Alpha

Hi! I was trying to brainstorm ideas to get my riding instructor for Christmas. She's an amazing person and has helped me SO much with my riding. But I don't want to get just anything. I want something special, preferably something I can make that isn't too expensive? Or something I can buy that's personalized with a picture of her and her horse or something? What do you guys think?

I was searching on places to study equestrian studies abroad, and this place looks pretty cool, though only part of their website works. Has anyone heard of it? Is it legit?

I recently started riding an Appaloosa named Skippy in February. He's 17 years old. For two months we did only flat work in the ring, and some walking trail rides. We started jumping at the very end of March. He hasn't jumped in about four years (he used to jump over three feet, with flying lead changes and all that jazz), and he was really great. Now we can trot and canter fences without rushing, and he's been doing really well.

My only problem is the flying lead changes. Whenever I ask for them, he starts bucking and going a little crazy. I'm pretty sure it's not out of pain - his saddle fits well, he's in good shape, his bit fits him well - but out of excitement maybe, because he hasn't done them lately (his owner doesn't usually do more than walk-trot on the flat with him.) He does them well - I can see that he has the ability to be an auto lead changer - but bucks when he does them. How can I make him calm down with the lead changes? Should I go back to simple changes? We've only done flying changes while jumping - should I do them on the flat? My instructor told me to only do them while jumping.

Yesterday I fell off because of one of his bucks (don't worry, got back on, jumped it again, nobody's hurt). How can I stop him from bucking?

Hi! Thanks for visiting.

I recently started riding a really great palomino QH/Appaloosa named Skippy. He's a real sweetheart and very talented. His owner has brittle bones so she has to be very, very careful with him (so only walk, trot, and once in a blue moon, a canter.) But he's still pretty in shape because he's ridden every day (even before I started riding him), and he's been ridden on the flat for several years since his owner can't jump. She'd like for me to start jumping him once I'm comfortable, and I bet by the summer we'll be good friends and start to jump.

My problem is - how do I get him in shape for jumping specifically? Will hills work? What other methods have you tried?

I'm writing a story, and in it my character attends a crayfish party. Could anyone maybe tell me about what they're like? Are they fun? What's the "schedule" for the event? What food/drink is served (other than crayfish, of course!)? I'd like info from someone who's actually attended one, because I've already read all the Wikipedia articles and stuff...I'm looking for people with more hands-on experience.

Moms are easy to shop for; get them something that smells yummy and stuff. But Dads are a lot more complicated! I feel like my dad has been kind of unappreciated lately, so I want to give him something really great but not too expensive because I don't have a lot of money. He's funny but doesn't like stupid funny (aka Family Guy), kind of silly, likes technology (he's got a Bluetooth, Blackberry, etc.), does laser shows, and loves watching movies. What do you think?

I can't count how many questions I've seen on here saying "AM I FAT?!" "SHOULD I LOSE WEIGHT?" "IS EATING 200 CALORIES A DAY HEALTHY?" It's ridiculous. I think weight is simply a number that doesn't matter; it's how comfortable you are with your shape that does.

Honestly. What do you guys think?

I'm mainly interested in huntseat and dressage, and I've been looking around for colleges since I'm in high school. I'm talking about a college that lets you be around horses several times a week, not just once a week. I'm interested in equine business or equine studies or equine journalism. I live on the East Coast and would prefer to stay to the east, but as long as it's a good college, I'm willing to go anywhere in the US. What are your opinions for the best horse colleges around, with the best facilities and programs?

My friend has a history with anorexia (two years ago.) I assumed she stopped, but I think she's started again the last few months. There are lots of signs I see that are signs of anorexia:

- She says she hasn't had her period in three months

- In the locker room, whenever complimented on how skinny she is, she immediately comes back with how fat she is

- I can see her ribs, and she doesn't have any curves

- Whenever I see her eat, she eats very slowly and usually doesn't finish her lunch or whatever she's eating - she doesn't eat like she's on a diet though

- She definitely has self-confidence problems (she gives in easily to peer pressure to feel accepted, etc.)

I'm really worried about her. She plays sports, so she NEEDS that food, and she looks great as she is. What should I do? Am I just BSing? If she is, should I tell her mom in private about her (I like her mom, I feel like I could talk to her) or talk to her? Any ideas?

I lease a cute Quarter Horse named Hobbes. He's a great dressage horse, so lots of times I ride him in a saddle in the ring. His saddle is pretty old - it's a Crosby Sovereign Close Contact saddle (http://www.riderscrossing.com/101_6988.JPG - it isn't specifically my saddle, but it's what my saddle looks like) and I don't this his owner has cleaned it in forever. I clean and condition it whenever I can, but it STILL squeaks, and it's pretty embarrassing.

I don't know if I should try the baby powder trick because I only lease him, so I'm not sure if I'm allowed to try that on his saddle. I don't want to mess it up and then have to pay for it (The Sovereign isn't manufactured anymore, anyways.) Any ideas or things I can do - low-cost and not noticeable or harmful to the saddle?

When I was a few years younger, I used to write vigorously - mostly about, you know, going to the moon and crazy little storylines. I developed such a wonderful writing experience and skill from that. Ever since I entered middle school, it's been difficult to find time to write, so I stopped.

I'm entering high school now, and I want to start again...I just don't know exactly where to start. You know? I mean, I love writing, but I feel so...lost a bit. I want to write something that'll make me happy, like the stories I wrote when I was younger - but I'm too mature to write about going to the moon and stuff now. I would try to write about my life but it sure isn't that interesting so far. Any suggestions? Have you ever dealt with this?

I ride a lovely quarter horse cross gelding named Hobbes. All we really know about him is that he's old old old [like 25, but he acts like/has the energy of a 5 year old] and that he has some nice dressage training from someone. He does w/t/c, no jumping, can do lots of fancy dressage stuff. The only problem is that when I ask for a flying lead change, he gets angry and excited. He does it the second I ask, pins his ears back and swishes his tail, then goes extremely fast after that.

He knows it's coming when we go across the diagonal at the canter, so I've been trying to teach him going across the diagonal at the canter doesn't always mean a flying lead change by maybe halting or doing a transition to trot or walk when we go across the diagonal. But he still gets angry when we do one. Is it because it's hard for him? Any tips?

Hi - thanks for helping me :) I'm on a summer swim team at my nearby pool. I'm all right at swimming. I'm great at my strokes, have good speed when I'm not tired, but have little endurance! So whenever we do long, hard sets, I describe this as my feeling; a pit in my stomach and a lump in my throat. I'm almost positive I have the physical ability to do these, but for some reason I get really tired and my stomach starts doing flips and I feel not motivated at all! Is there any way you can help me?

Hey guys - I'd like some ideas on this.

I walk two dogs - a small, easy 5-minute dog and a large handful dog I walk for a 1/2 hour. I get paid twice the amount of the small 5-minute dog...the big dog is a big handful, but all bark and no bite. We've tried Gentle Leader and different collars, but nothing seems to work, and I'm tired of trying. Both are very sweet, but walking the large dog just isn't fun anymore; it's become a real chore for me. I've been exploring interests in other activities and it's a pain to schedule this long walk around it. It takes a lot of energy to walk such a large dog - most of which I cannot give after a 6-hour, stressful school day. I really just don't want to walk her anymore. The only problem is her owners are elderly and really like me; they've become rather attached. How should I break it to them? How much notice should I give them? Please help me!

I walk a four-year-old female German Shepherd, named Annie. She's owned by some elderly people so she doesn't get out very much - periodically in their small backyard when she needs to go, then a 1/2 hour walk with me around the neighborhood. Occasionally she visits the dog park.

She has a barking problem. Whenever we pass another dog on the street, she lunges and jumps and barks. She's hard to control at this time. I've asked this question before and got great answers, including the Gentle Leader. I've tried it and it's worked wonders, but now she refuses to come to the door (we know it's the muzzle), and it breaks my heart because she lies down dejectedly. I've switched to her regular collar but it seems as if she hasn't learned anything at all from the Gentle Leader - she still barks. At the dog park she's fine, but alone in the park she'll bark at any passing down and jump on the fence. Please help me?

Would you commit a crime? Would you kill somebody? Knowing you would never, ever get caught?

I know, classic story, right?

So the other day I took my very first fall. The horse I was riding, a big grey gelding (I take lessons) bolted and went galloping across the ring. I tried to circle him but he bent the wrong way and bolted again. I lost my stirrups, lurched forwards and eventually fell off.

Now, whenever I canter I feel a bit antsy. I'm definitely back in the saddle and I walk-trot comfortably, but when I canter all I look out for now is that quick little bolt. I'm nervous and I know my horses can feel it, and I know that'll make them more likely to bolt anyway. I'm confident but not the way I was before. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

I walk a 4-year-old German Shepherd female. She lives with some old people that can't walk her, and I walk her once a day for 25 minutes.

The problem is, whenever she sees another dog, she barks and barks and barks! She jumps and lunges too. In the park, when she meets another dog she's only a bit aggressive in playing. Other dogs and dog owners are scared of her, and though I try to discipline her (a tug on her chain, a firm no, even a little shove), she may shut up but she keeps on doing it when she sees another dog. I don't think she means any harm at all; she's excitable.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to stop her barking? Any methods or products you use (not on the expensive side, please)? Thanks!

Even if it begins with small steps - like the US signing the Kyoto treaty - do you think it'll happen? How will it affect us as an economy? How will you take part?

My best friend is turning 13 on the 30th. I have no idea what to give her! For my birthday, she gave me a pretty awesome present - like 60 dollars in great stuff I loved! But now I'm stumped on what to get her!

She loves makeup (Sephora is her best friend!), but lots of things are expensive there. I have about 70 dollars to work with. Any thoughtful ideas I can give her? She's going through a hard time with her family right now, and I really want to make her feel loved and special.