The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread

[Beaker]

I used to have a horse. For 10 or so years I took care of 12-14 horses at a time, that weren't mine. However, I was there from sun up till sun down 6 days a week, so it's like they were. I was responsible for most of their daily care. I also taught thirty or so kids for summer camps and private lessons for three or so of those years. (What a nightmare!) I leased my own horse for about a year, then I went off to school. I asked them to keep him for me, but of course they didn't...
He was a cute bay trotterbred. I guess it's a faux-pas for me to call him a horse.. he's 14.3. Just over the mark to be retired from harness racing. God could that horse trot! :-)

I've been away from riding because of school for 2 years, but I just contacted a barn down the street from me, and I'll be riding again! I did hunter/jumper, and I started out doing dressage. (And a little bit of Winglish, when it suited me!) :-) My horse was a hunter, but he got tired of it, so we battled it out for a while as I tried to teach him dressage basics.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Been there done that:)

About the time you feel real confident they do something. I can't tell you how many times I've been out riding for several hours, on the way home, and I'm thinking, OK the horse is tired I can relax, so I'll take my feet out of the stirrups to stretch my legs, and wham they spook at something:). It's like they know.

But then you see kids, like my daughter who ride down a trail with a leg cocked up over the horn, or sitting backwards in the saddle, and nothing ever happens to them. I've watched Jenny lope the barrels sitting backwards. ~sigh~ my goal is to have that much confidence (altho I told her many times that was pretty stupid to do and not come crying to me when she got dumped:)

But then there she is with all that confidence but she will not ride a shoed horse across asphalt because she had one spook on the road with her once and the horse slipped and fell on her. A hound dog came up behind the horse and sounded off. So even tho there was a logical excuse for the horse for doing what he did, she still is very very uncomfortable on ashpalt roads.

Funny what our minds do to us.

Becky

[Beaker]

Funny what our minds do to us
How very true. When I was about 10 or so, I took a spill from a young school horse. He ended up running me over and hurting me quite badly. One of his back feet (shod) clipped me on the side of my face. But I was so scared that I wouldn't ride any new horse that came into the barn. Somehow I assumed that any new horse would do the same thing to me. Illogical, but...

[Beaker]

What is hot wire? I've used electric fencing before. Is that the same thing?

*scratches head*

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yeah, hot wire is electric fence:). Sorry, again I thought everyone used that term.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Just had some really good storms move thru here. High, high, winds. Probably no riding this evening. I don't normally ride on Fri during the day, grandkids spend the day with me:). JP is sleeping right now, and Blake didn't get to come. I think the stroms surprised everyone.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Still no rain here, and we need it. Pasture is brown, if you look out there.

Lazy day here this morning... Horses were feelin' a little nappish this morning.

[Beaker]

Yeah, hot wire is electric fence:). Sorry, again I thought everyone used that term.
Actually, that's interesting. I learn something new every day.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

This morning I didn't have time to post them, but when I was posting to you all my cat came and flopped down right in front of the keyboard. I got some pictures. You can see on my arm where he scratched me when I tried to move him:) He has to have so many pats a day or he gets very irate.

This was the second attempt to move him.

He really is a cool cat. He's about 8. Very affectionate.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I don't know why the second picture won't show up????

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Here we go:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

LOL! - They love to sit on the keyboard, or right in the middle of whatever we seem to be giving our attention to!

Mine too. I call him "ergonomic kitty"

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

That's funny. You had a picture of yours too:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Yeah - Took that one awhile ago when I was trying to explain how it was hard to type with the cat on the keyboard... clawin' me for moving too much! :~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

They can be a bit dominering:)

Storms have past. It's a nice evening, but all the chairs are too wet to sit outside:(. I might go mow.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I'd mow, but it's so dry the grass ain't growin!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

:(

No gas. Nothing to do.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Bummer.

We are gonna watch movies in a little bit.

You still have the NES thread going at the other site? How is that working?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I very rarely chime in, altho I did tonight twice. It's all been said. We all know how each is going to respond. What's the point.

LOL

Do I sound like Eeyore or what:)

Mack is still in town, and I'm bored. Doesnt' happen to me often but rain this time of year really throws a kink in my agenda.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Argued into the ground. It amazes me the folk who argue the same argument with new vigor every day, day after day.