[quote="Ninaroja"]^YNK - University of Southampton has a riding stables that anyone can pay a little money (presumably amounts a student could afford, since it's tied to the University) to ride. I think I might avail of this opportunity at least once when I'm there - like I told you before my friend Catherine loved horses with her entire being - it would be a tribute to her in a way to do it also
Plus, I'd get to be around animals again
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That sounds great.
Did you ever get to try it?
Anyway, this is a super old thread but updating again. Since I'm at UC Davis now, well - we have our own stables and equestrian program here. I took a couple of lessons but since I already knew the very basics they told me that I should join the equestrian team and show, so now I do!
(Well, haven't shown yet - this is my first quarter doing it! But it went great and I think I'm already getting a lot better).
Right now I'm on the hunter/jumper team which basically does equitation on the flat and over jumps. I haven't actually gotten to jump yet since I don't have any show experience and thus was placed into WT (walk-trot), but hopefully I can point out pretty quickly and continue on to WTC and finally get to do some little jumps. I'm really excited.
I'm also strongly considering the dressage team as well, since a lot of people do both and that would be a great way for me to be able to ride more than once a week. The school has a lot of great horses and it's been awesome to be able to go and clean/tack/ride/untack them and just have that exposure again.
But yeah, I'm super happy that I finally get to do this! I've had horses in my heart since I was about 8 or 9 (it's been about ten years now), and... well, it took until my second year of college, but I finally got my dream of regular lessons. Hoping for a lease pretty soon too, since (as I mentioned in my first post) I've been handling them and caring for them for a lot longer than I've been regularly riding. I took a class and interned at our horse barn as well, since that's related to my major, so like... yeah, caring for them is not going to be a big problem, I don't think. Just need to find someone who's willing to maybe lease their horse out part-time and I'll see where it goes from there.
I'm also going to see if I can apply to be a student barn supervisor. If I were hired, I'd get to live as a resident at the Equestrian Center for free (well, in exchange for work of course, but I wouldn't have to pay rent and would have the facilities right there). It'll be another couple months before I know the outcome but I think I have a good shot so I will be sure to update on how that goes when the time comes, so wish me luck, everyone!