OT for Horse Lovers!
Well, maybe this isn't totally off topic. If I had not gotten the DS, I would not be riding again. If I were not riding again, I would not be considering purchasing my VERY OWN GYPSY VANNER!
I'm two pounds from goal...I think a Gypsy Horse would make an awesome "Goal Reward", LOL!
Today I went with a couple of friends to KD's Gypsy Vanners in Belle Center, Ohio.
Here are some pictures
1) Me riding one of the mares http://images.obesityhelp.com/uploads/profile/890616/albums/95430/Christy%20Riding%20GV.jpg
2) Their stud Killian
http://images.obesityhelp.com/uploads/profile/890616/albums/95430/Killian.jpg
3) Me and Keagan, two year old for sale. Christy likey :)
http://images.obesityhelp.com/uploads/profile/890616/albums/95430/Christy%20and%20Keagan.jpg
Keagan, all hair :)
http://images.obesityhelp.com/uploads/profile/890616/albums/ 95430/Keagan.jpg
Anyway, it was a very good day and yea, I LOVE MY DS!
I'm two pounds from goal...I think a Gypsy Horse would make an awesome "Goal Reward", LOL!
Today I went with a couple of friends to KD's Gypsy Vanners in Belle Center, Ohio.
Here are some pictures
1) Me riding one of the mares http://images.obesityhelp.com/uploads/profile/890616/albums/95430/Christy%20Riding%20GV.jpg
2) Their stud Killian
http://images.obesityhelp.com/uploads/profile/890616/albums/95430/Killian.jpg
3) Me and Keagan, two year old for sale. Christy likey :)
http://images.obesityhelp.com/uploads/profile/890616/albums/95430/Christy%20and%20Keagan.jpg
Keagan, all hair :)
http://images.obesityhelp.com/uploads/profile/890616/albums/ 95430/Keagan.jpg
Anyway, it was a very good day and yea, I LOVE MY DS!
Wow, you are so lucky to be getting a horse! I have wanted one (or several) since I was a little girl. Congratulations on being only two pounds from goal! I really love that paint mare you were riding. I've always wanted a paint and a palomino and maybe a pure white one and a dapple grey! All colors, just like cats, lol!
Thats awesome Christy. The DS is awesome for so much. Vanners are pretty.
Just a couple serious thoughts to ponder (no different than the DS) if your thinking about that 2yo-
Have you had experience training a young horse? Or have the money to have a real trainer work with you?
Are you prepared to pay board on a horse for 2 years before you can start riding it? And know it has to be light riding as heavy breeds ,which vanners are, take much longer to fully mature.
I finally bit the bullet and bought a young Straight Egyptain Arabian gelding (Izzy), he'll be 3 next month.But I also have my 13 yo Crabbet Arabian Gelding to ride, so the waiting aspect is no biggy for me. But that said Izzy comes from a long line of late maturing horses. He will not be started under saddle with rider till fall 2012. Young horses are alot of work and need to be worked with 4 days a week easily to make sure they are solid in foundation to contiue. Yeah they are cute but a lot of work. A youngin not prepared is asking for hassels later, its taken 2.5 years to "straighten" out a friends horse who was not started properly as a youngin (he went from baby to barrel racing he was seriously messed up). But good things come to thoes with patience with horses. A horse allowed to mature more mentally & physically before started under saddle will have many many many more years in their lives than something started at age 3 or younger. So really depends on how much your ready to spend on horse, board and possibly non riding if a youngin and how much you enjoy riding.
Geeze the hard decisions that the DS forces on us, LOL. :)
ETA: I know Christy has pleanty of experience, I just promote proper and responsible ownership
Just a couple serious thoughts to ponder (no different than the DS) if your thinking about that 2yo-
Have you had experience training a young horse? Or have the money to have a real trainer work with you?
Are you prepared to pay board on a horse for 2 years before you can start riding it? And know it has to be light riding as heavy breeds ,which vanners are, take much longer to fully mature.
I finally bit the bullet and bought a young Straight Egyptain Arabian gelding (Izzy), he'll be 3 next month.But I also have my 13 yo Crabbet Arabian Gelding to ride, so the waiting aspect is no biggy for me. But that said Izzy comes from a long line of late maturing horses. He will not be started under saddle with rider till fall 2012. Young horses are alot of work and need to be worked with 4 days a week easily to make sure they are solid in foundation to contiue. Yeah they are cute but a lot of work. A youngin not prepared is asking for hassels later, its taken 2.5 years to "straighten" out a friends horse who was not started properly as a youngin (he went from baby to barrel racing he was seriously messed up). But good things come to thoes with patience with horses. A horse allowed to mature more mentally & physically before started under saddle will have many many many more years in their lives than something started at age 3 or younger. So really depends on how much your ready to spend on horse, board and possibly non riding if a youngin and how much you enjoy riding.
Geeze the hard decisions that the DS forces on us, LOL. :)
ETA: I know Christy has pleanty of experience, I just promote proper and responsible ownership
DS Aug 15th,2005 @ goal, living life and loving it.
"An Arabian will take care of its owner as no other horse will, for it has not only been raised to physical perfection, but has been instilled with a spirit of loyalty unparalleled by that of any other breed."
You're right! It's not off-topic.
I grin every day, thinking about the things that I can do now that I would not have considered, even for a second, at 310 pounds. And, when I was in the mid-200's, I did ride some poor unfortunate horse. I realize that they can handle it (well, some breeds, anyway), but it didn't make me feel any less guilty.
I wanna ride a horse! (So, how far is Belle Center from Lancaster?)
Oh, and, those horsies are TOO cute! They look like oversized shetland ponies, kind of.
I hope you end up with your heart's desire.
I grin every day, thinking about the things that I can do now that I would not have considered, even for a second, at 310 pounds. And, when I was in the mid-200's, I did ride some poor unfortunate horse. I realize that they can handle it (well, some breeds, anyway), but it didn't make me feel any less guilty.
I wanna ride a horse! (So, how far is Belle Center from Lancaster?)
Oh, and, those horsies are TOO cute! They look like oversized shetland ponies, kind of.
I hope you end up with your heart's desire.
Updated 4/7/13
Fo' Shizzle My Sizzle
on 6/23/11 1:01 pm, edited 6/23/11 1:07 pm
on 6/23/11 1:01 pm, edited 6/23/11 1:07 pm
Did you decide which one to buy?
I love the gentle giant draft breeds, and Vanners are one of my favorites. I also love the Shire horses.
I used to ride horses when I was a little kid (5 years old), that was before I became obese to years later. A few years back I called up the only 2 stables near me, asked them if they had horses that could support a heavy rider of 300lbs. Both said no, one also admitted they wouldn't let me ride for safety reasons in case I fell from the horse (higher risk of injury if you're obese). That killed me...
But I can look forward to horse riding again thanks to the DS!
if I had all the money in the world I would buy this Vanner named "Dunbrody", who lives at Roscreigh stable
I love the gentle giant draft breeds, and Vanners are one of my favorites. I also love the Shire horses.
I used to ride horses when I was a little kid (5 years old), that was before I became obese to years later. A few years back I called up the only 2 stables near me, asked them if they had horses that could support a heavy rider of 300lbs. Both said no, one also admitted they wouldn't let me ride for safety reasons in case I fell from the horse (higher risk of injury if you're obese). That killed me...
But I can look forward to horse riding again thanks to the DS!
if I had all the money in the world I would buy this Vanner named "Dunbrody", who lives at Roscreigh stable
That boy is gorgeous!
I will be shopping around for a while. That stable only had one horse that came close to my criteria for age and size (and really a two-year-old is younger than I want). It's a big decision, but half the fun is the hunt, right?
Riding again has been one of the many surprises that came with my DS. I think it was devine intervention that I made a new friend with a stable shortly before embarking on this journey.
She asked me if I'd like to ride after I'd gotten about 140 or so lbs off (just timing, I don't think she was waiting for me to lose, lol). I was totally amazed that even at that point (40 lbs ago!), riding felt the way it "should" and the way I remembered it feeling when I was young. I had ridden when I was quite heavy, but it just wasn't fun (for me or the poor horse!).
I still can't believe how wonderful it feels to be riding again. I have to watch because I forget I am not as young as I used to be, nor do I have the muscle tone I did 25 years ago.
Thank you, God, for my DS!!!!
I will be shopping around for a while. That stable only had one horse that came close to my criteria for age and size (and really a two-year-old is younger than I want). It's a big decision, but half the fun is the hunt, right?
Riding again has been one of the many surprises that came with my DS. I think it was devine intervention that I made a new friend with a stable shortly before embarking on this journey.
She asked me if I'd like to ride after I'd gotten about 140 or so lbs off (just timing, I don't think she was waiting for me to lose, lol). I was totally amazed that even at that point (40 lbs ago!), riding felt the way it "should" and the way I remembered it feeling when I was young. I had ridden when I was quite heavy, but it just wasn't fun (for me or the poor horse!).
I still can't believe how wonderful it feels to be riding again. I have to watch because I forget I am not as young as I used to be, nor do I have the muscle tone I did 25 years ago.
Thank you, God, for my DS!!!!
Most Active
Recent Topics
