Anyone with horsey resolutions or targets for 2013?

[CMOTDibbler]

I'm setting myself some:
compete in a dressage test above walk/trot
jump a small SJ course
try side saddle

and the hard one: fit into some size 10 jods without looking like I'm stuffed in them

Anyone else got targets for themselves?

[DolomitesDonkey]

I'd like us to get a new horse.

[PetiteRaleuse]

I would like to ride again. I fell off and broke my back four years ago, but I miss it so much. Would have to be a bombproof plodder though, my back is too fragile to withstand another fall.

[CMOTDibbler]

Good target Dolomites - I asked Santa for a horse, but alas, no...

Petite - if you go to a riding school that is also an RDA centre they'll have ultra safe horses, and prob be good at getting your confidence back too. I lost the use of my arm in a riding accident, and where we are now have been fabulous in getting me back riding

[Mirage]

I want to find DD2 a safe,reliable pony.Mind you,that was last year's riding resolution too,and we are still looking.

[thewashfairy]

After 2 years of not riding,due to the sad loss of my horse,I have just taken on a loan horse to be shared with the owner who will be out of action for a while due to having to have an operation.
DHorse is just coming back into work after having been very ill and recovering from an operation so we will be getting fit together.
Anyone have any ideas how to go about it?
We have to build up slowly. He is not back into ridden work for another 3 weeks and we are walking in hand in the school and out on the roads at the moment.

[CatPussRoastingOnAnOpenFire]

Yes. Have 2 healthy foals this year, sell Alfie, try and convince DD to consider selling Skye, find a rider for Ducky, Get Polly going after she foals, ready to be worked, wean the foals next winter and attempt to sell our one too.
End next year with a much smaller herd and a healthy bank balance, so that DD can finally go out next year and finally find her own forever horse!

[Pixel]

Get back on my horse and stop being so pathetic.

[50BalesOfHay]

DH has agreed that we should buy a lorry. I am beyond excited

[Butkin]

Help to get DD to RIHS and HOYS for the first time.

Try to find space in the yard for me to have a horse again before I'm too past it.

[50BalesOfHay]

You're never past it, Butkin. Time for a horse for you.

[Plomino]

Get big horse to the beach . And fill up my empty stable with another horse.

[Quodlibet]

I want to find a way to ride more - I live in central London, can't afford to ride regularly anywhere near here but miss riding so very much. So taking any and every opportunity to get on a horse.

[CatPussRoastingOnAnOpenFire]

Quodlibet, have you considered joining the Household Cavalry?

[Quodlibet]

Hi Catpuss, I did look into that but I thought you needed to be in the civil service? I am self employed. Do you know different?

[Wilding]

I really want to get more riding in- am also central London and was wondering about the same thing. Do you know how good a rider you need to be? I used to work with someone who exercised their horses and she definitely wasn't public sector but I have no idea how to go about finding more information.

[CatPussRoastingOnAnOpenFire]

eek! i was joking! you need to be male to actually join! i didnt know they let people exersise them!

[mrslaughan]

There was just an article quodlibet, saying that they were going to take non civil servant members for the first time, however I think you need to be invited to join by someone in the civil service..... Know anyone? I would ring and find out more anyway....

[mrslaughan]

My riding goals are this - to start again - DH got made redundant 9 months ago - so I stopped 4 months ago, but found out today he has a job! My fav horse from the riding school (she was a working livery) is looking for a sharer - I am really hoping the owner will agree to let me be that person, do I can continue having lessons, going on group hacks on her and really improve my confidence.....

[Wilding]

catpuss

They do let civilians exercise the horses but you need connections so it can be tricky if you're not in those circles (I'm definitely not!)

Quodlibert, the CS riding club sounds like it could be a good option if you want lessons rather than hacking- if you have any luck finding out more, please do report back! Where do you normally ride in London?

[TheLoneRanger]

God Almighty I would love to ride Household Cavalry horses.

[Quodlibet]

I don't normally ride in London, that's the problem. C London schools are prohibitively expensive (c £50/hr!!) and I don't have a car so can't get out to Kent etc where it's a bit cheaper. My riding nowadays tends to be hacking when I'm out of town/on holiday, which is terribly hit and miss if you are a proficient rider and dont want to plod along in a line. Its hard to know how to develop my riding - I've had thousands of hours of lessons since early childhood and was fairly advanced as a young adult for someone who's never owned or loaned - could confidently jump a course, ride a dressage test at 3 paces, work on an outline etc - so without doing something regular and fairly advanced I don't feel like I'm challenging myself really. A perpetual dilemma as I miss riding terribly!

[TheLoneRanger]

I ride in Surrey, but you would need a car.

I'd be really interested to hear where other Londoners ride.

[TheLoneRanger]

This is where I ride:

www.silvermere-equestrian.com/

Safety standards are exceptionally high, and tuition is excellent.

[Quodlibet]

Loneranger looks ace, wish I had a car