The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread

[HairOfTheDog]

Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?

A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. We may not ~always~ have a lot of activity, but when we do, it will be fun. I will put a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!

I will also develop a ping list for horse threads that are of interest. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.

I am hoping this thread will be a fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.

[HairOfTheDog]

She said we will live thru this and I will be completely different with my second one .

True... it isn't that you will ignore problems with your second one, it is that you will know the solution without asking on the second one.

[CindyDawg]

Must be hard on her ( and yall too probably:') but she told me not to stop asking questions because one of my concerns might just be something serious that I see sometime.

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't think it is hard on anyone. Look how much we have learned from explaining something only to find out we all have different opinions about it! ;~D

This thread is a good thing for everyone.

[AnAmericanMother]

I think what I was trying to say (and I'm sorry - I was running out the door and didn't choose my words carefully) is that in English riding a tie-down has no training purpose. It certainly has a practical purpose with beginner riders who can't reliably keep the horse's head out of their face - it also is useful for polo because you don't always have time to keep even a "made" horse's head down in a panic situation.

In answer to your question about polo - these horses do O.K., but not great. This guy is no 6-handicapper - he also runs through a lot of horses. Particularly in the South, the polo guys tend to be polo players first and horsemen a very, very distant second. They are rough and drag their horses around by the mouth - and lose a lot of time in their turns for that reason (they also tend to damage hocks and tendons when the horses turn off balance). Serious polo players in England and the NE put their horses through at least debourrage, because it makes a smoother, more efficient horse. Noel Jackson (I mentioned him before) who wrote Effective Horsemanship, the book I consider my bible on dressage and its uses in other disciplines, is a great believer in dressage for polo ponies. He had the Best First Season Polo Pony in Britain for 1966, so apparently what he does works.

One does have to consider that a polo player needs a LOT of horses, so he can't give the individual attention to each that a dressage, jumping or event rider can give. (But when I get around the back of the field, I do suppling exercises on the ponies anyhow. Since I can stop 'em, I ride 'em in a snaffle.)

[AnAmericanMother]

I absolutely concur with your bothering your vet. That's the only way to gain experience. I drove my vet nuts with my first (and current) dog, but how else are you going to learn? Ask, ask, ask! Vets like intelligent interest on the part of their human clients (I'm sure they'd like the same from their animal clients too but they don't always get it. My vet loves my dog because she's always happy to see her, no matter what happens! She even goes nuts when she sees our vet at the dog trials.)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I think that's a good plan too:)

Becky

[CindyDawg]

Thanks. I'm beat today. I ache everywhere :')

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Did you ride more or something?

Becky

[CindyDawg]

Probably. I wasn't keeping up with the time. I rode him back and forth on the ranch road, slowly getting him closer to his boogy from both directions. I pushed him about 5 feet closer each time. We did it over and over. He's almost there. I'll get him thru in a few more days. (this is where I had problems during the storm). I even got him to walk out the gate towards the street without hesitating or balking. He did look back though :') I know I could have goozed him thru but he's getting there slowly but surely. This is my fourth day straight riding and I think I just got too much sun today. I came home with a headache. It was hot and I should have had at least my baseball cap on.

[CindyDawg]

NO! I started Sat, right? This is 5 days straight :')

[choctawsquaw]

are you there

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yeah, I'm here are you:)

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

It's suppose to rain here tomorrow:(. 80% chance.

In the morning I am going to start learning the book work:(

Becky

[CindyDawg]

Well hold out for a good sign on bonus and benefits :')

[CindyDawg]

I going to have to add a day to the 14 day plan and skip Sat. I need to go out of town.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Nothing wrong with keeping the sabbath:)

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'm beat, see you all tomorrow.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Isn't it somethin' how the sun drains ya more riding? It does me... and you get covered with this sweaty dust film I don't get anywhere but riding. Up my nose, in the ears!

Makes me really wonder about all those cowboys who come riding in to town after being on the trail for two weeks and the wimmin are still glad to see them. Can you imagine how those guys smelled? ;~D

[choctawsquaw]

hey i am going to try a post a picture of the pig

[CindyDawg]

I guess we are closer to the sun :') I see people come out there and leave as clean as they arrived. Not me. I have to get down in the dirt with him, it seems. I go straight to the shower when I get home.