Friday, December 5, 2014

Equestrian Journey Hop: What won't you do?

Here's another Blog Hop, this time from Equestrian Journey

        "We all like to share on our blogs what we do with our horses and what we would like to do, but I want to know what you will NOT do.  For example I will not carry a bag of feed into the middle of a herd of horses, especially if I don't know some of them.  I will not teach my horse to rear on purpose.  I will not ride my horse into a field full of loose horses that could kick me in the leg and break it.  Things like that.  I look forward to hearing what you have to share!"


This is is an interesting topic for me, mostly bc I've never really thought of what I *won't* do.

I mean, sure there's stuff I don't feel ready to do right NOW (hellooooo jumping anything over 2'6" with Isabel.... not ready yet!!). But I think the point here isn't what we won't do today - it's what we won't do *ever*, and that's a tougher question to answer.


yea... not today, thanks. that's alllll you, p-dutton


So here's my attempt at listing what I will not do:

  • Ride with trainers or at facilities where I feel scared or unsafe. It's too easy to lose confidence, and I'm working hard to rebuild & protect mine. Obvi this doesn't mean I won't challenge myself or push my boundaries. But there are limits. 
  • Trailer a horse off property without being reasonably confident that I can load it back on to the trailer 100% on my own.
  • Wear open-toed shoes or sandals around horses. Nope nope. I luv my feets. 
  • Ride without a helmet. 

old and crusty helmet > crusty head injuries (ew)
(and yea, i wear hairnets on the trail. every ride every time. sue me lol)

It's kind of a meager list, but I'm ok with that. I try to be pretty open minded about trying new things (like training techniques). 

It's also true that things change over time. There were things I absolutely wouldn't (couldn't?) do with Isabel when I first started riding her (when she was a total shit) that are no problemo today - like galloping through an open field, for instance.

#nbd

But I also want to keep an eye toward safety. When dealing with horses, it's sometimes a stretch to say we're in control of the situation... but there are definitely steps we can take to keep things safe for everyone involved.

What do you think? What's on your NOPE list? 

Join the Blog Hop at Equestrian Journey by adding your link at the bottom of this page.



20 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. yeppers! all my worst wrecks have involved hitting my head... sooo yea

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  2. Helmets every ride, every time. I sometimes feel like I'm the only person that consistently wears a helmet at my barn, most people ride western so I guess it's not a huge deal for them? And rent-a-hack places where NO ONE wears a helmet...I guess most people do those trails at a slow walk. But still.

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    1. yep. there's a few ppl at my barn who don't wear them either, and that's cool. the only time i ever say anything is when it's lesson kids (like when they forget to buckle the chin strap or something).

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  3. Great list! Also what you said about us not being in control of the situation is so true!!! Thanks for joining the hop!

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  4. That sounds like a good list...def no open toes around horses lol!! Hey I hear ya about the hair nets..I use them too when I can remember where I put them!

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    1. it drives me crazy when one of the teenagers who feeds at my barn wears flip flops to do so... (and she does it a lot lol). and for the hairnet - mine stays inside my helmet - easy peasy :)

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  5. Replies
    1. that 1st point is pretty much everything to me these days

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  6. Word to always wearing helmets. It's important to protect brrraiiiiins! ;)

    I'd be nervous to gallop through a field, but my inner-horse-girl loves the idea! Great pic!

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    1. yea the galloping through fields thing still feels pretty new to me lol - and to be 100% honest, there's still a field at our home barn where i'm leery due to a few spin-n-bolt incidents.... it's definitely an awesome feeling when you do it tho!

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  7. I won't ever use questionable tack. I know that seems weird but I keep track of my items very well. Ever since I borrowed an old girth from someone when I was like 10 and the elastic snapped, I'm very picky about my things and I look out for others aswell I can't think of any others at the moment, since I've been guilty of some

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    1. ooh excellent point about tack - i hadn't thought of that but totally agree. had a nasty fall schooling at a horse show when i was jumping a horse someone else tacked (and i stupidly failed to check my girth)... we ATE IT over a large-ish oxer. would love to never ever do that again plz

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  8. Great post (not sure how I missed it!). I love that you are so open to new things too!

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    1. thanks! you should do the hop too! i love trying new things bc i'm constantly amazed at how little i really know lol

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  9. It's kind of sad, but my list of things I wouldn't do or don't have any desire to do would be really, really long haha. I'm such a weenie!

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    1. eh - i don't think there's anything wrong with that! the whole point is for us to enjoy ourselves in whatever way we deem best :)

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