[Luv2LopeQH]

So for the last couple months I have been thinking about showing Woody in NA Equitation to add another class for the All Arounds. There are many all arounders that show in every class and could out point me because they show in a couple extra classes then I. Woody actually has a decent trot for being a WP horse....

So I talked to my trainer again about it as we wanted to see if Woody would fill out a little more before trying it. She needed to see me on him in an english saddle to determine if I would look too big on him (I am 5'9 and not on the skinny side anymore). Amazingly my feet didn't hang past his stomach! Those of you that have seen pictures and videos know that I sort of overpower him.

Anyway, my trainer felt that we could do fine in NA classes cause even if I look a little too big for him, if we have a solid pattern and I display proper equitation, then my size shouldn't be held against me too much. Though once I have boots and a jacket on, it may make me look even taller.

But in the mean time, it looks as if I will be practicing english more, as it has been over 10 years since I really rode english and lets just say my legs are not as steady as they were when I was a teen.

Off to look online for a hunt coat, shirt, breeches and maybe new hunt boots....lol

[Capilet]

Yay! I have a former reiner who is a dressage horse now. Welcome to the dark side

[azboo]

Oh, good for you. I love to ride my WP mare English. She even has a pretty respectable trot. Have fun

[MissLKcee]

I was a finalist at the congress this year in the equitation on my little 4yo pleasure horse. He really is not the prettiest trotter or anything either. He's 15hh and the wither and just over 15.1hh in the hind. I'm 5'6 and all leg (not hugely tall, but tall enough and long legged).
We had a pretty pattern, I rode pretty, and we were easilly into the finals. The only reason we didn't make the top 10 overall was because he's young and has been a western horse all along, he doesn't like the contact of the english stuff yet (because I hardly ever ride him english) so I had a hard time to keep him steady in the head in neck during the looong rail work-- not because he's small or anything.

see, doesn't exactly have the hunt seat horse look:




if we can do it so can you

[GotaDunQH]

Originally Posted by Luv2LopeQH

So for the last couple months I have been thinking about showing Woody in NA Equitation to add another class for the All Arounds. There are many all arounders that show in every class and could out point me because they show in a couple extra classes then I. Woody actually has a decent trot for being a WP horse....

So I talked to my trainer again about it as we wanted to see if Woody would fill out a little more before trying it. She needed to see me on him in an english saddle to determine if I would look too big on him (I am 5'9 and not on the skinny side anymore). Amazingly my feet didn't hang past his stomach! Those of you that have seen pictures and videos know that I sort of overpower him.

Anyway, my trainer felt that we could do fine in NA classes cause even if I look a little too big for him, if we have a solid pattern and I display proper equitation, then my size shouldn't be held against me too much. Though once I have boots and a jacket on, it may make me look even taller.

But in the mean time, it looks as if I will be practicing english more, as it has been over 10 years since I really rode english and lets just say my legs are not as steady as they were when I was a teen.

Off to look online for a hunt coat, shirt, breeches and maybe new hunt boots....lol

Go for it girl! I ALMOST took the plunge into Amateur Select HS Eq with my barely 15.1 hand WP horse (because he can long trot like a son of a gun). My trainer agreed we should give it a shot because we do well in the pattern classes, but I haven't done Eq yet....need a saddle and a few things...LOL

Jennifer

[GottaRide]

hehehe that english saddle does look a little goofy on him!

I'm in the same boat with my gelding. He's WP all the way. We'll be able to do horsemanship & showmanship, probably not trail cuz he's kind of a clutz, but I want to add equitation eventually. He's 14.3.....I'm 5'10". I haven't had the guts to see what we look like english yet.

[cowboys_cowgurl]

I feel so short! haha. I'm 5'...and my little Quarter horse who was western originaly is now quite the hunter. My Quarab was all western and he is a pretty good hunter, so have fun! English rocks! haha

[bnttyra]

DeDe gets to do the HUS too! Not that I am really thrilled with it but it is one of the classes we have to add in order to qualify for the high point in solid bred classes.

[Luv2LopeQH]

Everyone thanks for the encouragement!! I will be doing it eventually, but have a lot of work to do!

bnttyra - I originally only wanted to do western events only as I did a lot of english as a kid, but I am competitive and really like getting the all arounds at the circuits I show at, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to add it. I did have to do a lot of clucking and smooching to get him moving out though, sigh.

GottaRide - Right now we are showing SMS, WP, HMS & Trail. We do pretty good at trail, I don't know now, but we do. Usually we place 1st unless we have a major screw up like spooking or mess up the lope overs - something we are currently working his little but off on now. I would much rather add WR, but I am just not sure if he is going to be solid at lead changes and they only off NA WR at the larger circuits and there usually isn't that many showing in it. I'll have to have a picture taken one of these days to really see what we look like together.

Jennifer - Once I novice out, I doubt I will do Ammy unless I get a new horse. My trainer did state that Nicole Barnes won Eq one year at the world and her horse isn't that big, but he is bulkier then Woody and she is pretty leggy. I have the saddle already - didn't want to sell it when I got out of horses before as it was practically new and now if I went so sell it I prob couldn't even get half of what we originally paid for it as it has no knee rolls. I don't have anything else though, but I have a couple things to try on to see if they fit from one of the women at the barn. I have boots that barely fit, but don't fit the calf right now so I would need to get the stretched or elastic put in. I really don't want to invest a lot into it right now cause i am getting some custom clothes done and need to money to go into them instead.

MissLKcee - Congrats on being a finalist. Woody actually has a nice flat trot, but my trainer probably wouldn't let me show in it at the Congress but things could change if I started showing in it and doing well. For my height my legs are super long, but I do have a longer torso, so it tends to make me look overpowering on Woody. Plus it doesn't help that I am a big boned person.

[bright-treasure]

I'm about in the same boat as you - I would really like to add HUS/Eq for our all-arounds. But I'm worried a bit if my horse is suitable for that, and if we as a couple are It may look a bit strange as I'm a bit a bigger, short girl on my short but looong horse. We'd need to work on the trot as well as the headset, he doesn't like it very much when I always have contact with the reins. Plus, finding a saddle suitable for both of us seems to be really hard..

There's not so much competition over here for the english classes and even the all-around, but after some years of showing the same classes I'd really like to add something new. If I could just find a saddle that fits and doesn't cost a fortune!