See The Land Man

Palomino is not a breed. It is a color. There are many breeds with that color horse. In any case, it is the individual horse’s training and temperament that make it suitable for a beginner and not the breed.

Here: The palomino horse Breeders of America: http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/palomino/index.htm It’s a color registry with lots of different breeds.

So i am thinking of entering my first show with my horse. It is a schooling type show, and it says that novice classes are defined by any one rider/horse combination having not won any three or more first placings.
Its my first show, but i now how to ride and everything. would i HAVE to do the novice classes? Or could i do my age group 14-17?

You can do both divisions, both Novice and your age group. Just check the show bill as sometimes novice riders can’t cross enter into some classes. If you still aren’t sure, check with the show management… they should be more than happy to help you with your questions.

I am planning on doing a small halloween party for the people at my barn, and since my horse is a paint, I thought going as an indian would be cool. But I would like to make some simple beaded tack, something to make her bridle look a little authentic, even though its not ^_^ any one know how to make a beaded bridle and could tell me how?

The easiest way would be to buy strips of pre-woven beads.

You can then glue that to a strip of cloth that you have folded over and sewn a seam down one edge. Slide it over your brow band or where ever.

True Native American bead work take a lot if time, practice and patience.

You can also get pre-made rosettes to use.

Tandy leather has a good selection and has stores in most major cities. Can also buy off of their web sight.

Ok I have a few questions concerning tack and other horse related stuff.

1. How do you know what size saddle will fit you without trying it out? I am looking at an 17 "english saddle, its used but in good condition, I just plan on using it for hacking and schooling. Is 17" the average saddle size?

2. How much do new stirrup leathers cost? I dont want anything fancy just something that will get the job done lol.

3. When leasing a horse should I buy my own set of grooming brushes and tools? The stable has ‘community" brushes and Ive leased a horse before I just dont remember if I bought my own brushes or not.

4. Probably the silliest questions but when ordering riding breeches is the size the same as your waist measurement or your hips measurement? I am ordering them from State Line Tack and cannot find a measurement guide and I want to make sure they fit and are comfortable.

5. Can any of you recommend a list or a community that advertises for used tack?
I live in Ohio if any of you are from around here and know of a good tack store or a 4-H club that has an annual tack sale please let me know. Also please no rude answers or ones telling me I should not be getting a horse if I dont know the answers to these questions.
I am an adult, havent had kids but I do have hips hehe. So a 17" should be fine then? I think my first saddle was 15" when I was younger.

17 inches is the normal saddle size… it’s kinda the all purpose size… most lesson barns have 17 inch saddles for everyone to use. If you’re thinner, you can use the smaller saddles… and they make really small ones for kids. The inches measurement is how long the saddle is from front to back… it should fit YOU!… that part doesn’t depend on the horse. The underpart of the saddle (the padded part that sits on the horse) should fit the horse… they make the padding closer together or farther apart (with a gap in the center) depending on the horses back and the size of the withers (height and width). That’s why they make different size trees… you’ll hear about wide trees or narrow trees and they make adjustable trees in saddles and that’s the part that should fit your horse. The length of the saddle (the inches measurement) is about you. The tree is about the horse. The average size for a fully grown person is a 17 inch saddle. If you’re a larger size person you might be more comfortable with a bigger saddle… I’m used to the 17 inch saddle, so I’m comfortable riding it, but it is a bit small for me (I’m only slightly taller than 5 foot and I wear a size 14 jeans)… I hope that gives you some perspective. 13 inches would be a saddle for a child… it would be WAY too small for a normal adult.

I’m not sure about stirrup leathers (I’ve never bought any) but I’m sure it’s pretty easy to find out… just search for some on State Line Tack and look at the prices.

Brushes… all of the people at my barn who own their own horses also have their own brushes. I’m sure you can use the community brushes (ours are more like lesson brushes… for the kids taking lessons, so maybe your community brushes are different), but you can control how clean you keep your brushes and what condition they stay in. I’ve never really had a problem using the lesson brushes… my barn actually just got some new ones and they’re really nice… but if the brushes at your barn are poor quality or dirty or anything, you might want your own. It’s really your choice. I don’t think brushes are really very expensive, but you might choose to wait to purchase some since you’re just buying a horse (so you might not have enough money to spend on your brushes right now). You certainly need to have access to brushes because it’s important to groom your horse, but if you can use the community ones, there’s no hurry to buy your own.

I’m really not sure about breeches… I know mine were a 30something, so (judging from knowing my measurements) I’d have to guess that’s the waist size.

You can go on equine.com and search their listings for tack that people are selling. Ebay also has some people selling tack, but I’m never sure about the quality of stuff that people sell on there… I feel like equine.com is more reliable because it has to be horse people and it’s a horse website.

Where are you in Ohio? I went to school at Miami University (it’s near Cincinnati for all you people thinking that Miami is only in Florida)… the big place for people to go around there is called Wind & Withers, but I think it might have closed. I bought most of my show clothes at a place called Macaulays. And I bought my hunt coat at The Tack Trunk. Unfortunately I don’t really know where any of those places are (I mean i can’t give you directions) because I’m actually from Cleveland. Around here, the best place I’ve found is called Valley tack and it’s in Valley City. There’s also a place I’ve heard a lot about called The Paddock, but I’ve never been there and I don’t know where it is.

Good luck and have fun spending all your money on your new horsey things!

I have a habit of pointing my toes out (like the hunters/jumpers) but I am working up to dressage. My toes are not listening to me! Does anyone know how to keep my toes in?

hey!!! i rode dressage for years, and i always had that problem!!! what i do is move my stirrup irons closer to the inside and twist the leathers so that if you were to take your foot out, they would twirl to the inside (if that makes sense lol) i also usually have my foot on an angle, with my big toe down and little toe up (it helps with contact with the horse). finally, an exercise i use is while your horse is standing still, stand as far up as you can go in the saddle. bring your heels up and look sort of like a ballerina. then slowly put the weight in your heels and then lower your body, i hope this helps and good luck!!!

My riding instructor said that I will be riding a level 1 dressage horse for my next lesson.

-What is a level 1 dressage horse?

-What makes a level 1 dressage horse different then a run-of-the-mill school horse?

-Are there any special things I should pay attention to (such as my hands) when I am riding this horse.

Thanks

A level one dressage horse is simply more advanced in its quality of movement and abilities. Level one dressage requires walk, trot, and canter, but the moves are judged very closely, and the horse must be balanced, have good contact, and be forward, but controlled.

So basically, the horse you’ll be riding should have all of those qualities. There isn’t anything all that different about riding a horse like that, except you can expect it to be very responsive, especially to leg commands. Hope you have a good ride

Here’s an example of a level one dressage test:

As many of you may know, I’m starting up dressage. I’m getting my supplies but I am missing one vital thing: A dressage instructor. I know you need a licensed instructor but how do I find one? Do I post a wanted ad or is there a place where I can find instructors near me? Please help! Thanks!

You don’t need a licensed instructor, but licensure or certification is nice because it shows that the instructor has gone through an objective evaluation process and has been found competent. The USDF has a licensure program http://www.usdf.org/about/contact/certified-instructors.asp?TypePass=Instructors&RegionPass=1
So does the American Riding Instructors Association http://www.riding-instructor.com/instructors/

If no one on these lists is near you, you can call the closest one and ask them to recommend someone.
You can also contact your local GMO (group member organization, a local branch of the USDF) and ask them about instructors, clinics, and shows in your area. Go watch a varity of instructors and see which works best for you!

Good luck!

I am a first-time horse buyer and would like to know what to look for and how much to pay for a horse. I have some experience in caring for horses, as I boarded one, but I have never ridden one! I read books & watched owners ride their horses, but never took any lessons. I have my eye on a 15hh paint gelding (quarter horse). he is 3 years old, and has had training for trail and has went through a desensitizing program. so he is very well behaved (gentle) and broke. he is listed for $2000. he is up to date on coggins,worming,shots, and farrier. is that a reasonable price, or should i try to work it down? the owner is going to do payments with me so what would a reasonable down payment and monthly payment be? I am going to be riding him at a walking pace, I am not into barrel racing or anything like that. Anything else I should know ?Thanks!I might do private lessons with this horse if i buy him, so I can learn to properly saddle and ride him!

Eh, people with little experience buying horses always bugs me. No offense, but you seriously won’t realize how much work it is until you have him home 24/7, lol.

My suggestion.. Volunteer at a stable and take lessons for a year. I did this for 4 years and the knowledge I gained was just awesome. I now have my own horse, a filly that will be 2 in March – I got her free and she is an incredible girl.

He does sound like a decent gelding, I’m not sure about the price as I didn’t pay anything for my filly, but is there anyway the owner can hold him, and you can buy him when he’s 4, when you both have more experience?

Riding isn’t as easy as it looks, nor is owning a horse, by FAR. I’ve been so busy since I got mine, my head is spinning

Whatever you choose to do, though, good luck!

I am going to start taking horse riding lessons and there is private lessons group lessons intermediate beginner novice and lead reins what is lead reins lessons.

I am going to assume that lead rein lessons is for people who are just beginning. They will initially put you on a lead line that way you can get used to the horse, riding, and all of the cues without having to worry about steering.

My friend and I have been riding for 3 years and her dad hasn’t seen her ride for ages because my dad takes us riding and he thinks shes a beginner. Anyway, she’s buying a horse now because she was left some money from a relative and her dad doesn’t think she’s good enough to get an experienced horse (that knows how to jump and such) How can she tell her dad that she’s not a beginner without sounding like a spoiled brat?
I mean experienced like dressage moves and jumping skills not like older and slow (not saying all old horses are slow just that lots of beginner horses are older)

you could either get him to go and watch her ride or get a riding instructor to talk to her dad about how good a rider she is and that a more experienced horse would suit her much better