The Art of Natural Dressage

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:52 pm 

Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 6:15 pm
Posts: 3
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Hello everyone! I fell upon this forum and have been intrigued by all the knowledge and experience that I have read so far!

I am really new to dressage - like really new - as I am a western rider but I decided for a "change of scenery" so to say and have been really enjoying it so far.

As the name states, I am a "HorseHippie" so to speak as I am all about the natural environment and awareness of the horse. I am barefoot and bitless and proud of it.

So, here is my story. I have 3 horses - 11 y/o QH gelding named Stetson, 7 y/o ArabX gelding named Biscuit and an 1 1/2 y/o APHA gelding named Buster. And I can't forget about the mini donkeys, Pedro and Tequila Lopez. They are quite the couple. My husband, daughter and I live on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada and we have a grain and cattle operation. I also work full time in the city! Always busy!

I bought Stetson 2 years ago and he is my ultimate teacher. The first summer I had him, he had poor feet (or what I thought at the time), so being as conventional as I was, I put the shoes on him. Stetson started getting worse and started showing lameness issues. Then the farrier dropped off the face of the earth. So, I called one of the ladies of the riding club I am part of just to get some names of other farriers and she gave me the name of her barefoot trimmer. At the time, I had no idea about the barefoot movement, Jamie Jackson, Pete Ramey, Strasser, etc. as I was more concered about getting a farrier to pull shoes more than anything!

My trimmer came out, pulled the shoes and told me more about hooves in an hour than I knew in a lifetime! Stetson is now happy and sound and I vowed I would always try my best to listen what my horses are trying to tell me and that lead me to more research to the health of my horses and their well being!

As it happens my trimmer is also a trainer so she has been quite the mentor to me and she is the one that got me going in Dressage and Natural Horsekeeping.

It is nice to meet everyone and I am really looking forward to learning from everyone. I hope that every now and again I will be able to give advice too!

I will post pictures of everyone once I get them all organized!

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"The difficulty lies not in the new ideas, but in escaping the old ones..."


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:30 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 15, 2007 2:40 pm
Posts: 4733
Location: Belgium
Welcome!

You come from the same county as Chris Irwin! :)

Enjoy your stay here!

Warm regards from Belgium,

Josepha

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www.equusuniversalis.com


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:04 pm 
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Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2007 8:20 am
Posts: 6281
Location: Dresden, Germany
Welcome!! :)

Very nice to have you here - looking forward to reading more about you! :)

Warm Regards,
Romy


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:27 pm 
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Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 4:10 am
Posts: 3688
Location: Pacific Northwest U.S.
Hi HorseHippie,

Welcome. I look forward to those pictures when you get time to show them to us.

Best wishes, Donald

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Love is Trust, trust is All
~~~~~~~~~
So say Don, Altea, and Bonnie the Wonder Filly.


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:37 pm 

Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 6:15 pm
Posts: 3
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Okay, I finally got the pictures organized...somewhat...please forgive me as I am not a photographer but I try...

This is my grade QH, Stetson - poor bugger had to deal with me plopped right in the center of his back while I took my little girl for a ride - he is so forgiving....

Image

But he must still love us because he wanted a turn on the swing...

Image

And this is my ArabX - Biscuit

Image

And this is my registered Paint - Buster

Image

And we can't forget the donkeys - Pedro and Tequila!!!

Image

_________________
"The difficulty lies not in the new ideas, but in escaping the old ones..."


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:57 pm 
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Joined: Thu May 17, 2007 8:18 pm
Posts: 4941
Location: Alberta
I'm a bit late saying hello. I'm Karen, and I'm in Alberta (near Edmonton).

What's your name (are you ok about sharing that?).

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"Ride reverently, as if each step is the axis on which the earth revolves"


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:58 pm 
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Joined: Thu May 17, 2007 8:18 pm
Posts: 4941
Location: Alberta
Oh.... :funny: :funny: and WELCOME of course!

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"Ride reverently, as if each step is the axis on which the earth revolves"


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:53 pm 

Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 6:15 pm
Posts: 3
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Thanks Karen...I sent you a PM!
:D

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"The difficulty lies not in the new ideas, but in escaping the old ones..."


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:23 pm 

Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:27 pm
Posts: 483
Location: Corneto di Toano, Italy
Hello HorseHippie and (yet another) welcome from Belgium!

I particularly like your Buster, he has such beautiful colour!
And the donkeys are funny, looks like they almost got into the house :funny:

I look forward to seeing more of you all !

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Kind regards,

AnneMarie

------
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make'em drink...


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:41 am 

Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:02 pm
Posts: 1072
Location: UK Worcester/Hereford border
I like the photo's. I think Stetson has such nice condition over his back he will of course forgive you for allowing your daughter to ride with you. Biscuit is super as well. Being a baby, Buster will make so many changes, he looks cute though. And Pedro and Tequila are gorgeous.
Welcome :f:
Susie xx

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Susie xx
http://www.flickr.com/photos/piepony/


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