "fantasy world" if you know what I mean. By the time I hit 5'4", I knew the whole thing was over. Did you guys ever go through those weird stages of reading all the Walter Farley books and "Black Beauty" over and over again? I've always been one of those obsessive readers -- HP is far from the first series that I've gotten completely hooked on!

OK, sorry for the long tangent about my eccentricites... That's so cool that you got to ride a racehorse, SOAOFMCCCLS (by the way, I only just understood your username today... I'm a little slow!). I definitely wouldn't be able to handle that sort of stress -- let's stick to the old horses and trail rides and nice little 2' courses (the highest jump I've ever done was about 2'9" and it's probably going to be staying that way for a good long time ). I'm with Meggie about the self-confidence and mental health benefits. Huge, quiet fields and 65 degree weather... *daydreams*

As for the pictures, you can find help on images here. Basically, you want to go sign up for a Photobucket account (it's really easy and they don't send you a load of junk mail or anything), get your images hosted, and then link to them using the URL tags when you're posting in the forums. Just remember to use a link rather than the IMG tags, because uploading large images can be a pain for people who have slow Internet connections.

Riding a race horse was a huge responsibility. I was so worried about getting it wrong at its so easy to just be completely in awe of it so you don't feel that you have the right to tell it what to do, or correct its behaviour.
I used to be hooked on 'The Saddle Club' series. I guess it was because I could relate to the charecters although I was never a member of the Pony Club. i should probaly join but I havn't got a box or 4 by 4 so I cant exactly go to many shows or meetings.
And Allie, don't worry. Most people still havn't got my name. i am always getting asked what it means. So anyone else who it about to ask, it stands for Stop the Outragous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in thier Legal Status. No one ask me to write it out again.
I will have a go at getting the pictures. Watch this space!

Edit: Well, as you can see I have edited my avatar so the picture in it now is the famous Kelly. Is she not the most gorgeous thing you ever did see?! Here is another:
ThisMy Webpageis Kelly again.
And thisMy Webpage
And, tkelly collagehis is three pictures of us, the top is us at our second ever show! It was so long ago! The next is us just randomly on the drive leading up to the barn. And the last is us up on the hill where I we are alowed to ride. My legs do not go forwards like that all the time, O.K.?!

As you can tell by my signed name I am a crazy horse girl.

I'm torn between which I like more, horses or Harry Potter. l.o.l Yeah, but anyways, I rein with my horses.

I used to ride wester pleasure, but then I went to this huge ranch and got on a pro reining horse for the first time in my life. It was so amazing the way that horse slid under me. and he span faster than a bullet... i think.

Now I'm training two year olds. I don't own a horse, but I work on this ranch in a small town that breeds paint horses. They are some of the nicest people ever (as are most horse people)!

When I went to work at a bigger ranch the woman there told me I needed to break a six month old filly that had never been touched. (I had only been around horses for like two years and didn't know much)

I had a really hard time and so I decided I would read my book in there. During the hottest parts of the day, when everyone was inside resting, I would go to the filly's stall and sit in the corner reading my book.

Pretty soon she just came up to me and I could pet her no problem. I just couldn't get a halter on.

By the end of my job there I went back to the small ranch and one day they said that we needed to pick up a show horse so he could retire on their farm.

We loaded up and hooked up the horse trailer and then headed out. When we got there the woman who owns the small farm I work on pulled out this baby halter, handed it to me and said, "Go get your horse."

I kinda stared at her and then the major owner of the big ranch came out and said, "What are you waiting for. SHe's yours."

I went in and we tried to halter break her, but it was so hard because of her size. (she was HUGE). I decided that I would drive down an hour and visit her every day until I could halter break her. I did.

And now that small horse lives on the farm I work on and her name is Mel. Short for my name: Melissa.

We're going to rein together in the big shows!

I Love horses!

Tah, sorry for that tangent

Wow - I would love to break in a horse. Mine just came ready made. Although she needed a Lot of work because she had just had a year of to have a foal so she was unfit. And she was the worst (but the most fun) behaved horse i had ever sat on. The race horse was nothing. But shes a lot better now. Although I wouldn't want her to be perfectly behaved.

Hi! I ride horses also. I have a horse his name is Gillie. He is 6 years old. He is a dapple grey. If I can figure out how to do the pic thing I will put a pic on.... anyway I do hunter/jumper stuff and show around the west coast.

We might be getting a new horse!! For my daddy. 15.3 part quarter horse - broken to western and to english, which is cool because i would love to learn to ride western. We are going to see him on Sunday. I can't wait!! HPgoldsnitch - the picture thing isnt that hard, just when your doing a hyperlink, and it says to type in the web page name type in the word you want it to link to not what i put.

Hi SOAOFMCCCLS:
thanks, I'll try that! good luck with that horse on Sun!!

I love horses. But I don't have one. If I did have one it would be an arabian stallion. Black in color.

Lupin Fan: I love black horses and arabians, but unless you have experience you should not get a stallion right off the bat. A gelding would be safer. Stallions can be very dangerous because of there hormones. etc. They are unpredictable.

And arabians are also high strung. If you ever get a horse and it's your first then you should try a quarter horse or paint because they are very well mannered most of the time.

Anyways, good luck and have fun.
Tah,
HoofsTails Gal

MOD NOTE: If you wouldn't mind, I'd appreciate it if you could take a moment to scale down your signature a bit -- the maximum number of lines of text is five. Thanks!

I agree with HoofsTails gal. Lupin Fan, you should wait a while to get an arabian, and even longer to get a stallion. I had a pony that was half arabian and he was very high spirited. right now I have an Apendix QH and he is great. QH and Paints are definetly great first horses because they are VERY quite and have a good mind.
ttyl
HPgoldsnitch

i don't have a horse...but i think they're beautiful...

MOD NOTE: Please do not make one-line posts on the forums; I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate on your points a bit in the future. Thanks!

Yippeee! I just got back from seeing the (maby ours soon) horse! I took some pictures so I may be able to put them up soon. His name was Montana, and he was a registered part American Quarter horse which I think was pretty cool. Hes broken to western and to english so I realy will be able to learn western! Yes! He was realy well behaved. His mouth was a bit harder that I would have liked but as hes for my dad who doesnt realy get on with soft mouths so alls good!! He dished a little bit too, but my dads not realy going to do any showing or anything to strenuous so we dont think it will matter too much. We can't afford a perfect horse.
A word of advise though, when you are on the way home, do not get the roads muddled up and end up the other side of the country (literaly!!) from where you live. It is not good. Lupin Fan- if you get a stallion then you are never going to be able to find a livery yard that will take you. And thats on top of the hormones.
HoofsTails Gal + HPgoldsnitch, I live in Britain so I'm not realy sure about these American sayings, but I thought that Paint was an Americanism for Skewbald or Piebald? So its just a colour? I may be wrong. The best British breeds for beginers would probaly be Welsh Cobs or any kind of Cob or some mixed breed. Irish Draughts are good too. I once had the loan of an Irish draght cross. But mine was half thoroughbred too, so she wasn't exactly calm. They are the breed of horse that the police go for.
Edit - here are some more pics.
This Is a rubbish pic of Montana.
This is Kelly with her head where she likes it best.
I cant remember wether I put this here before or not but this is Kelly and her beloved husband, Yogie.

yaaaaaaaaaay, spew2u, they're all so beautiful
i didn't read whole post, i just looked at the pictures and i seriously envy you know! no i don't, but... aw..

OMG! you guys all have really cute horses. Will somebody please explain to me how to put a picture in? Thanks!

Ok, for some reason it doesn't like me, so i will just explain it.
go to http://www.horseconnection.com/site/classifieds-horse.html and go down to the 15th row, and he is one of the gray horses. His name is Gillie

Yes, Paint is it's own breed as Allie explained. They are basically just a white and brown version of a Quarter horse. (With a lot more white) And when a Paint is born solid i.e. Chestnut then it's called a breeding stock...

Anyways, you all have really beautiful horses. I would post a picture of one of the horses at the ranch, but I don't have a scanner or anything to that avail.

Congrats on getting Montana SOAOFMCCCLS. Lovely horse.

Tah
HoofsTails Gal

Wow, Gilly is so pretty! I love greys, but are you selling him? Thats so gutting. I would hate to sell Kelly.
Harrys gorgeous too! I love skewbalds too. Heck, I love all horses!!
Well thats cleared up the confusion about paints, although if one ever came too Britain then people would just say he was an American Quarter horse in skewbald. Wich is kind of unfair on them if its a proper breed and all, but what can you do?
We will hopefully be getting Montana home in the New Year, but I dont know how as we havn't got a box, Our friend that has one says the floors dodgy with anything big (And hes very chunky). We havn't got anything to pull a box with either. So we will probaly try to rent a small horse lorry but we are having problems with insurance.
Lutsija - You don't envy me when you go down to the field streight after school when terms just finnished so all your friends are celebrating, ride in the rain, get soaked, walk home in the rain, when the lanes are flooded, then arrive home, looking forward to changing clothes and getting warm, to find out that you are locked out. Grrrrr, I had to wait for ages for my mother to arrive. But now the Christmas holidays are here so I can spend more time down there getting wet so all is good.
Its all worth it when i gallop accross the beach.
Till she spooks and I fall of into the sea that is...
I'll shut up now

Hey Kells Bells
No, I am not selling my horse, that was his sale pic from when I got him a couple months ago. wow, you get to ride on the beach? That is sooooo cool! I have always wanted to do that. Congradulations on buying Montana. talk to ya later

Oh, thats good, hes too cool to sell.
The beach is realy fun, but the horses often spook at the sea if they aren't used to it. Which mine isn't so it makes things very interesting.
But you can just gallop for miles if your horse is forward going (which mine realy is) And because we havn't got a sand arena its the only place I can ride in the winter without getting realy slidey and muddy.
Its way more fun than riding anywhere else. I love living on the coast! I may not get snow and its full of tourists in the summer bet we can ride on the beach!!
As you all will have no doubt noticed I have had a name change. I am no longer SOAOFMCCCLS(spew2u) as it is apparently too long. as you can see, I'm Kells bells. its much quicker to type, admittidley.

Edit - Here are some more pictures - I told you I had tonnes! Most of these were taken today (Christmas day - Woooohoooo!!) appart from the first two.

kelly having a roll as she always does - Here
Kelly going into the field - Here
Kelly opening her Christmas prezzies (carrots all wrapped up with ribbon in case you were wondering) - Here
Kelly wearing a party hat from a Christmas cracker - Here
Kelly eating her Christmas dinner - Here
Me + Kelly up the farmers hill where we are allowed to ride - Here

Well, you cant complain that I don't give you enough pictures! You will be glad to hear that she loved her Christmas present. Does anyone else give thier horses Christmas presants or am I just wierd?!

Where is evryone? I feel all on my tod!
Actualy, I'm still in shock because Kelly behaved today.
So more later maby.

I'm from Kentucky and we're supposed to be the Horse capital of the world and we hold the Kentucky Derby. I'm kind of used to horses being out in fields and stuff as we're driving so I thought this might be a thread I would know something about.
May family owns a horse farm and we have quite a few horses. They are all thoroughbreds and my grandparents race them. They are really nice. I love horses. Unfortunately, I can't ride any of them for one because they are thoroughbreds and two because I dunno how to ride. But I really do like horses and sorry I don't know more about them to share your enthusiasm!
Has anyone here ever been to a derby? Even if it wasn't a Kentucky one?

Yay! I'm not talking to myself anymore!
In Kentucky, arn't you the fried chicken capital of the world too?!
I havn't realy been to a derby though, I would like to though. I would have to go to Cheltenham or soething though. I used to live near Bath racecourse but I was very small then and never went.
Its quite strange that your family owns a horse farm and didn't teach you to ride. Over here you would probaly be forced to knowing most of the parents round here, they like thier kids to 'share thier enthusiasm' and half the time it makes the kids give it up.
I would love to live on a horse farm, just to look out of the window and see the horses grazing or rolling or galloping or whatever.

I don't think we are the fried chicken capital per say, but we did start Kentucky Fried Chicken.

My cousins are the ones who actually live on the horse farm, I live on the other side of the county. It takes about a half an hour to get over there, so I haven't been there in a while. None of us have ever ridden the horses out there though. I think my dad said it is something about them being thoroughbreds and they are mostly racing horses not riding horses. Built for speed they are.

It is a really nice farm though. I think it is everthing someone who hasn't been to Kentucky can expect from a Kentucky farm. Of course a lot of people just think we're country bumpkins who have no shoes, sit out on our front porch and drink lemonade. It stinks to be the butt of all the hick jokes.

But hey, we've got horses and fried chicken so come on down!!

Hey Kells Bells! Hi Just the Droobles! (cool name) so wat have you all been up to lately? Did you end up buying Montana Kells? Hope you are having a great break! Ug, I have to go back to school on Mon.
HPgoldsnitch

Hey! Where is everyone? I haven't heard from anyone... Now I know how you feel Kells, when you said that you felt like you were talking to yourself. lol Someone reply

C'mon now, HPgoldsnitch... I'm sure people have just been busy lately, what with the new year and all. Try to give everyone else two or three weeks to reply before double-posting to "resurrect" a topic. The same goes for everyone posting in this thread, as this is not the first time that I've seen this happen.

My internet broke for about a week, which is why I havn't been around. Sorry to all! We are hopefully getting Montana home on the 16th January, and I get to miss school to go get him! We can't tell my mum about my missing school though, so we have to be really sneaky(I will leave for school in my uniform with my friend Mici, then I will go to maybe two lessons, leave at break and meet up with my dad.)
I can't wait! I can tell my dads exited too but he's trying tot to show it in case it all falls through.

Thanks Allie, its way shorter to type as well! Note to all, I'm female too, not that you could tell with my very unisex SOAOFMCCCLS.... one!

Hey!
Yay, people are back. Hope you all had a great new year. Everyones back in school... or work or whatever it is you do. lol Congradulations on buying Montana Kells!! haha, that is going to be fun for you to miss school. lol

I had a look at my timetable though, for the first two lessons that I have to be in I have Welsh and History (both very boring) then I have English and IT and something else but they were all good lessons I was missing.
Kelly was such an annoying little rebel yesterday! We were on the dunes with a friend and we were both galloping up sand dunes and walking down them, but my friends horse overtook Kelly so she went rather nuts and was prancing around shaking her head and wouldn't calm down even when she was in the front again. So I desided to get off and walk untill she cooled it in time for the road. Unfortunatley, I tripped on the long grass on the dunes (dont laugh) and I somehow managed to drop the reins and she went troting off towards the exit of the dunes, towards the road. I had to realy power walk across a short cut to get there just behind her, then she stopped (phew - i was so scared she would meet a bus!) She had her reins tangled up in her legs and it took me a while to detangle them.
Needless to say, I desided to school her today, and you know what? She did not put a hoof wrong. That infuriated me even more, how am I supposed to fix the problem in a safe enviroment if she does not go nuts in a safe enviroment?! Silly pony...
O.K. that was a long post, probaly no - one could be bothered to read half of it, i just get carried away when it comes to horses.

-Susie -

Hi Kells Bells,
I hate it when horses are bad one day, then they don't act up and are perfect the next. Maybe it's just their way of saying sorry...lol. that is so good that your horse didn't get hurt when she went trotting away. Whats welsh class?

well, as I live in Wales (little country next to england part of GB) we (occasionaly) speak Welsh and its compulsary to learn it in school, but its a pain in the neck sometimes to be blunt.
Kelly is very good at saying sorry. She makes me forgive her, and looks so so sweet in time for her food in order to make me give her endless carrots.

I feel horrible. I've been off line for some time now and when I do come back on I usually go to other forums. That's fantastic Kells Bells that you're getting Montana soon.

I know what it feels like to have a horse act up when you least want them to. Believe me! When I was trail riding one day my horse kinda took off down the hill. And, when you're going about fifteen miles per hour on a gravel/wet road, you don't really think about pulling one rein and bending them to a stop. My mind was completly shut down and I was hanging on for dear life when, wam, I hit a tree. It didn't hurt, it was just the adrenilin rush you know. I sat there, relaxing and then my horse and I had a long lesson on not doing that.

I've had many run ins with that kind of thing. I had a horse who wanted to barrel race my first year showing during a western pleasure class. That was an adventure... lol. I still remember the horrified look on my mom's face as I went speeding by on a black blur. Good times.
Tah
HoofsTails Gal

P.s. I just thought of this quote:
"When you're young and fall off a horse you break a bone, but when you're my age and you fall off, you splatter."
I forget who said it, but I love that quote.

Ha, I love that quote. My faverout is from Shakespeare, I cant remember which play, I think it was King Richard, but he said
"My horse, My horse, My Kingdom for my horse!"
It is so true!

Oh I remember a pony I was on once started rearing vertically and backing off towards a cliff. I did not like that animal at all.
This sounds like some sort of competition to see who has the nearest death experience! I did not mean for it to sound like that.
We have had a change in plan concerning Montana, So I don't know when we are getting him. The car that was supposed to pull the trailer now doesn't work.

I'm Off to luna Lovegood auditions Saturday! I can not wait!

I am sorry to hear about Montana, you must be bummed. I hope that you can go get him soon. Wow, your auditioning for the LL part? That is sooooooo cool! Break a leg! lol(Or is it good luck?)

I haven't been in here in a while...

I hope you get your horse, Montana, Kells Bells. I twill be a bummer if you can't get him. Wow! Trying out for Luna Lovegood! That's cool! You'll have to come back and tell us how it was. That's gonna be a lot of blonde hair around there. Good luck with your horse and your audition.

I am now getting Montana tomorrow (yes!! At last!!) and I wasnt picked for Luna, but hey! I was on national news! (see the yahoo news piccys - there is a link on the news section of this site somewhere, picture 1 in the middle, is no other than ME!! woohoo...) There wasn't much blonde hair actually, because they didn't specify the look the wanted, so ANYONE could go (provided they were the right age, female and British and could be bothered)
I now only have to go in for 1 lesson tomorrow in school, no other than Welsh, but then I will sighn out and go home to meet my dad, then we will go in the horsebox (I have seen pictures of those things that you Americans call horse trailers and WOW they are more like houses! Or hotels even - How do you pull them? Ours are tiny in comparison!) then we will go all the way to Camarthan in this old scary thing that has very dodgy gears and no seatbelts, collect the horse and go back before I rush to my friend house to (hopefully) see myself on Newsround! Yay!
I am looking forward to getting him, but my Dad forgot to get him a headcollar, and the one we have for Kelly is size Pony and he is definatley Full size. Typical Dad! Honestly...

Congrats on getting Montana! I guess it all makes up for the bum out on the Luna auditions. True, there probably wasn't too much blond hair. After all, half the stars the have now are either wearing a wig or have their hair colored!! haha Houses and hotels... They are a bit large aren't they? I guess I'm used to them so I don't really think about it. But we just pull them with pick-up trucks. I guess. All of our vehicles are way oversized anyway so...
You're lucky you only get one lesson then have to leave! I have four classes a day, but they are an hour and a half long each!! Talk about loss of attention span... But congrats on getting Montana finally!

i have a horse
i love her soo much
shes 12 hands shes 15 born the same day as me
she is a cutie
her show name is little miss naughty
her pet name is chelsea aka cheecky chelsea,chelsea buttons,lol
she jumps etc she is a very speedy pony lol
i Q for a show in wales last year never went tho
cos it had to be 17 years and over
and then i got told a couple of weeks a go a girl younger than 15 done it
well i think she must of been younger than 15 cos shes 15 the now and she went a couple of years ago
it was 70 cm i done it
and i got time record of the whole series
i was well happy
well shes a gd wee pony i have had loads of winning and 2nds lol
heres a pic of her
il get more of her and put some on hear






Bye Now xxx

That horse took 6 people 4 HOURS to load into that box. I was not happy. But we got him home in the end, and it looks like he has now chummed up with Kelly a little to well, if you catch my drift. Blatent incest.
Hey *SexiStan*! More people! Woohooo! Chelsea is sweet! 12hh, thats small. But very cute. Looking forward to seeing more pictures of her!!
ttfn, Kells

i have got loads of pics of her lol il get some up soon shes such a cutie i love her soo much lol
shes gonna be with me for life
shes a great mounted games pony x
always
fast very
shes strong tho
somtimes i cant hold her back lol