Hi Everyone,

I am from Arlington, Texas and I am also a newbie not only to this forum but to the horse world. My daughter is a senior in High School and wanted to show a horse in her final year in the FFA Trichapter show. So 7 months later and a horse aquired from my father-in-law, who is a cutting horse trainer and breeder, we have gotten so attached to this little filly that I cannot even imagine life without her.

So here I am, a 44yo female, taking riding lessons for the past month on the other barn horses, and have a 2yo that is not even broke yet. I keep telling myself what in the world am I thinking doing this at my age. But I have her stabled at a public barn with LOTS of experienced people around me that is MORE than willing to teach me and to help with the breaking process of Lena. I felt that the next step in the process of learning is to join this forum to be able to access even more experience and help. So far the journey has been great and their is no better feeling than seeing Lena go thru the stages of training and saddle breaking. Especially knowing that I have been doing it myself (with experienced people helping and the great John Lyons books) and that everything that she knows, I have taught her.


Now about my horse. Olena Plenty is a 2yo chestnut filly who was one of the foals that my father-in-law has bred out of one of his broodmares with the Doc Olena bloodline and his stud "Plenty Peppy Rush" who is the grandson of "Peppy San Badger". So needless to say when she sees a cow, the cutting bloodline just pours out of her. Lena is smart, beautiful and just a joy to be around. I am looking forward to a long life with her, lots of trail rides, and to cutting training with my father-in-law. He plans on riding her in cutting competitions.

Nice to meet you guys and hope to hear from you in the near future. I am excited about joining this forum and hope to gain some great knowledge and advice from each one of you.

Can't tell I love this horse do you?

Hi,
Welcome
I also have an Olena bred mare, I too love her to death.
Only draw back to these horses, they can be smarter than the people. It is a wonderfully smart,intelligent and athletic bloodline.
Congrats and good luck.

Welcome luvmylenababy, your and Ltc4h must be
so happy to have Olena bred mares.. I don't have one
But what I have heared about them is all good
They are really awesome I hope you have a great
time here, I have!

Cya!
Christina

By the way, your horse is really beautiful

Thank you so much for the welcome!! Ltc4h, you are so right about this bloodline being really smart. I sometimes feel that Lena is smarter than most people I know and deal with. When I am working with her, I swear that I can hear those gears and thoughts churning away as she is working out the lesson. Christina, thank you so much for welcoming me and for the compliment on Lena.

I do have a question for both of you. I am in the process of looking for a trailer. In your experiences, what do you like and recommend? We have a F250 so I think we are good in that area.

Trailers are really personal prefernce.
I personally like head to head, and goosenecks, step up- no ramp.
My trailer is a side load and has a tuckaway ramp that pulls out, in the 13 yrs I've owned it. Maybe only used the ramp a dozen times.
They come in all shapes and sizes. If you don't plan on living in it, go for the stripped down version. They are lighter to tow and in the end practical always outweighs unused perks.
If you can afford to buy a triler that can haul more than you currently own. If you buy a 2 horse you will most likely really want to haul 3 or more. Or if you are in a natural disaster region, having an emergency evacuation plan for your animals- If everybody fits in 1 trailer that is less to worry about.
If you may be dealing with youngsters, a trailer that loads from the back, that way you can back it into a barn isle,round pen... and herd the horse on [again a step up, no ramp]
7' is plenty tall enough, unless your dealing with Drafts or Warmbloods
some know drawbacks;
bumper pulls- are more likely to sway during towing than a gooseneck
goosenecks-need a bed hitch-but the turnover balls work great
slant loads-can cause back soreness on larger horses-remember the 82" floor space is just that 82". So unless your 72" horse only has a 10" neck, when in the trailer they have to carry their head/neck elevated. Can cause soreness.
Assuming your truck is a single axle,single cab-you can safely haul a 20' trailer
The longer the wheel base or if you have dual wheels, you can go another 10-12'

Your welcome I have no experience or knowledge of trailers though...
Ltc4h already replied to that one

Thank you so much for the information. I will print this out and take it with me when I look. I do know one thing, my husband did convience me on a gooseneck. And it looks like that seems to be the way to go and not to mention safer for the horse.

Thanks again
Courtney