Conference noted::equitation

    Well, aren't you the humble one!
    
    There was no mention of a horse here, and that the horse may have
    had something to do with your great riding.
    
    Was there a horse involved?
    
    PS: aside from that, congrats, I'd be beaming to if it were me!
    T.
    

    
    
    .1
    
    Excuse please.  I can't stop laughing.
    
    

    
    Congradulations!  Hope you continue to have as much success in the
    future!
    

	I have bragged about Skip before and I thought everyone might have been
fed up with that bragging, but since you have mentioned it I brag about him
again.

	Bright Bar Skip is the best!  He is a palomino paint, who will do
anything I as and will take care or himself and his rider.
	My step-daughter rides Skip also and jumps him too.  Crystal is eight
and has been riding for about four years.  I have never been worried that Skip
would do anything to hurt Crystal.
	During a show this year, Skip was stung by a bee, we think, he started
to buck, but when he felt Crystal fall off he immediately stopped and stood
perfectly still.

	When this year started he did not enjoy jumping, now after the first
jump he seems to want to do more.  During practice we can do jumps over and
over again without my having to urge him on.

	You are right, without a horse as great as Skip, I could not have
won the ribbons, trophies, and awards that I have won this year.  He has
earned an easy winter vacation, but not too easy I hope he will help Crystal
to win need year.  I hope to get another horse before the next year so that
Skip does not have to do double duty next year.

				Dave.

    
    I think your bragging is wonderful!!! Keep up the good work! Horses
    are to be enjoyed...and it sure sounds like you are having fun.
                                                           
    I find it unfortunate that some people (that have more horse
    experience) feel it is their right (because they have a higher
    level of expertise) to be highly critical of people just starting
    out. 
    
    Reading your note, I did not get an uncontrollable urge to laugh...I
    have better manners than that and have little desire to be soooo
    rude! I don't feel you deserved that comment. Don't let someone
    else's ego destroy your sense of accomplishment. Seems to me that
    this person is drawing from their own experience...which may have
    been worthy of a little laughter.
   
    It sounds like in the judges opinion, you have excelled in your riding 
    beyond what most people learn in a year. You may possess a natural
    TALENT for riding, imagine what another year will bring? 
    
    For each year of riding, you should have some accomplishments that
    will serve to inspire you on to the next.  Congradulations!
    
    Regards, Nancy
                                                             

                Do you ride hunt seat or western? Which classes did
    you place so well in, ie; pleasure, equitation, trail? I saw no
    mention of this, unless I missed something, in your original note.
    What type of shows do you ride at, ie; 4-H open. Just curious. 
    
                 Regards,
                   Bob

	Bob,

	I ride hunt seat and a little western.  In only one of the total
of eight shows, I was in this year, did I show western.

	My best classes are the jumpin and equitation classes.  The jumping
classes, at the five show series, were novice and beginner classes.  That
series did not get enough people interested in jumping to have more advanced
jumping classes.  Next year I hope to go to a different show series which
is more english then this year.  So I'll have more competition in my
jumping.
	My equitation is not always the best, but I can consistantly get a
ribbon in equitation classes.
	So until next year I have to practice my equitation and get my flying
changes down pat so that I can perform well in more advanced jumping.

	The five show series, I was in, was an open show.  One show was a
4-H sponsered show, another was a show within the barn where I had stabled
my horses, this show had people who took lesson there and a group of 4H kids,
and the last on my list, my worst show, was a breeders show in Syracuse N.Y.
	In the breeders show, I didn't even place.  The judges wanted peanut
pushers and Skip doesn't push peanuts for anyone.  My step-daughter was also in
that show, she did better, getting four forth place ribbons.  

    This is regarding #.5
    
    Well Nancy,
    
    > I have better manners that that and have little desire to be soooo
      rude!
    
    Since you don't know me at all, I find it highly unfair of you to
    call me rude and egotistical! I meant that note in a *funny* tone, 
    not sarcasticly (sic?)! You know, since we can't see each others facial
    expressions here, it's hard to *see* how things are meant!
                Please don't go jumping to conclusions about me and
    how much experience I have and how I feel it's my right to be highly
    critical of people just starting off, because you haven't a clue
    as to who I am and what my experience is.
                
    > Seems to me that this person is drawing from their own experience
      ... which may have been worthy of a little laughter.
    
    Your darn tootin there! I could tell you some stupid things I've
    done that would have you hysterical with laughter! As far as my
    being experienced, thanks for the compliment but I'm just a cowgirl!
                                                                        
    Yes, I may have taken the original note as a little too high up
    on the saddle (which may have note been meant that way) and yes,
    you took my note as being rude and egotistical (which was not meant
    that way) and yes I took your note as very pristine and righteous
    (was it meant that way)? 
    
    > Ps; aside from that, congrats, I'd be beaming if it were me!
    
    I meant that seriously and I apologize to the originator if he took
    it any other way than in a fun filled nature.
    
    Tina
                                                            

    Just curious ....  what's 4H?  And what's a "peanut pusher"?
    
    Helen.

    Helen,

	4H is a youth group in the United States.  It is similar to the
Scouting organizations, but it is for both girls and boys and it started
dealing with agriculture topics.
	A 4H fair will show projects that the kids have done during the
year.  Originally these projects were raising animal, raising crops,
home making activities and other jobs that were performed on a farm or
in a rural environment.
	Today 4H covers all aspects of life, including the technical
fields of computers and electronics.

	A "peanut pusher" is a horse whose head set is very low.  It
almost looks like he is trying to roll a peanut in front of him, that
is way the name "peanut pusher".
	I believe that in some classes this headset may be correct, but
it is not an English headset.  I have also heard recently that judges
are changing their ideas about headset.  The new headsets are said to be
higher.  Personally, I don't believe that either extreme is right, but
I don't know what is best for the animal.  If anybody out there has any
good ideas maybe a seperate note about the topic of headset is worth
starting.

	I hope I answered your questions, Helen.

			Dave.

	 A peanut  pusher  is  a horse that travels with his head so low
     that he could 'push peanuts' along the ground with his nose.  (i.e.
     a  very low head carriage).  It's a slang term and usually the head
     isn't  *quite*  that low, but the nose is probably somewhere around
     the horses knee level.

	 4H is  an  organization  geared  towards  teaching  kids  about
     different  disciplines, often agriculturally related.  For example,
     there's  Horses,  sheep,  dairy/cattle  and rabbits, to name a few.
     The  symbol  is  a 4-leaf clover with an H in each leaf.  The 4 H's
     stand  for  Head,  Heart,  Hands  and  Health.   These clubs try to
     instill  a respect/love for the activity and teach proper care, etc
     of  the  animals.   I  believe there are also 4H clubs that are not
     animal  oriented.  Different 4H horse clubs will often put on horse
     shows as fund raisers for their club.  There are also 4H spponsored
     activities  such as horse bowl, where the kids are quizzed on their
     knowledge.

	I enjoyed the "bragging" - let's keep this note going!!!  What's 
everyone else been doing out there?  It's fun to read about (and encouraging).

This is in reply to #.8

> I find it unfortunate that some people (that have more horse
> experience) feel it is their right (because they have a higher
> level of expertise) to be highly critical of people just starting
> out.

Tina,

I don't know how you could assume the above comment was intended for 
you? I put it in a seperate paragraph, before mentioning your reply
to this note. I did not jump to conclusions about you, as you claim. 
To avoid misunderstanding, I will explain: "I wanted to let this 
person know that I feel he should be proud of his accomplishments, 
even if some people are critical. People don't always praise. There 
are people that will have critisim for others achievements with 
horses ... and to expect it, because it happens!

> Seems to me that this person is drawing from their own experience...
  which may have been worthy of a little laughter.

I was thinking more of some experiences you may have had (i.e. seen)
during shows that merited a chuckle or two. Drawing from those
experiences combined with your own, that would cause you to find this 
bragging to be humorous. I am sorry that you limited your experience
to yourself and took this personally!
	
I find that most people take their accomplishments seriously. They
feel pride from doing something well. This builds confidence, but
at the same time it is fragile. Laughter can be fun, but it can 
also hurt. I think that the horse industry would benefit from more
praise and alot less unconstructive critisism. Have you ever done
something really well and had some remark passed that took away
some of the joy that you felt? I just took your laughter as you
say:

>... a little too high up on the saddle.

Since you did not mean to be rude and were not feeding your ego 
at someone elses expense... I forgive you.(I wish I could see your
face now - just a joke). Thank you for explaining. I know that the
originator of this note must appreciate your support.

> I could tell you some stupid things I've done that would have you 
> hysterical with laughter!

Why don't you? I am not so very pristine that I would not enjoy your
stories and share a few of my own! Come'on Tina, let's have some
fun!

		Regards, Nancy


  

    OK, so, you want a good laugh! Well you asked for it!
    
    Well, there was the time that I was new to this mounting stuff,
    and very nervous because the owner/instructor of the barn (U.S.A.
    renowned Bill Woods) was giving a prelim rider a lesson in the ring.
    
    I was trying to look casual with my red sweat pants, white knee hi 
    socks and ankle high rubber paddock boots.
    
    I was green at this time, and my horse was forest green if you know
    what I mean. He was the type of horse that started to walk with or
    without you, and that meant if you were fully mounted or not. 
    I tried 4 times to mount and he would keep turning away, leaving me
    with one foot on the mounting block and one in midair like I was 
    doing a karate kick.
    
    The fifth try, the mounting block I was on (plastic milk crate)
    collapsed! So there I was, both feet in the crate looking like a
    re-run of the I Love Lucy Show!
    
    By this time, I was interupting this poor girl's lesson so much
    (her horse couldn't take his eyes of mine. He was learning these
    things to use on his rider later)! Bill came over and asked if I
    wanted some help mounting. "No, I'm all set, this time I'm gonna
    do it, I'm mad!"
    
    Mount number 6 on a new mounting block. Left leg in the stirrup,
    swing the right leg over.... what, what, where am I ?? The horse
    took off in mid mount and where did I end up but *BEHIND* the saddle!!
    
    I tried to jump into the saddle from his haunches but my gymnastics
    was to rusty. By this time, Bill stops his lesson, walks over to
    me real solemly (to this day I thank him for not cracking up in
    my face) and said "I think you better get off and try again".
    (Really? No kidding!)
    
    This time he helped me mount. Call it paranoia, call it what you
    will, but as I rode off into the sunset, I could have sworn that
    all 3 of them, Bill, the rider, and the rider's horse formed a group
    huddle (like on a football team) and were snickering and chuckling
    and having a real good one on me!
    
    Today, I laugh myself every time I think of it. Back then, I cried
    all the way home! Why did my horse have to pick such a time to make
    a fool out of me? I think he was laughing throughout this too!
    
    I could tell you more....
    
    Tina
    

    While everyone is bragging, I have to insert my two cents worth.
     My four year old American Saddlebred won his first class at a major
    show in August against 19 older horses.  If I ever get with him
    and really learn to ride him well, he's going to be a very nice
    horse.
    

    
    Hi Folks,
    	     well here is some bragging and some "no-bragging" from
    Ireland.
    
    	I took up riding a little under two years ago at the ripe old
    age of 33. My wife who has wanted a horse since she can remember
    has now had her ambition fulfilled in the last year with a very
    nice Irish half-bred 4 year old. She has been riding for a couple
    of years longer than me but because we have no facilities at home
    we keep him at a small local livery yard where expert help is always
    available to sort out young animal problems. 
    	Well two weeks ago we both did our British Horse Society grade
    1 and grade 2 exams, my wife Lesley on the now 5 year old Rigby,
    and me on a made horse of 15. As you can imagine a 5 year old can
    be quite a handfull but he rose to the occassion for Lesley and
    went a dream. I rode ok but the examiner said my riding was boarderline
    due to tension and lack of experience, but my stable management
    made up for it as in her words "I think you read alot of books"
    was the conclusion. But then support engineers are used to reading
    books on something they know nothing about and convincing the
    poor engineer at the other end that they do. 
    	We took a chance with our lack of experience with a young horse
    and are both convinced that had it not been for the help from the
    owner and Head Girl in the yard that he would have been sold by
    now. However we both now ride him in lessons and on our own and
    are preparing for competing next season all being well.
    
    	Of course the last two years have not been all sweetness and light
    
    1. while having a lesson on a rather strong Connemara Pony he took
    exception to me and on his fourth attempt of bolting he got me off
    by taking me under a low hanging branch of a tree, breaking my nose,
    and cutting my face to ribbons. I still have the scars.
    
    2. My own horse Rigby bucked going into canter not long after I
    started riding him and I landed on my mouth in a rather hard gravel
    manaege. This resulted in my teeth gouging a flap of flesh from
    inside my lower lip which a surgeon had to stitch back in and my
    other set of teeth going through my top lip. All this resulted in
    thirty stitches to my mouth and face and a numb piece in my lower
    lip. Of course I was made get back on Rigby 10 mins after the accident
    and I am now back riding him 2-3 times a week. 
    
    All this may confirm that we Irish really are mad. As for Western
    Riding I think there are enough cowboys over here without dressing
    up and riding like one.
    
    
    		happy riding
    
    
    		Gareth McComb DISTRICT SUPPORT IRELAND 

    
    
       A real cowboy wouldn't have been made to get back on Rigby.
       He would have enjoyed the action and eagerly have volunteered 
       to ride'em again and again!
    
       Also a cowboy serves a usefull purpose in life. He works for a
       living. This doesn't require special atire. This is natural!
       
       RE16: I would say your western comment could have been left out.
             You didn't come across any US postage stamp comments, did you?

    
    
    RE .16
    
       <FLAME ON>
    
     Anyone with any level of socially proper behaviorial patterns would
    refrain from sarcastic remarks about other peoples choice of riding
    style. If you don't like the cowboy style of dress/riding, fine.
    Keep it to yourself.
     BTW it has been my experience that in high stress riding situations
    that the "cowboy" is the one that remains in the saddle more often.
    After all isn't that one of the main purposes of "riding".
      
       <FLAME OFF>
    
    PAUL
    

    I am usually just a casual reader of this notes file and enjoy it
    very much but I have to say that I am very surprised to see such
    a reaction as the last couple of replies. I reread note .16 a few
    times and still don't see what anyone was taking offense to; it
    didn't seem that the author was trying to make any comment about
    any particular style of riding. 
    
    Just a thought but, could we maybe have a miscommunication problem
    because of various others being from different countries? 
    
    I read this notes file for fun and because so many people have
    different ideas on all types of topics from various areas of the
    world and it seems a little surprising to have such heated comments
    arise from what seems to be just a small misunderstanding.
    
    Happy trails,
    
    Linda
   

re:. 19 
    
    I agree with Linda. I think this was purely a misunderstanding
    in communication. We don't all express ourselves in the same way,
    being from different countries especially...wording can be very
    different. 
    
    Marianne
    

    Thanks Linda,
    		 I just returned after two weeks travelling around Ireland
    in my faithfull motorised steed only to find that I have
    unintentionally caused many blood pressures to rise.
    
    May I now try and explain a few differences in our language which
    has developed across the little pond.
    
    	A cowboy as in ENGLAND/IRELAND  speak is a Confidence Trickster/idiot/
    whatever ie. a TURKEY in AMERICA SPEAK
    
    I have been caught in the STATES making rude comments quite inoccently
    with words like "bang" and phrases like "knock you up" which have
    no diverse meanings over here. 
    
    So please please forgive me for my innocent blunder. Very little
    western style riding is done over here but guess what I keep in
    the boot (trunk) of the car when I am out on the road as a support
    engineer. Chaps ( no I am not Gay English  readers, chaps  are leather
    over trousers. a Chap is a Guy in England american readers.), which I
    find  excellent for riding in at short notice. 
    
    I recently saw neck-reining DRessage on TV and was most impressed.
    
    I sometimes get the impression that some hyper sensitive neurotics
    read notes for nit picking excercises (I hope nit pick has the same
    meaning)
    
    
    
    		regards Gareth
    
    p.s. maybe we should start an American/english  beware/innocent
    notes dictionary.
    
  	
    

    RE:17 WHAT ARE US POSTAGE STAMPS ALL AVBOUT??
    

    I will try to enlighten you. Amongst the cowboys in america are
    those who feel riding english style comparable to putting a postage
    stamp instead of a saddle on your horse. A poking of fun as to the
    difference in size and wieght of the two.
    
    Happy trails,
    Sandy
    

    Thanks Sandy,
    		 well obviously the western saddles that I have seen
    over here are not the real thing since they are less substantial than
    an English saddle. ARE there show type western saddles maybe??
    
    I am told that they are very comfortable to ride in but are severe
    on a horse's back or maybe its the fact that rising trot is not
    practiced that is severe (aaaargh! I feel -<FLAME ON>- already).
     Some trail ride centres in England use them I am told and find
    them great.
    	Incidently I am sure that there are alot of English Style Riders
    who long for as deep and secure seats that Western Style riders
    achieve.
    
    
    
    
    Now that the flak has died on my initial blunder regarding the meaning
    of the word COWBOY may I quote its meaning from the standard Oxford
    Dictionary and how I believe the word got its colloquial meaning:
    
    	COWBOY (NOUN) in western US, a man in charge of cattle; (colloq.)
    unscrupulous or reckless businessman.
    
    I have heard the term  " A COWBOY OUTFIT" many times used in Digital 
    circles to discribe Third Party Maintenance Companies and Software
    Houses.
    
    	Why you might ask did this arise, well, sorry but you have a very
    sucessful industry based in HOLLYWOOD which marketed a product and
    brainwashed our minds over here as to what a COWBOY is.
    
    	They exported thousands of films (movies) over here and among
    them twenty/thirty years ago were many sucessfull WESTERNS or "COWBOY
    FILMS" as they are commonly known as over here. In the vast majority
    COWBOYS are not portrayed as a cattle worker but as thugs,train
    robbers,murderers,gangsters and pepole who have no respect for
    law and order. Now we all know that this is wrong but the word
    COWBOY is in a little box in our brains associated with the above
    types. Commonly known as stereo-typing or typecasting. People still
    think of your PRESIDENT as a COWBOY even though it is totally alien
    from the truth.   
    	
    
    Let me give two other examples of TYPECASTING,one from each side
    of the pond, and both totally far removed from the truth,so please
    dont be offended by them.
    
    Here in Ireland alot of American tourists arrive on our shores seeking
    their roots and looking at our countryside (or rain) and what ever
    tourists do. Now if you ask an average Irish person what he sees
    as the typical American tourist he may well reply:
    an overweight,loudmouthed person who dresses in loud clothes normally
    associated with the golf course and are aged over fifty. Now I live
    in Tourist Hotels on my Digital Travels usually two or three days
    per week and I sometimes see the type which are cast but the vast
    majority are real nice ordinary people. But they don't leave the
    impression behind.
    
    
    Next we have my country and the city near which I live (BELFAST,
    NORTHERN IRELAND). What has the media done for our country?
    You may well believe that Belfast resembles what we imagine DODGE
    CITY was like 100 years ago with gun battles on every street corner
    and bombs going off every few minutes. But I have lived here now
    for thirty five years and the last twenty with our problems and
    it is only a very small minority of "COWBOYS"( our colloq. trans.)
    who keep the thing going. Also the areas effected are very enclosed
    just as there parts of downtown Boston and New York where it ain't
    safe to go. Incidently my most frightening experience was after
    taking a wrong turning in down town Washington when my car was quickly
    surrounded by not very friendly looking people.
    	But now thanks to the media who only publish the bad side Industry
    etc. are reluctant to set up here.

    	Anyway this far from the subject of Uncontrollable Bragging
    but I hope I have set a good case for my defence
    
    			regards Gareth

                             ...for Gareth!!!
    
    Thanks for setting the theory of world_wide_brain_washing straight.
    Isn't this EXACTLY the sort of thing that DEC is working to correct
    with all this Valuing Differences thinking?
    
    Up until about a month ago I too believed that Belfast was like
    ALL the film shown on the news == shooting, looting, and bombing.
    But a friend of mine who went there on vacation (a soft spoken,
    polite, and intelligent tourist type) changed all that by saying
    what a beautiful country it is and how nice all the people were.
    
    I known *I* would welcome an opportunity to travel to your country!
    boooooooooo & hisssssssss  to the media!
                         
    Cheryl

We had a small to some, but big for me, accomplishment last night.

I have had 'CJ' for one year, I have only ridden him with a western saddle.
He came to me from a cow ranch in Colorado.  I have always ridden with a 
bareback pad with Cocoa.  So I decided it was time to start practicing with the 
bareback pad.  'CJ' jumped when I put the pad on, it was unfamiliar to him.
I wasn't sure what he would do when I got on him, I had heard stories of other 
horses at the stables not liking a rider without a saddle and doing the obvious 
things horses do to get rid of the riders.

'CJ' was great.  We rode in the arena for about 5 minutes, doing circles, 
figure eights, stopping and starting.  Then we went outside of the arena for 
another 5 minutes.

'CJ' acted like I was a new rider.  He didn't do any of the usual throwing of 
his head to get back to his stall, he was stepping very softly.  Maybe he 
sensed how apprehensive I was and was being careful.   We will continue to 
practice for 10 minutes for one week, (I need to build the balance and leg 
muscles back up) and then extend the time over the next weeks.

linda

    That's great!
    
    I always remember taking lessons and the first Friday of each month was
    bareback.  And in the summer months we got to ride through the
    sprinklers.  It's great for building muscles and balance.
    That could be why he was being so carefule, he could feel that you
    didn't have your balance all the time.  Before too long you will take
    that pad off and ride Al'Natural.  It's great fun in the sprinklers!
    
    Virginia

    Congratulations.  I think bareback is my favorite way to ride.  My
    Gracie (who I've ridden bareback since she was 3) is terrific.
    Nice and round and comfortable.
    
    Once you gain some proficiency, I bet you'll be going bareback lots
    and lots.  As one of my friends used to say...Know your friends --
    ride bareback!
    
    gwen
    

    I have recently started to ride bareback, and it has improved my 
    balance tremendously, especially over jumps.  It has now got to a point 
    where I can jump bareback (only about 2ft 3), without falling off!!!!
    
    
    Lynda