Any Horse/Equestrian/showjumping Fans Out There?!

[ConcordeBoy]

Just curious to if any of you are both aviation and equestrian fans.
I know some of you have spoken of being fans in the past, just wondering if there are any others.


I have a passion for both, particularly showjumping. I often forget how popular the latter is on the international scene... much more so than in the USA.

As for me, compete in hunter/jumpers. Avid fan of Margie Goldstein-Engle, Laura Balisky, and Rodrigo Pessoa. Here are clips of some of my favorite riders.

VIDEO:
Laura Balisky & Easy Boy: in the world's richest and most difficult showjumping competition.

Also, major Major MAJOR fan of the now-retired horse Loro Piana Tomboy VI; a legendary Irish Warmblood capable of clearing 5' high + 7' wide fences with two or three feet to spare!

VIDEO:
Rodrigo Pessoa & Loro Piana Tomboy: in the 1996 Olympics team competition.
Look at the raw power of this horse!

What say you types, who's a fan?

[DeltaFlyer]

Not a fan, but I live in Wellington, FL so I deal with jumpers and polo players all winter during the horse season at the Equestrian Center and Palm Beach Polo Club...

[pbateson]

Big Brown

[ConcordeBoy]

Big Brown

...think he'll do it?

[LUNN]

I like those breeds that are used for dancing etc, they are so beautiful, I also love heavy work horses.

[ConcordeBoy]

I like those breeds that are used for dancing etc

What do you mean by this?

Dressage? -- that can be any breed.
SaddleSeat? -- highstepping breeds (Saddlebreds, Morgans, Tennessee Walkers)


....or are you being more specific, such as the Andalusian and Lipizzaner stallions seen in the classic riding schools?

[LUNN]

The classics like the ones you mentioned and bulky breeds of farm horses like Clydesdale etc.

[Crunk415balla]

Big Brown

I make in toilet.

[ConcordeBoy]

bulky breeds of farm horses like Clydesdale etc.

careful, the term "farm horse" can also go quite a few different ways...

I believe what you're looking for is "Draft Horse"
Or for you alcoholics out there, sometimes called draught horses, as well

[Crunk415balla]

You know, I'm seriously thinking about buying a miniture horse after college. They aren't very expensive surprisingly enough. Any insight on them?

Can they live in the house and be potty-trained?

[ConcordeBoy]

They aren't very expensive surprisingly enough.

depends on what kind. A purebred Falabella with significant pedigree can run well into the 5 digits-- and you can't even ride it.

Can they live in the house and be potty-trained?

Yes to both.

[Crunk415balla]

Awesome. What is the general lifespan? I'd love for my kids to get to grow up with a little horse running around. I'd always wished I had a pet growing up.

[ConcordeBoy]

Awesome. What is the general lifespan?

That's the best part... they live nearly twice as long as "normal" horses.

Avg horse lives 18-22 years, whereas Falabellas have been known to reach their mid/late 30s on a more-common-than-not basis.

In fact, the oldest living horse on record was a miniature named "Angel" who was verified to have lived past age 51.

Here are some images, for the sake of scale, all Falabellas shown are full-grown adults.... though don't ask me what the chick in the first pic is doin', I'd soon as rather not know.

I'd always wished I had a pet growing up.

Another exotic pet that you may be interested in, and I say should definitely look in, would be the Sugar Glider. Not only are they the most adorable things on Earth-- but they're easy to feed (they can survive off a diet of soft fruit and sugar-water!), they adjust to children well... they can even be taught to do tricks with their aerial capabilities!

[JordanD]

You know, I'm seriously thinking about buying a miniture horse after college. They aren't very expensive surprisingly enough. Any insight on them?

Can they live in the house and be potty-trained?

So there's gonna be giant piles of horseshit in your house?

[ConcordeBoy]

So there's gonna be giant piles of horseshit in your house?

...apparently, you missed the response to his question.

It is however, worth noting that it's generally not advisable to keep them in your house for any significant period of time-- horses are designed to be constantly eating, it's what works best for them. So unless you're content to keep a generous supply of hay and alfalfa in your home, it's probably best to leave them outside except for few-hour stints.