My daughter has been going to a local farm/ranch for horseback riding lessons. She really enjoys it. This farm is a bit special because most of their animals are rescue animals. They have a couple of retired horses with the oldest one being 28! This is what their web site says:
"We are probably the only Ranch that you will ever visit that does not use bits in the horses mouths or shoes on their hooves; instead we use a more natural way and we ride our horse in rope halters. Harding Heights also does not believe in shoeing our horses - all 15 of our horses go barefoot! You too can come and enjoy this "newer" way of interacting with horses and see how truly happy our horses really are!!"
When you take lessons you always ride the same horse because they believe you should build a relationship with the horse you ride. My daughter is riding a 15 year old gelding called Sonny. He's a beautiful guy with a sweet calm disposition. The riders learn how to saddle, brush and unsaddle the horse they ride. They do this each lesson. If it's hot they have to wash the horse down too. Dried sweat makes them sticky the instructor said.
I took these two pictures from the ranch's website. I have some other pictures on my phone but haven't downloaded them onto the computer yet.
They have several other animals, dogs, cats etc. What I find so wonderful is when you show up there all the animals come over to have a look at you. I was waiting to pick my daughter up from her ride, they were a bit late coming back so I was sitting on a picnic table waiting when a duck and Canada goose came over to check me out. The goose had a broken wing and the duck was a strange variety with a mostly red head. The horses were already as close to me as the fence would allow. Their ears perked in my direction as they watched to see what I was doing. I could see one of the big Clydesdale's looking at me from a different fenced area. Then the cats came over and rubbed all over me. The rooster and a hen were wandering around pecking at stuff. I could hear sheep too and they have a parrot who likes to talk.
All those animals and they were all checking me out! LOL! Finally the stallion started to get excited and neighed loudly. I knew this meant he could see his friends coming back and I turned to see the horses on their way home. My daughter's horse was in the lead because he likes to rush back home cause he knows he's getting an apple and some treats when he gets there.
I took western riding lessons when I was a kid but I really didn't appreciate it. I found the trail rides kind of boring. The horses were intimidating and didn't mind what you tried to get them to do so you had to be almost mean to them to get them to behave. But now when I see the horses I would love to take a ride. Maybe soon I'll see if I can haul my old body up onto a big strong horse who can hold me and enjoy a ride.
"We are probably the only Ranch that you will ever visit that does not use bits in the horses mouths or shoes on their hooves; instead we use a more natural way and we ride our horse in rope halters. Harding Heights also does not believe in shoeing our horses - all 15 of our horses go barefoot! You too can come and enjoy this "newer" way of interacting with horses and see how truly happy our horses really are!!"
When you take lessons you always ride the same horse because they believe you should build a relationship with the horse you ride. My daughter is riding a 15 year old gelding called Sonny. He's a beautiful guy with a sweet calm disposition. The riders learn how to saddle, brush and unsaddle the horse they ride. They do this each lesson. If it's hot they have to wash the horse down too. Dried sweat makes them sticky the instructor said.
I took these two pictures from the ranch's website. I have some other pictures on my phone but haven't downloaded them onto the computer yet.
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| Here's a picture of Sonny |
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| These two are trouble |
They have several other animals, dogs, cats etc. What I find so wonderful is when you show up there all the animals come over to have a look at you. I was waiting to pick my daughter up from her ride, they were a bit late coming back so I was sitting on a picnic table waiting when a duck and Canada goose came over to check me out. The goose had a broken wing and the duck was a strange variety with a mostly red head. The horses were already as close to me as the fence would allow. Their ears perked in my direction as they watched to see what I was doing. I could see one of the big Clydesdale's looking at me from a different fenced area. Then the cats came over and rubbed all over me. The rooster and a hen were wandering around pecking at stuff. I could hear sheep too and they have a parrot who likes to talk.
All those animals and they were all checking me out! LOL! Finally the stallion started to get excited and neighed loudly. I knew this meant he could see his friends coming back and I turned to see the horses on their way home. My daughter's horse was in the lead because he likes to rush back home cause he knows he's getting an apple and some treats when he gets there.
I took western riding lessons when I was a kid but I really didn't appreciate it. I found the trail rides kind of boring. The horses were intimidating and didn't mind what you tried to get them to do so you had to be almost mean to them to get them to behave. But now when I see the horses I would love to take a ride. Maybe soon I'll see if I can haul my old body up onto a big strong horse who can hold me and enjoy a ride.
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