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Horse for Daughter *Update*

I

I Luv Herfrds

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Nov 8, 2007
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Location
Montana
Thought you all would like to see this picture.

632009157.jpg


That is my daughter on her first solo ride on that little 6 year old gelding we got. This was lead up to with a lot of leading, talking and work.
Kept them in the corral for a bit more controlled area instead of an open pasture. I was to the right and not in the picture, just in case.
She rode him again today. Tomorrow is going to be a pamper day, in which all she does is brush him, comb the mane and tail. Apply rainmaker to his hooves (with mom's help) and just make him pretty. :D
 
At least the horse is kind of colored like a Hereford. :wink: Hope your daughter has many hours of fun on her new steed.

"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." ~Winston Churchill
 
Looks like a match. Horses can really bond with kids. How about all that grass in the background. :shock:
 
Kola I have those stirrups as short as they will go and there is no room to punch another hole.
Her helmet was chewed up by the dog, so I have to see about getting her a new one.

Per we are not letting anything on that grass til this fall. Saving it for the horses.
 
I agree, get those feet in stirrups. Even if you hafta go buy the kind that fit over the saddle horn for lil kids. And get some boots on her feet instead of sneakers when ya get the stirrups. Lil feet with sneakers can so easily go completely thru the stirrup in a mishap. But it will help her so much with her balance. (I know ridin bare back also helps with balance) But until she's comfortable ridin with a saddle......she needs stirrups.

Also when you do get them....teach her "heals down" Skeers the bejiggers outta me to see lil kids ridin with their toes down....just askin for a foot to slide thru the stirrup.

Didn't mean any of this to sound like preachin at all...just friendly advice. Lil girls and horses just go together. They bond for life. And they learn so much. Congrats on gettin her back up there. And keep up the good work....confidence confidence confidence.

Somethin else I wanna add,. and this is just a suggestion. Get her some ropin reins. That way she doesn't hafta fiddle with the split reins all the time. Later, after she's built up confidence, and gained a few more ridin skills, if you wanna go back to the split reins you can. Ropin reins just free's them up so they don't hafta be adjustin reins all the time. Glad to see she's got two hands on the reins.
 
The sneakers have a special made insert to lift her fallen arches and straighten her ankles. She has a pair of boots, but can only wear them once in awhile due to the inserts. They are like Fat Baby's, but her feet slide in them with the inserts, already tried.

One step ahead of you Lilly got a new head stall, bit and roping reins the other day. Worked much better. That set up on the horse is my son's.
Going to check out a couple of saddle shops and see if they have any used kid's saddles that will fit her better and see if they will take the other saddle in trade.
 
Sweet picture. That sure does look like a sweet horse.

I'll echo the gals comments on the stirrups. And when/if you get a different saddle, here is another little tip. Be sure to TRAIN the stirrups so they are easy on her ankles when she is riding. Stiff stirrups that aren't trained can make her ankles ache. And 'sides that, when they are trained,
they are easier for her to grab when she gets on and easier
to keep her feet in. Stirrups are easy to train. Ask the man you get the saddle from.

How about little tapadero stirrups, even? They
can keep her feet from going through and can be changed out later
for regular stirrups.



Horses and girls--they have something special going on.

Good luck!!!
 
Actually that saddle doesn't look much to big for her.

What we have done is pull the stirrup leathers with those stiff fenders out and had just a set of stirrup leathers made with out fenders so that they turn easily and are not bulky. Worked great for the kids and my 29yr old daughter still rides a saddle fixed that way.
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
Actually that saddle doesn't look much to big for her.

What we have done is pull the stirrup leathers with those stiff fenders out and had just a set of stirrup leathers made with out fenders so that they turn easily and are not bulky. Worked great for the kids and my 29yr old daughter still rides a saddle fixed that way.
Click to expand...

A set of old "saddle bronc saddle" leathers and fenders work great for a kids saddle...And bronc riders are always replacing them to keep the right snap in the leather....
 
Took that little saddle into a saddle shop in Great Falls and they are going to soak it and turn the stirrups.
Bought a set of stirrups to replace the ones on it. They are 1/2" wider and more narrow up on top. Should be able to keep her ankles off of the sides so she doesn't kick out of them.
 
I'll never forget my first horse......everyone hit the nail on the head. There's nothing like the bond between a girl and her horse.

Your daughter sure is cute! I love to see parents who give their time to their kids to learn the lessons that can only be learned with animals.

I think stirrups, boots, roping reins, etc. are all good ideas. But what I have found with my daughter is that she doesn't ride like me or Leanin H. She has her own style. When we try to get her to do it our way, it just puts her into a frustrated cry fest. So we just make sure she is being safe and let her learn her own way. We are lucky she has such a sweet little mare to put up with us all!
 

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