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Post by Hope C. on May 10, 2010 12:32:33 GMT -5
Alright, here are a few pictures from the show the other day. Didn't get any dressage ones, since I was volunteered to be the dressage scribe, and believe me, it's a heck of a lot harder than it seems. Erin and Stunt Double aka "Harry." (he's worth 15k, they're asking 10k, but would let me have him for only 6k... if only I had $6,000 to spend on a horse, I'm in love with him) (these "standards" (the jump supports for those who don't know) are 4' and he cleared them by about 6"... only five and already almost all the way to jumping 5', he's a wonder horse) Lara and Kerrits (this 13 hand pony can jump anything, she's a super star) Shana and Lola (just a tad bit of sass going on there) Molly and Aspen (this pony is worth about 50k, and to think that I get to ride him!) Molly and Kingston (This pony has the most spectacular form, look at how tight those knees are!) Anyway, throughout the majority of the show it was snowing and raining and hailing... it was gross... this is why we eventers are said to be the toughest athletes. The only way to get a show cancelled is to have six inches of snow on the ground or the ground so sloppy from rain that it would be dangerous to ride. Erin fell off Harry because this little kid jumped down off this tower thing right in front of him and spooked him right as he landed from a jump, but got back up on and finished the course more beautifully than anybody else who had a clean ride. That takes some skills.
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Post by rust on May 10, 2010 14:04:45 GMT -5
Wow... beautiful horses and photos!!! Shana and Lola.. cute with the sass! You have some very nice action shots. Thank you for sharing with us.
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Post by Bambers on May 10, 2010 15:20:17 GMT -5
What gorgeous horses!!! My daughter is drooling over them!!
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Post by Saknika on May 10, 2010 17:44:28 GMT -5
Yikes! No more rain for sure! But wow, those horses are beautiful! For the prices being asked, I'm guessing they're all thoroughbreds right?
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Post by Hope C. on May 10, 2010 19:28:35 GMT -5
Harry is a Thoroughbred x paint, Kerrits is a Welsh x Arab, Lola I believe is part Thoroughbred, Aspen is some pony breed, I'm not sure what, and Kingston is full Welsh. Price really is dependent on the form of the horse. When it comes to racing everyone is all about breeding, but when it comes to jumping, it's all about form and ability. There are several different sorts of things that make them more or less expensive. A "hunter" is a horse that has perfect form (high, tightly bent knees and a nice arc to the neck) like Aspen and Kingston because the hunter style is all about the horse and has nothing to do with the rider really. A jumper is all about having a clean ride (no rails, refusals, run outs) and the fastest time for the lowest fault score. Eventing involves dressage, cross country, and stadium (normally jumper) so would have to be a horse with a lot of stamina.
Harry would make a good eventer because he can jump the moon if he wants to and he has a lot of energy and at only 5 years old and already capable of going training level. That's what makes him expensive.
Aspen has the most beautiful extended trot I've ever seen in a pony and generally has super tight knees and is also capable of going training level.
Kingston is extremely fast, and as you can see has beautiful knees, and his current owners would keep him, except their eight year old has fallen off of him many times and twice broke her arm and is now afraid of him, so they got her a slower more easy going pony.
It normally would cost about $300 a month for lessons (3 days a week) at the barn where all this takes place, but in exchange for pictures of sale horses and help around the barn (help includes working the horses... what a chore! haha) I get to ride for free. When my trainer was sick I was in charge of getting the horses exercise and rode at least 3 horses a day, it was like a dream come true! They have some of the mellowest ponies there too that are absolutely fabulous for little kids.
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Post by Saknika on May 10, 2010 19:46:04 GMT -5
Oh wow. I know a bit about horses from when I used to take lessons from some friends, but that was a lot of new information to me! That's really awesome though, that you get to barter like that. Definitely an exciting kind of lifestyle!
I guess I only really know about racing horses though, because I live near Saratoga, which has the flat track and harness track--both are pretty well known.
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