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Topic: I rode my boy today!!! (Read 2463 times)
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acottongim
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Posts: 1,435
I love Trakehners!
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I am so over the moon - I finally rode my colt, Preston, today!!!
I was a bad mom and didn't take photos though. 
This was his 5th ride because between the show and the trainer being out of town the majority of the past two or three weeks, he hasn't had the opportunity to get a lot of work done on him of any sort (much less riding). This weekend the trainer was still out of town, but I was free so I called the girl that has been riding him the last 4 times, Lori, to see if she would go up with me. She rode him first and he was his normal good self, then I got on him. All I did was walk and trot, but MAN it felt GREAT!!!! And it wasn't even that the gaits are fun/great/smooth, or that he was so well behaved, but it was more of the feeling that I was riding the first baby that I bred all by myself........ I almost started crying!
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TwinGates
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Performance Matters!
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Congratulations; what an accomplishment to finally ride the first one you've bred. Must be a tremendous feeling. Way to go, Mom! 
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acottongim
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I love Trakehners!
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Thanks! Yes it IS a tremendous feeling.... It was almost surreal... I have been thinking and planning this "first ride" for basically 4 years (while she was preg and since he was born) so it was kind of weird finally getting on him - I had goose bumps. And frankly he could have been a jerk and I still would have been thrilled, but the fact that he was excellent and "took care of mom" made it even better! 
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Eileen
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I LOVE Trakehners!
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I understand exactly how you feel. I had an accident a couple of years ago and have just started riding again(docs had said never again). Had to get an older mare to start with as my balance and seat are not what they used to be -- and to satisfy my trainer, my hubby and my docs. She has been great and I love riding her, but my eyes have been on my oldest boy, Phalanx, our first Tk that we have bred. My boy is 4 now and the trainer and my hubby have been riding him since last fall. I have been dying to ride him. And just a couple of weeks ago I did, just at a walk the first time. But it didn't matter. I, too, was over the moon. It was so exhilarating. I have continued -- still walking and a little trot now and then. Just working on basics, but it is wonderful.
Congrats on your ride. Enjoy!!!
Eileen
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acottongim
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I love Trakehners!
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Congrats on YOUR first ride too Eileen!!
I've ridden many horses over the years, and have been the first one on many horses too - even some that I was there when they were born and watched grow up, but there is something so different about it being the one that you picked out the "just right" stallion for your mare, sweated through all the "is she preg?" moments, waited out the endless pregnancy, then have watched grow up into a solid citizen (and dealt with all the baby antics that come along with a baby - good and bad - esp with a stud colt!). I never thought that it would be THAT cool/exciting!
What is funny, is that he feels so much like mom underneath me, but "more"... the trot is bigger and more powerful, but just as smooth as hers and easy to sit or post, the walk is athletic like hers is, but more "swinging." He is more wiling to come round, and isn't as "firecracker" feeling underneath the saddle, but he has the energy feeling that she does.... I can't wait to canter him (and one day JUMP him!).
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fuzzy
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Congrats, you guys! So happy you got to taste the thrill of that first ride on your "baby". I've been there a few times myself, but that doesn't dull the thrill . . . .
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SteveSamples
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Posts: 176
I love Trakehners!
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The world is a better place because of horse breeders!
They are people of such hope, & tomorrow's always a new vista that's brighter and better. Our breed continues to improve because of breeders who truly care about what they produce & not just what is fashionable this year.
I think that the wisdom and knowledge that one would gain from breeding-to-riding-the-result would be priceless.
OK, let's see, how do we make this a Mastercard commercial?
Finding the right stallion (farm trips, stud fees, etc) $3000*
Breeding the mare (vet, special diet, etc) $1000
Foaling the mare out $500
Vet bills for silly little foals that get into trouble $1000
Riding the foal for the first time PRICELESS
(* Plug in the appropriate numbers)
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acottongim
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 Steve, your "ad" cracks me up!!! It is SOOO true (even the $$ LOL - although my colt I think has racked up more vet bills thanks to his insatiable curiosity and knack of trying to kill himself LOL).
You know, his mom was right across the aisle from you at that the Convention - she was the chestnut T'bred mare Encore (had the big wooden box in front of the stall).
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Eileen
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I LOVE Trakehners!
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Steve,
Great ad!! I too must add more $ to the foal "trouble making"
Vet has told me on several occasions that he didn't think this boy would make it to be 5 years old.
And these "wild, hot" Tk's are so good -- a GP rider rode my boy this spring and deliberately pushed him well beyond what he knew just to see how he responded-- although she loved his gaits and his athleticism, her comment was "The absolutely wonderful thing about him is his attitude. The harder it gets, the more he listens and the harder he tries. The further you push him, he listens even more yet." She loved him. This was what I found when I rode him as well. I asked him to do things he had never attempted even remotely. He just tried his heart out and kept going until he got it. You can't ask for more than that. That feeling is what keeps you going. And you are right -- it is priceless!!
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acottongim
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I love Trakehners!
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Eileen - so true, for a while there (between 1 and 2 1/2 years old) I would call my vet and he would just roll his eyes and shake his head aksing "what did he do now?" BOYS! (said with an exhasperiated sigh)
I agree with you with the heart and "try" or "bravery" etc of the TK - it is one of the things that I love about this breed. You may never FORCE them to do anything, but if you ask them they will give you the moon.
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Beckie
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I have to add Three cycles to breed difficult mare plus regumate..... $5000!  
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acottongim
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I love Trakehners!
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LOL, Beckie - I made the mistake on "counting" up what it cost to get this particular colt on the ground between vet, stud fees, etc (not including feed/inoculations/worming etc - anything that I would have paid on her for the year anyway) and it was around $5000. The baby that she is carrying right now (by Oskar II) is FAR more than that - I have tried for 3 years to get her rebred and I think it was over 11 inseminations.... sigh  But it will be worth it I think!!!
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Suzette
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Ha! You guys are right behind me!!!
I went thru this very thing this year with my filly out of Pennant's Valentine.
To get the mare in foal - $2000
Carry to term - $4000
Foaling expenses cuz she came when we weren't expecting it - $2000
Loosing 2 days of work sitting up with a weak foal that needed stitches, massive meds, and no sleep cuz I had to pick her up to nurse, or milk out the mare - $500
But, the most beautiful filly you have ever seen, with a lovely personality, gorgeous conformation, and fancy movement - Priceless....
And so, her registered name is "Priceless". Sorry folks, I beat you all there first!!
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Karousel Farms, Breeders of Fine Trakehner Sporthorses.
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acottongim
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I love Trakehners!
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But it is all worth it when everything is said and done isn't it Suzette??!!! I don't begrudge a penny that has been spent on this colt - esp now that I rode him - because (in my mind) I couldn't have BOUGHT him for any less. And really, for certain animals (this colt being one of them, and your filly) price really isn't an object - they are more like family and beyond price, truely "priceless" (well named!)
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Eileen
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I LOVE Trakehners!
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Great Name, Suzette!!
From reading this thread, can there be any doubt why we all do these crazy things? -- can't be that we are making so make much money on these animals. Has to be that "priceless" ness. Or none of us would think it is worth it.
Congrats to all and love your babies -- no matter the age.
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Joy
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Isn't it grand riding your own babies!! My first experience I was in heaven. And the second horse, I was in heaven! And if there are 100 I'll probably be there, too! The only thing that could increase the thrill would be to increase my riding skill, so if I ever got that "perfect trot", I'd be ready for it!
After I sold one of my babies, a friend said, "Wow, that's a great price! It must feel good to make that much profit. At which point, I laughted and said I thought maybe I broke even, all things considered."
This is definitely not about making money, just love, pure love.
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acottongim
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I love Trakehners!
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Yes it IS grand Joy! I was trying to figure out how I could "play hooky" and go ride my boy today... but I was good (sort of) and did work - then left an hour early to go and start prepping for the show this weekend... I am SICK and TIRED of trying to cram everything in on Thurs night and trying to leave early on Fri am!!
But I AM packing my saddle for the weekend - you just never know, I may ride him at the show grounds... 
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fuzzy
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Acottongim, at least you have your weekends. The Postal Service OWNS my butt on Saturdays for the forseeable future (and has for most of the past three years). Let me tell you, that puts a real crimp on the horse shows. 
However, being fair season, there are a few midweek opportunites, and I took one of them this evening. I put my PSB Arab in a light harness, 2 wheel cart class at the fair in Crown Point, IN. That was FUN, especially since she always gets keyed up at that grounds. She's her ho-hum self everywhere else we have shown. BTW, if you want to talk $$$$ and horses, carriage and draft driving folks have our riding horses beat to heck, especially in the "accessories" dept!
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acottongim
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I love Trakehners!
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I hear you about the driving folk. Preston has been at a trainer who is a driver... Sterling Graburn.... he just found out that he will go to the World Driving Championships for the US as an individual in Sept so he is scrambling to raise the $30,000 + it is going to to take to get he, his horse, the two carriages, and his navigator over there..... 
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TwinGates
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Performance Matters!
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Congrats to all on your babies! Steve, LOVED the story about the GP rider . . . that's why we raise Trakehners! Well done.
Suzette, what a well-deserved name you gave your little girl. Can't think of anything better when you've gone through the trials you had w/this filly (as she surprised you, was the 2nd choice Peek-a-boo?).
To everyone else who already has or one day will ride their own home bred, congratulations!
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