P.S. Sometimes I think people who have natural riding talent, natural seat and no fear, can get into more bad habits than us normal people because whatever happens, they somehow find a way out of it, even if it isn't a very good way. Whereas hard learners like me would fall off, get scared, and ask for help.

It's not really the trainer's fault. This horse is owned by a 15-year-old who, while a very good rider, has no common sense and only ever cared about jumping as high and going as fast as she could and didn't see the need for regular lessons. When she got pregnant (the girl) she let another young teen with the same attitude ride the mare. The owner owes well over $1000 in board (her mother isn't exactly responsible either) and the barn owner is therefore using her for occasional lessons

Although I have arthritis, it's only in my hands a little at this point. Except that I can no longer ride for more than an hour and a half at a time. After that, my knees do lock up and I have trouble getting off. No pain associated with this, so I don't take any meds for it.

I think it's fine as long as the person rides a horse big enough for them. I don't see that overweight people actually lose weight from riding, at least not very quickly, but the exercise has got to be good for them if they do it regularly.

I'm riding a nice mare who, in my half-educated opinion, has great dressage potential. She's about 7 years old and has never done anything but hunters. She has wonderful gaits and great work ethic, but she's very strong and heavy on the forehand. She's usually ridden in a slow twist copper snaffle to keep her up off the bit. She's not a bolter or unsafe at all. I don't think she likes her bit, so I got permission to ride her in my loose ring french link. I ride her about once

We have a blind mare at our barn. She's not at all old (was blinded in an accident) and was bred by her owner afterwards, as apparently she has valuable bloodlines. She's quiet by nature and lives in a stall with a small turnout. Turning her out in a larger area, even with her own daughter, doesn't really work for her since she doesn't know where she is and is at the mercy of the sighted horse. As far as the buddy with bell, I'd have to have complete confidence that the buddy

Cafl, your horse sounds so much like mine with this problem! Smart, often lazy, but sensitive and really does want to please, if only it isn't too much work for him. What I've been doing lately - about 2 months now - is having my instructor ride for the first few minutes of every single lesson, then I get on. It's even more helpful than I thought it would be. She explains what the horse is doing, what she's doing about that, both the bad and the good. Then I get on, the horse is already

I'm so sorry. Hugs

I've had a lot of canter issues with my horse too, and three quarters of them were caused by me. The other 1/4 was lack of straightness in my horse (which also was my fault because I hadn't noticed/dealt with it). Once my instructor started riding her regularly and worked through the straightness issue, the canter became much, much easier. Your horse sounds like mine in getting tense with a "let's get this over with" kind of attitude. I think now that a lot of it, besides her

Has anybody else seen this? This guy is unbelievable! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsuN-56G2rc