Anyone's child riding (dressage)?

[rae519]

My DS (8) takes riding lessons (dressage) and we were wondering if there were any other DIS Board members who are?

Rae

 

[SuiteDisney]

Not for the past 21 years. I was into combined training when I was younger.

 

[rae519]

Sounds familiar - as we age we learn our limitations!!!
Although I am going to ride with him at Grand Cayman - on the beach, of course, it won't be with my dream horse, Sahairahazaad, a black Egyptian Arabian, but it will still be nice!

Rae

 

[kendall]

My sister-in-law owns a horse farm, gives riding lessons, runs a 4-H group - she has taken my DD under her wings since a baby and has turned DD (now almost 11) into a horse-loving-riding fanatic. DD rides primarily western. Right now we are pony-sitting for my niece (who was pregnant with child #3 and not riding, so pony came to our house, and the pony doesn't seem to be leaving any time soon) as a dry run to see if we really want to invest in a horse. Our other niece gave us an old horse trailer which DH rebuilt, we have a Trailblazer to pull a pop-up, so we can pull the horse too. Trailer, truck, barn with stalls, free riding lessons from Aunt - Now we just need a horse of our own - I think it may be around the corner.... DH rides, but I never even got on a horse until I was dating DH...

Given a choice between spending a day with the horse or the mall, DD would choose the horse...

 

[NHAnn]

My 16 yr old DD has been riding fairly regularly since she was 8 or 9.......she considers herself an "intermediate" rider, mostly English hunter/jumper.
We've never owned a horse (much to her chagrin ) but she really loves riding. Now that she has her driver's license she is at the barn even more (it's a half hour drive from here) ...helping out in return for a extra time in the saddle. I'm glad she's spending her time there instead of some of the questionable alternatives for teens She's going to start doing some "eventing" and/or dressage this summer I guess.......as you can probably tell I am NOT up on the technicalities of this sport. There are a number of other "horsey DISers" LOL.......a number of them posted a year or so ago when I had a thread about a scary moment at a show when DD got thrown when her horse spooked.

 

[I <3 Eeyore]

Another horsey DISer here. My daughter takes combined training lessons, too. When I was a kid I always rode Western so the rules for English are lost on me, too.

 

[DixieDreamer]

Hello everyone! Dan Murphy pointed this thread out to me... as he knows I and my DD ride dressage. Actually my DD is in pony club and rides several disciplines... dressage, eventing, and show jumping. My DD is 11 this year. She has been in pony club for two years now... going on her third year this year. I have been a dressage rider for about 15 years now and love it very much. Prior to that I did open shows and endurance racing. My sister runs a large dressage training and boarding stable as well. For me it is a hobby... but one that I have done for some time and enjoy.

Here is a picture of my DD last summer on her horse (my old dressage horse!).

 

[rae519]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies and the pictures! So nice to know we aren't alone in this.

Indiana is having their Dressage Classic this coming weekend and we will be there to watch. I know it's always exciting and so educational.

I am very glad that our Equestian Center let Michael start at age 8. Although the leg muscles aren't as strong as older riders, he is at a "trainable" age and doesn't have any bad habits to correct YET! It's been very exciting for us and definitely something I have always wanted and encouraged in my other children but only Michael has taken to it.

Rae

(Thanks Dan!!!!)

 

[caitycaity]

i rode dressage for 11 years. it's something i'd love to get back into again (once i lose some more weight )

 

[jrmasm]

My DD started a few months shy of her 4th birthday. She "retired" by the 6 1/2. She was really burnt out from the huge time commitment and the slow progress that is normal for tiny riders. She'll be 8 this month and has been asking more and more to go back. My wallet cringes at the thought!!

I wish I knew how to post pictures because I have a ton!