this is the item for discussing horse-back ridING and related activities.

28 responses total.

There seems to be a fair amount of good horse-stuff around here, especially
in the area of Dressage or Western riding. Not that much hunt-seat, very little
eventing (my preference) and almost not Saddle Seat that I know of, outside of
some 4-H activity.  Someone was looking for a "hack stable" where they could
just go out trail riding.  The only one I know of is Hell Creek Ranch.  I
believe it's in Pinkney St. Park, but I'm not sure.
        They breed some of their own horses- appaloosas, if I recall, and treat
them quite well.  The ride was through lovely mixed terrain- woods, fields,
and along a ridge.  Not particularly slow or boring, since our group all had
some idea of what we were doing.  Nor were the horses burn-out cases, to my
surprise.

If you are any sort of a horse person and have some spare time, consider 
volunteering with a handicapped riding organization-
        I work with Theraputic Riding, inc. at Synchrony Farm in Saline. They
have a listing in the phone book.  Classes are Monday and Thursday evenings
from Mid-April to Around Halloween, with most of August off.  We need people
to groom and tack up horses around (or before) 5:PM, and others to lead horses
and walk beside riders from then to 9:PM- volunteers give as much time as
they have.  Students range from age 4 to 20 and have handicaps varying from
mild ld or emotional problems or slight cerebral palsy to quite severe cp.
Some ride almost independently- just a token side-walker, while others have
a physical therapist riding behind them to hold them on.  Most kids just need
someone to make sure they keep their balance/ grip and pay attention.  We 
also go to the 4-H fair and do a ride-athon and other fund raisers.  It's 
LOTS of fun!  Call Julie Arkison at Synchrony Farm or Mary at the 4-H extension
office if you want to volunteer or to ask about similar programs closer to
where you live.

Saline...  Saline...  Ain't dat up route twelve?  About ten miles from
Ypsi, if'n I recall.

So Kami, give me a date and a time to go to see what it is all about. 

I prefer riding in the desert.  Then again, I learned at YMCA camp Storer.
Ah hell, Why not?

Vidar- fond of camels, eh?  You must love them for the temperment...

re#:3
you can call the 4-H extension office for details, or I'll post an announce-
ment or something closer to April 16th.  I have always gone out on Thursdays,
but there are classes Monday nights, too, and I can sometimes go then.

No.  Not camels, just riding gup-gups in the desert, that's all.

There are horse trails and a horse livery at the state park on Beck
road off M-14.  

I question your right to the use of the word "livery", I don't care what
you mean, I would prefer if you used "ranch"

I used "livery" as defined on page 1125 of my Random House dictionary.  I 
used it per definitions 6 and 7.  "6) the care, feeding, stabling,
etc., of horses for pay.  7) See _livery stable_."  Livery stable's 
definition is "a stable where horses and vehicles are cared for or
rented out for pay."  The word "livery," according to Random House's
etymologists, dates from 1250-1300 AD, and is from the Middle English
"livere," descended from the Anglo-French, and equivalent to the
Old French "livree" which meant "allowance (of food, clothing, etc.)"
a noun use of the feminine past participle of "livrer" which meant
"to give over," borrowed from the Latin "liberare" - which meant
"liberate."

It is reasonably obvious to any ordinarily prudent person that in no way
did I use "livery" to mean "a large, reddish-brown, glandular organ located
in the upper right side of the abdominal cavity, divided by fissures into
five lobes and function in the secretion of bile and various metabolic
processes."

I should check out this place- have you been there?  Are the horses well kept?
What's the name? 
"Livery" is indeed correct, and in common usage, at least in parts of the
East Coast.

Re: 9  I love it.

Re: 10.  I _think_ it may be Mayberry State Park, or have some other
similar name.  I was at the park once, several years ago, and went _by_
the stable area but did not venture in.  You'll have to check this out
yourself.

Re: 9.  Thank you.

that should read "re 11: thank you"

Hmph!

Maybury is a nice place to ride.

Moo.

grexpedition, anyone?

When?  Where?

haven't thought that far.  Maybe we should wait until shedding season is 
done...

Okay.  I don't know enough about horses to...to...to even say what
I don't know enough about.

I'm game to go horseback riding though!

I think that it would be a good idea t let the snow melt first. !@#$%^&*()
snow!  I think I hate winters.

Hmm...  Don't like riding in the snow, eh?

I love crazy tails (hairpin turns and jumping fallen trees) in the snow!

Ever jump 5' high fences on a horse?  I did that back when I was about 5
years old.  Yea, that's when I got the scar on my face.  But that
didn't happen until later.

3' is high enough for me.  I don't have a good enough seat or eye for anything
higher.

Ach... Zo I see...

<lee recalls fond days of horseback riding at camp long ago>

Hey!  I'm riding again, after over a year's absence; exercizing the horses
used for Theraputic Riding--can't beat free rides, and I might get an
occasional lesson out of the deal.  Today I *tried* to catch Brutus (what a
name!), an older and poorly-trained grey quarter horse with a goiter
(otherwise, classic old-type quarter horse conformation.  Really nice, but
heavy moving).  No luck, so he's gonna be kept in tomorrow.  I rode Prince,
instead; a lighter built bay quarter horse with lovely long movement although
he needs his feet trimmed and possibly rolled in front so he won't hit his
heels.  Bull-headed with lack of work or education, so a bit stiff mouthed
on turning, but basically lovely.  *Lots* of circles for him!  And I worked
a few minutes with Tucker, in hand.  He's off the track so needs an education
to help settle him and re-direct his thinking, but I think he'll do.  About
16hh+ and needs about 100lbs.  I think those three will be in my charge, and
the less experienced riders will work Wabash--an ancient field hunter, and
Amy, an aging Morgan.  Don't know about Star, an annoying little pony mare,
and Cheska, who's a trooper but ill-tempered.  It'll be a fun Fall.

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