Hey! So I haven't posted in ages, but I'm still alive. Here's what's happening. Taz is working towards retirement I've started trying clicker training Working on roundness in lessons, partly because we're trying to tone down the activity so that Taz isn't overworked or injured. So yeah. Taz is approximately 26, so he's at a point where jumping isn't something that he's going to be doing much longer. My trainer has a student who's horse shopping, so she's planning to lease that student's horse and use him in lessons, so that's likely who I'll be riding soon. In the meantime, we're working on roundness and all that fun stuff, which honestly, I like just as much as jumping, so I'm okay with that. I've also started experimenting with clicker training. I've been working with Taz to get him to touch a target on command, which has honestly gone far better than I thought. I've only had one session with him, but ...
An Equestrian Reviews - Flicka(2006), Secretariat(2010), Canterwood Crest, and Horses of Oak Valley Ranch
I had another lesson on Wednesday, but I don't really feel like writing about it, and nothing too interesting happened, so I decided to do a review of my favourite(and least favourite) horse-related books and movies.
MOVIES
Flicka (2006)
Terrible writing & dialogue, questionable realism in regards to the horses, and Katy is kind of really stupid, although that's probably due to the horrible dialogue. This movie features Tim Mc Graw as Katy's dad, and he is very cringy, also due to terrible dialogue and a huge helping of sappy. That pretty much describes every character in this movie, so... Anyways, this movie is awful, and I love it.
I actually know the horse who played "Yankee", the horse that Katy rides just before she finds Flicka, so that adds an extra level of cool for me. "Yankee" is currently a trail ride horse at the same place that I go to camp.
Secretariat (2010)
I watched this movie for the first time about 4 years ago, and it was just as good then as it is now. It's very inspiring and really makes you sympathize with Penny Chenery, Secretariat's owner and the main character. You see all the struggles she goes through, from sexism to separation from her family, and when Secretariat crosses the finish line, you are really cheering, not just for him, but the monumental effort and great people it took to get him there. This movie doesn't focus too much on the horse aspect, more on the business and personal side, so you don't have to worry too much about it being realistic or not.
BOOKS
Canterwood Crest Academy Series
Jessica Burkhart
This is a 20 book series about some 12 to 13-year-olds at an exclusive boarding school. It's really popular with kids, but I would not recommend it unless you are old enough to know it's ridiculous. The kids in the books have boyfriends, gossip blogs, feuds, designer clothes, and credit cards. I used to read these when I was younger, and if you aren't old enough to know that this is crazy, it can set you up with some pretty unrealistic expectations for your tween years(not that this happened to me or anything).
The horse parts aren't anywhere close to realistic. At the beginning, you might think that they're accurate because they know what a snaffle bit is, but then you get farther along and the character puts the bridle on before the saddle, without even a mention of how she struggles with her saddle in one arm, and the reins to a young green mare in the other.
Horses of Oak Valley Ranch Series
Jane Smiley
I love these books. They're teen/tween novels set on a ranch in California in the 1960s. I found Abby, the main character to be super realistic, and the time period gives these books an extra level of interest. The plots of the books are divided between horses and Abby's social life, and both are equally well-written. Abby and her friends' dilemmas fit the period but are still relatable now. In one of the books, a friend of Abby's takes up smoking, and Abby isn't sure what to do. This part is especially relatable to today's teens, who have to deal with their friends and classmates taking up vaping.
As for the horse parts, this author writes other books about horses, and so the mentions of horses are decently realistic. With these books, you have to remember that they are set in a different period, so most issues, such as dated horse-keeping techniques, language, or references are due to that.
Anyways, that wraps up my list of the most memorable and impactful horse books/movies that I've seen. I hope you enjoyed reading my honest-but-slightly incredibly-biased review. 😉
MOVIES
Flicka (2006)
Terrible writing & dialogue, questionable realism in regards to the horses, and Katy is kind of really stupid, although that's probably due to the horrible dialogue. This movie features Tim Mc Graw as Katy's dad, and he is very cringy, also due to terrible dialogue and a huge helping of sappy. That pretty much describes every character in this movie, so... Anyways, this movie is awful, and I love it.
I actually know the horse who played "Yankee", the horse that Katy rides just before she finds Flicka, so that adds an extra level of cool for me. "Yankee" is currently a trail ride horse at the same place that I go to camp.
I watched this movie for the first time about 4 years ago, and it was just as good then as it is now. It's very inspiring and really makes you sympathize with Penny Chenery, Secretariat's owner and the main character. You see all the struggles she goes through, from sexism to separation from her family, and when Secretariat crosses the finish line, you are really cheering, not just for him, but the monumental effort and great people it took to get him there. This movie doesn't focus too much on the horse aspect, more on the business and personal side, so you don't have to worry too much about it being realistic or not.
BOOKS
Canterwood Crest Academy Series
Jessica Burkhart
This is a 20 book series about some 12 to 13-year-olds at an exclusive boarding school. It's really popular with kids, but I would not recommend it unless you are old enough to know it's ridiculous. The kids in the books have boyfriends, gossip blogs, feuds, designer clothes, and credit cards. I used to read these when I was younger, and if you aren't old enough to know that this is crazy, it can set you up with some pretty unrealistic expectations for your tween years(not that this happened to me or anything).
The horse parts aren't anywhere close to realistic. At the beginning, you might think that they're accurate because they know what a snaffle bit is, but then you get farther along and the character puts the bridle on before the saddle, without even a mention of how she struggles with her saddle in one arm, and the reins to a young green mare in the other.
Jane Smiley
I love these books. They're teen/tween novels set on a ranch in California in the 1960s. I found Abby, the main character to be super realistic, and the time period gives these books an extra level of interest. The plots of the books are divided between horses and Abby's social life, and both are equally well-written. Abby and her friends' dilemmas fit the period but are still relatable now. In one of the books, a friend of Abby's takes up smoking, and Abby isn't sure what to do. This part is especially relatable to today's teens, who have to deal with their friends and classmates taking up vaping.
As for the horse parts, this author writes other books about horses, and so the mentions of horses are decently realistic. With these books, you have to remember that they are set in a different period, so most issues, such as dated horse-keeping techniques, language, or references are due to that.
Anyways, that wraps up my list of the most memorable and impactful horse books/movies that I've seen. I hope you enjoyed reading my honest-but-
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