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.

[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.