The MLP Arena

Pony Talk => Off Topic => Topic started by: glitterball on May 29, 2019, 01:36:04 PM

Title: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: glitterball on May 29, 2019, 01:36:04 PM
I started horse-riding at age 6, so have always loved ponies in real-life. Due to moving schools (and the soaring expense) I stopped riding regularly, but would hop on my friend's horse every so often and have a bit of fun (although it would be based in their field and never off-track, as I used to do).  When she sold her, I stopped riding completely; maybe one day I will get the chance to ride again!

I have been spending a fair amount of time being fascinated by "horse whispering" and realising that, as a confident young kid all those years ago, I actually knew NOTHING about horses except that you pulled the reins a certain way and gave a squeeze of the thighs to get the horse to do something!  :lol:

Oh, to know then of what I am aware of now, about the techniques using your body language, your eyes etc to communicate both respect and authority and to get the horse to CHOOSE to do the things you actually want them to do. Nope, I have never "horse whispered" nor used a lunge rope or round-pens to break a horse in etc. (that was a job for other folks at the stables, we just tacked-up and rode) but I have been addicted to you-tube recently, watching this Australian guy, Clinton Anderson, now based in Texas, who does something called "Down Under Horsemanship". It's amazing how he does it and it makes so much sense!

I think back to the time when we were wary of certain horses who were considered "aggressive" and recall one of the senior stable folks flying at one tethered, "naughty" horse with her riding crop, making the horse rear-up and screech - as a kid it was horrible to see (I never liked that woman after that) - then looking the horsemanship videos I can see how, with a little patience, just doing a few exercises with that horse could have helped channel away the "aggression".

Well, one day I might hop back in the saddle again, I still smile when I can smell horses, even their poo never bothered me!  :lol:

So, do you like real-life ponies too?


Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Tracks on May 29, 2019, 01:53:30 PM
Oh yes

I'm passionate about horses, always have been since as long as I can remember.  Never been in a position to have my own horse but I'm hoping that might change in time

I can't walk past a field of horses without stopping to stroke them and I always like to give the local force's police horses a fuss and a mint (With permission from the officers of course) whenever we see them
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: little.fox on May 29, 2019, 01:59:48 PM
I Absolutely love horses and ponies, and I used to ride for years. I’m fascinated by the more down to earth, “horse-whisperer”-techniques. It feels like a world away from what we were taught at riding school. I’d love to go back to riding if I could practice that kind of horsemanship.
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Ragamuffin on May 29, 2019, 02:22:27 PM
Yes!!! I especially love Shetland ponies, so cute!!

I also used to ride English horseback as a kid, but had to stop when we moved...
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Nemesis on May 29, 2019, 02:32:49 PM
I adore them! I’ve ridden (English style) off and on over the years, though I’m not terribly experienced at it. My teachers always (jokingly) said I was kind of a pushover in the saddle, and the horses would take complete advantage and run amok, haha. XD Horses are surprisingly good at reading people, lol.

But I’ve always thought of horses/ponies as some of the most beautiful things on Earth. I learned to draw horses before anything else, and that’s still the only area of drawing I have much confidence in. ^^; I used to read horse books by the dozen when I was 8-13. I have a small collection of Breyers... I guess I’m a general “horse enthusiast”, though my tastes do lean towards fantasy pretty heavily. X3
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Aflame on May 29, 2019, 02:45:17 PM
yep love horses and riding :)
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: EnaRocketQueen on May 29, 2019, 03:47:24 PM
I went riding when I was 8 to when I was 16. It's something I've always wanted to get back into
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on May 29, 2019, 06:39:04 PM
I've never ridden but they're basically the only thing I draw. They're lovely to look at!
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on May 29, 2019, 06:54:54 PM
Of course. I've been horse crazy as long as I can remember. I rode a few years though I wasn't very good at it, I've collected model horses for ages. Horse calenders, books, pictures and shirts, tuning into races, jumping and mustang makeovers. Watching music videos with horses, customizing and photographing my models.

Hope that answers your question. ;)
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: achab1984 on May 29, 2019, 07:55:01 PM
I LOVE HORSES!!!! There is no ifs ands or buts about it! My mom said that I have loved them as soon as I could grab things! That is what I wanted as a child and teen growing up!

I did a lot of riding with my childhood friend and her mom growing up!

I have never had my own horse and don't think I ever will. Unless I have the funds down the road. As of right now I don't! But I live in the country and enjoy my neighbors horses. We do go out to the hills time to time and ride horses.

I have been a model horse collector my whole life! <3
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Mewtwofan1 on May 29, 2019, 09:40:06 PM
     I’ve loved horses for a good chunk of my life. I actually took up riding lessons for a year, but found I wasn’t quite cut out for it then. Not the best at riding, but I found simply taking care of the horse a bit more my speed.  If I could, I would gladly have many equine companions. My friend and I often joke about getting a little farm and having a zoo, and horses are something I’ve managed to convince her to let us have.
      I wouldn’t want to ride competitively, but I would like to get back into horse riding again. I’m not a fan of physical exercise, but horse riding was something I liked.
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: BubbleTea on May 29, 2019, 10:20:38 PM
Yes!!!!!! I've been horse-obsessed for as long as I can remember. My parents told me that I first showed signs of horse craziness at the age of 2. To this day that horse craziness still lives on and will until I die.
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: glitterball on May 29, 2019, 11:19:33 PM
It's great and interesting to hear all your horsey-experiences!  :)

Ah, yes, drawing them too - I remember I would constantly be sketching them.

Two girls in my class were lucky enough to each own a pony (I never rode those particular ones, though), we were in the little group that would huddle together at play-time either drawing horses indoors (if it was raining) or playing outside with our MLP G1s!

Another girl in my class would join me at the weekends for our riding sessions, it is a lovely childhood memory for me, we often took turns with our respective Mums giving us lifts to the stables and then making the most of the rest of the  weekend by having sleep-overs etc.

To think: safety concerns in the 80s compared to today - I still used the old-fashioned velvet riding hat (now considered unsafe) and would sometimes wear old wellies instead of boots. Plus we were so young and occasionally didn't know who was leading the hack, also being left to tack-up unsupervised at age 6 and 7 - the thought of me dropping off my kid and leaving her to it fills me with shock - maybe folks were just more relaxed back then?



Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: freezestime on May 30, 2019, 12:31:44 AM
I may be the only oddball here but I'm not into real horses at all, I was drawing humans and I always had a story about them, who they were, ect.

I found myself drawn to characters that were themed, or magical, like Sailor Moon and Monster High, so that kinda makes a connection to why I like MLP.
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Shileah on May 30, 2019, 02:10:44 AM
I was crazy about horses as a child. My room was plastered in horse posters, I read all books and magazines I could find about horses, watched all the TV series (Black Beauty, Fury, Flicka are the ones I remember) so being playing with MLP was a no brainer. I had lots of Barbie horses, too, but only played with them, not with the Barbies (except with one friend who always wanted to play with Barbies, that's why I got one doll for). Whenever I saw a horse somewhere, I had to go up to it, try to pet it and generally just stand there and be in awe about it.

I've always kept an interest in horses, but lost the obsession growing up. My partner gifted me riding lessons when I was in my 30s as a birthday present, but it turned out to be less of a stellar experience than we had both hoped lol. At that time, I was overweight and extremely unfit, so it was a very straining and exhausting experience (for both me and the poor horse). After a couple of sessions, I got kicked off the horse, flew through the air, landed smack on my butt and broke my tailbone. I had to spend the next four weeks lying on my stomach in a lot of pain, and for the next three years, whenever I had to sit for a longer period of time, it would start hurting again. Roadtrips weren't fun during that time!

I'm a lot fitter and not overweight anymore today and thought about trying it again, but I am happy with adoring horses from afar, and just obsessing over the ones made of plastic now!
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Zapper on May 30, 2019, 06:22:35 AM
Sure! I was really horse obsessed as a young girl. But riding and caring for horses is expensive and I never had the means to pursue it. So I saved my allowance for MLP or Barbie horses and horse magazines, read horse adventure novels and watched movies with horses to live that fantasy of having my own horse.

I still love horses nowadays but I am not crazed about them anymore. Once I got a dog all my love went there, so I stopped dreaming about owning a horse and now as an adult that sort of mystique has gone away. I don't even want to learn how to ride anymore.
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Harmonie on May 30, 2019, 06:27:37 AM
I wasn't really into horses (I have never disliked them at all, and thought they were neat, but wasn't specifically interested in them), but years back (shortly after I first got into MLP), I made friends with some of my coworkers who owned horses. I got to go out and see them a number of times. Walking out in the mud really flipped me out (my friends got much amusement over this, as my stereotypical city girl side showed), but the horses are cute!

A few years ago while I was away in university they (well, one of them anyway, long story but they split up), ended up getting a small horse and I think I lost my mind when the first picture was posted on FB because he is soooo cute! He's not a pony, but is some kind of miniature horse who is shorter than my friend and can actually stand up on his back legs and still be about the height of my friend. I've only got to see him once and I hope to change that!
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on May 30, 2019, 08:00:24 AM
Yep.... we had horses growing up!
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: cyberunicorn on May 30, 2019, 09:16:47 AM
Yep horses are for me... well ponies to be more specific i have ridden since the age of seven and worked with them on and off over the years. I stopped as it took the pleasure out looking after my own when i worked with them.

We are up to four on the yard now all ride and drive. They drive me insane on a regular basis and often get called all the names under the sun.

Honestly i do not believe in the natural horsemanship stuff nothing against others doing it but not for me. I know that all my boys will follow me with little or no request and if you stand there waving round a whip they just look at you as if there is something wrong with you. Two are from appleby, one Ireland and the other the meat man we worked through all the quirks that came with them at their own pace.

Sorry for the ling reply  :blush:
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: PoserBeachball on May 31, 2019, 02:35:44 PM
I've been lucky enough to have been around ponies all my life - always been my greatest passion.

I currently have 2 ponies - my beloved Fell pony, and his companion who is loaned from a local sanctuary.
Love them to bits.
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Carrehz on June 01, 2019, 06:39:47 AM
Hey freezestime, if you're an oddball then I am, too ;) I'm not a horse person at all, never have been. Just not my thing. I'm not even sure how I got into MLP! I like colourful cute things, I guess.

(I don't care for "realistic" horse toys, either :P)
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Wardah on June 01, 2019, 03:25:40 PM
Hey freezestime, if you're an oddball then I am, too ;) I'm not a horse person at all, never have been. Just not my thing. I'm not even sure how I got into MLP! I like colourful cute things, I guess.

(I don't care for "realistic" horse toys, either :P)

Another one not really into horses. That's not to say I dislike horses and I wouldn't turn down an opportunity to ride one. But they aren't something I'm specifically drawn to like cats. I do however love unicorns and pegasi other mythological creatures. I've always been into fairy tale kinda things and I think that's why I like MLP. If they had been natural colored normal ponies like the original plans I don't think I ever would have gotten into them
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Shaz on June 02, 2019, 01:40:48 AM
I'm another person more into plastic fantasy ponies than their real-life counterparts. I've always loved fantasy, magic, other worlds etc, so I think that's why ponies appeal to me :).
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Broken Irishwoman on June 02, 2019, 04:59:04 AM
I love all animals, so yes! :D They are beautiful, and not just for how they look. However, I've never been into horse riding or anything, I just enjoy watching them when I happen to see any.
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: kingluke on June 02, 2019, 11:39:49 AM
I say, 'hi horsies' when I bike past them,like any random horse. I don't ride tho.
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: nebulavery on June 02, 2019, 01:33:13 PM
I love horses - maybe not as much as dogs - but I'm always happy to give them a handful of grass and a pat if I walk past a field full of friendly horses. Growing up in the suburbs, I really only got to interact with horses at camp and while visiting family, so I think the novelty of seeing a real live horse is definitely a factor.
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: SpacePinto on June 02, 2019, 04:22:41 PM
Nope, real life horses/ponies actually scare me with how they can bite you or kick you or permanently cripple you when you're on their back. In fact, I am even kind of scared of the type of people who are into horseriding - I'm just intimidated by their knowledge of all that riding gear made of metal and leather, all the physical work they do on a regular basis, and their willingness to hang around dirty and cluttered spaces etc. :yikes: My interest in equines is pretty much limited to childhood nostalgia for a pony cartoon.
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: poniesthatsparkle on June 09, 2019, 05:28:32 PM
Yes, very much!

My sister and I actually currently ride together on weekends! We take dressage lessons together, and my sister does a little bit of jumping as well. I had to quit jumping earlier this year due to an old injury.
We've been riding together for about seven years now, and I love it a lot! Even though I don't compete or anything, it's still an amazing experience that I'm thankful for everytime I ride.
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Gator on June 09, 2019, 06:47:04 PM
I've always been into horses.  Took lessons as a kid.  Worked cleaning stalls at a stable through high school.  Finally got my own horse.  She went with me to college.  She died when I was almost 20.  My mom had a couple horses for a little while.  Most recently we had a shetland pony but he passed away a year ago.  He reared up on a muddy slope and slipped in the mud, falling backwards down the hill and breaking his back.  I actually haven't ridden in years due to my weight.  If I could get back in shape I would like to ride again.
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: Cloudclimber06 on June 19, 2019, 04:53:44 PM
I was learning to play polo at one point and loved it but its physically challenging... I own two horses and four donkeys!!!
You gotta love them donkeys!!
Title: Re: Real life horses & ponies - do you love them too?
Post by: brightberry on June 19, 2019, 05:44:30 PM
I was learning to play polo at one point and loved it but its physically challenging... I own two horses and four donkeys!!!
You gotta love them donkeys!!
I'm so jealous! :)

I love horses and was lucky enough to live near some growing up.  I didn't ride much but I loved to pet them.  Now we live near this resort with horses and if I spend enough money, I can take classes to learn "horse whispering".  Which isn't riding but basically teaching horses to see you as a leader.  It's great fun and I've learned a lot.  But mostly I just like to be around them.
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