See The Land Man

I trail ride, and I’m also wanting to start taking dressage lessons. I’d like to buy some new riding boots that I could use for both trail riding and for taking lessons. I want something with good support and that will be comfortable to walk in. Nothing to expensive, I’m sure I will buy a separate pair for shows if I choose to compete. Thanks guys!

You can get tall boots or paddock boots and use gaiters or just paddock boots by themselves.
For dressage if you show tall boots look a lot nicer than gaiters but they’re more expensive.
You can get some nice boots and gaiters second hand so try and check out ebay or consignment at tack shops first.

I am buying a new dressage pony, and I was wondering what I needed. Grooming, Tack, Showing, etc.
I do not have any of the tack for anything, or grooming supplies, etc. I do have an instructor though.

Ask this in the horse section.
Also, do you have anything currently? Or were you looking for specific items you would need for a dressage horse that you might not need for another discipline?

Otherwise, the tack is different, but dressage doesn’t require you to purchase a whole new box of grooming supplies, etc. If you’ve done hunter/jumper, then you have what you need for lower-level dressage. You can use an all purpose saddle and regular bridle. You need a snaffle bit if you don’t already have one. For showing, you need light colored breaches and a dark coat. But you aren’t required to wear white breaches and the black dressage coat until much, much higher in the levels. Your tack can be brown or black. The biggest thing is just to have a clean, well turned out, look when you enter the ring. There is no need to go out and purchase all new tack, grooming supplies, etc in order to do well in dressage at the lower levels (assuming you already ride english).

The only thing you do need, and absolutely cannot do without, is a good dressage trainer. This is paramount for your enjoyment and showing success. A hunter/jumper instructor can do adequately in teaching some basics, but to really set yourself up for success for the long term, get a good dressage instructor and stick with her/him. If you’re in the US, you can find certified instructors on the USDF website. You can also go to dressage shows and talk to the riders who are winning. Ask them who their trainers are. Or ask in dressage forums for recommendations on trainers in your area. Always go watch the trainer give lessons a few times before choosing to train with them. Go watch a few trainers train, and then decide which one best suits your learning skills and personality.

Ride and have fun! That’s ultimately what it’s all about.

I am buying my first horse with nothing truly in mind yet. but I am mostly looking for online sites to browse through to help make my mind up. Ive looked forever! Iv already tried horsetrader.com, equine.com and equinenow.com THANKYOU!

Equine.com seems to be a good and reliable source. I’ve noticed that on EquineNow.com there is a lot of fake ads.

- The lesson’s don’t have to be in the Forest of Dean but within a reasonable driving distance.
- I need to know the contact details of the place the lesson are held, the price of beginner lessons, how long each lesson lasts and the days/times the lesson is held.
- All details need to be about lessons for an ADULT beginner and either group or individual lessons are welcomed.

Thank You )

Newnham Equestrian Centre is on the edge of the Forest of Dean – website with all the info www.newnhamec.co.uk

I don’t plan on competing or anything. I just want a horse I can ride for pleasure. It doesn’t need to be a breed.
I am not getting one anytime soon. Its for the future but im having a look online at horses and was wondering what I should be looking at paying because there are some for £200 right up to £10,000!

and the last part of my question from what im looking at horses have breeds? and some are just mixed? am I wrong?

For a safe horse for a beginner you really need to be looking to pay £2,500 or more. This will depend on the size and breed required. Every horse has a breed even if it is of mixed breeding. Certain breeds have more tendancy to make good or bad starter horses.

please answer i will give you points please please please i need to know. just like list ways that they are similar
please try to be helpful im doing a report. i ride and i know that they have differences (i event) but im writing an essay and there have GOT to be similaritys!

That’s tough. Both are english? They are very different. Now if you were writing on jumpers it would be very similar, but hunters is another topic. In hunters they want more of a long and low stride. The horses head shouldn’t be up but it shouldn’t be far down either. It should be ground covering.

I don’t know if you can but maybe you can change it from hunt seat to jumping. Jumping requires the horse to be able to come under itself so it can launch over a high fence, or make a quick turn while maintaining balance. dressage requires the horse to come under itself as well, so that the horse may collect and be balanced, it is able to do complicated moves easily from it.

I am really wanting to learn dressage horse riding and I don’t know what age you have to be to learn it? I also don’t know where to learn? I am 13 and I don’t know if I am too young?:S
I’m from Scotland BTW

Hello,

I guess USDF doesn’t really help then:-) The British Dressage website gives a regional contact person for Scotland, see http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/your_regions/overview The site also contains information for those 25 and younger: http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/under_25s

Also of interest might be the Scottish Dressage Group. They offer a membership for junior riders too. http://www.scottishdressagegroup.org.uk/index.html

Good Luck

Anne, library school student

Hi I am having problems with a horse I sold. They are late on payments by a month and will not email or call me back. What should I do? The last email I got said she was thinking of moving and couldn’t take him if she did move she asked if I wanted him back and I told her to go ahead bring him back weeks ago and I have not heard a thing nor gotten money for some time…. I am getting worried.

Holly, I suggest that you go see the buyer. It may be that she has already moved. The attitude that I see in what you relate is typical of someone who is going to try to stick you on the loan.

If you can recover the horse, do so. I hope that you have a note in writing on the debt. You may have to go to court over this. Try to find out where she moved if you can.

Good luck,
Dan

Im 25 and going for a lesson tomorrow..Iv had a few before but that was about 10 years ago so starting a fresh.. any beginner and basic tips much appreciated
give your horse its head what the hell is that???

Remember to keep your head up, and heels down. Heels down is the biggest one!! If it feels like you may fall off just grip with your legs. Depending on if your riding western( with the horn) or english( without the horn) your need to keep your reins tight. Like in English the bit dosnt hurt the horses mouth as much as western does soo you need to keep them tight. But in western you want to have a loose rein because the bit is much more severe. In English when you want to turn a horse you need to make contact with the mouth soo move your hand down on the reins and pull towards your hip. But in western you act like the reins are flood gates. This if if the horse neck reins. In neck reining out push your hand forward and then move it left or right. And then with both western and english you want to slightly push your heel into their side. like turning left push right heel into their side. same for opposite side. and remember to speed up shift your weight forward and kiss and squeeze and push your hands forward. and then to slow down push your weight back and pull your hands back and say whoa. hope this helps

I’d really like to start horse riding for complete beginners but I don’t know whether to do private or group lessons!

The price difference isn’t that much at the riding school I’m looking at, so I don’t really know what one to do.

For the private lessons I could be taught by a Trainee, a Junior instructor or a Senior instructor… It’s cheaper to be taught by a Trainee but it just depends which is best! The group lesson is 1hr long and the private lessons are either 30 or 45 minutes or 1hr long.

Please help I don’t know which one to pick! Bare in mind I don’t know anyone at the horse riding school :S

Group lessons are good because they’re usually cheaper, and it’s fun to have a lesson with some friends.
Private lessons are usually a better learning experience because it’s just you and the trainer, one-on-one. As for who you want to be taught by, although the trainee is cheaper, it’s always better to get someone with instructing experience who knows what they’re doing so you can get the best out of your lessons. If you were wondering about what length of lesson, if this is your first time riding, you should probably start out with the 30 minute lessons and increase the length as you get more advanced; as a beginner doing walk/trot, you won’t get much out of an hour long lesson.
Since you don’t really know anyone at the stable and the prices are about the same, I’d recommend you get private lessons.