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.

[CindyDawg]

Well I have a mounting problem. I'm slow and hesitant. I'm older and short too 5'2" but no light weight. I've pretty much got him to stand still now but it takes time and he gets restless. I flew off last week and hit something. By the bruises some think the saddle or his hocks. I have always dreaded getting on but have always felt very secure once up like I was safe (can you believe that). I'm a little concerned that I'll always be watching for the "what was that, what's he doing?", now. I didn't last Sat. but I was in a very secure environment. So I can understand your concerns after getting trampled. What happened? Did you get hurt?

[HairOfTheDog]

I'd love to do dressage. Bay has a really nice carriage and a lot of suspension.... When I bought him back at 19, I thought we might learn some, but he started having trouble with his navicular, and he really hates collection work. (his career was in all day loooooong trot endurance racing)

At his age, he doesn't have to do work he hates, so I'll perhaps learn it with my next horse.

[CindyDawg]

Oh,I saw them in Vegas once. Beautiful animals. Don't think I'm a hick or anything but it seemed a long program to me. We also saw the horses in "The Knights of The Round Table"" charging and racing and in duel scene's and (duck) I was more impressed. It was like wow, look at those muscles (the horse not the young guys riding , ok lol) As I said earlier I'm culturally challenged I guess :')

[CindyDawg]

Maybe I would like it if I was actually doing it. Someday in some old lady event maybe lol

[HairOfTheDog]

Dressage can look a little boring if you like action more. The lipizzanners are the most action you'll ever see. Dressage competition at anything but the Grand Prix level is all about precision, not action. A lot goes into the gymnastics they learn to do, but if you aren't schooled in it, it still prolly just looks like trotting around in circles. ;~D

[Beaker]

hocks. I have always dreaded getting on but have always felt very secure once up like I was safe (can you believe that).
I can. I really really can. It's a "Whew, glad that's over!" thing. Have you ever considered just practicing mounting and dismounting with someone at his head? It would be good for you and him. :-) But I'm sure people have suggested it to you already.
Hey, I have a funny story for you. I was at a show once and someone gave me a leg up, but this person didn't know their own strength, and vaulted me right over the other side of the saddle. People said it was the funniest thing that they ever saw. So. I try it again. The horse says "The heck with this!" and takes off before I even have my stirrups and bucks me clear. I scratched my last class after that one.
:-D

What happened? Did you get hurt?
I was riding a young, very spooky and previously abused horse. Apparently the people who had him before used lunge whips with plastic baggies attached to the ends, and they would chase him with them. So he was terrified of anything that went "pop". There were guns going off in the distance, and he took off like a shot. I lost my balance, and hung on for a while. I headed him into a corner, but there was another retired horse that was loose. (it was a big area) I managed to fall right between them, and my horse caught me in the face with his back hoof. It was all bruised up and I think I might have hairline fractured my jaw because I couldn't eat solid food for a time. I could talk and everything, but it really really hurt. I think that I was nine or ten.

[CindyDawg]

Ok, I was afraid I might have offended you after I posted. I do remember one walking sideways across the arena and I thought that was cool. Okie can do that too but I forgot how to cue him. We did it once. I was going to ask the owner what she told me to do to get him going. He's more brawn than dance I'm afraid but he is still graceful in his own way in my eyes :').

[CindyDawg]

How scary. In the face, yikes! Funny here too. I went over the right side on my own once getting off. I had already fell getting on and was sore. It was a controlled fall and I slowly went down but I remember looking at my horse and he's standing there perfectly still looking ahead and then he kind of looks back like "what are you doing" He saw me on the ground and it was like "what the hell" His eyes got big and he jumped about 10 feet away and just stood looking at me confused. Poor baby. The boarders told me he was all upset after I fell this time and didn't want to leave the area and resisted them and kept running up and down the pasture after they got him put up, yelling.

[HairOfTheDog]

Not at all! There is a lot about learning basic dressage that can help people learn about movement and balance and seat. All horse disciplines are about movement, and perfecting movement and strengthening can help horsemen in any sport (even some football players take ballet lessons). But as a spectator sport it isn't for everyone.

[Beaker]

(his career was in all day loooooong trot endurance racing)
Wow.

[CindyDawg]

You talked about abused horses. We are looking for another horse (another paint) and we found an abandoned one for sell but were just too concerned because of our inexperience and no history.

[CindyDawg]

I like the extended trot and really like the trot half pass :')

[HairOfTheDog]

Bay raced in 50 and 100 mile endurance races in between living with my friend, and the other friend I bought him from. He did great. When my first friend Bob had him, he was really green. Jumped and blew and snorted at every darn thing on trail.... The woman who bought him from Bob put thousands of miles on him and turned him into the unbeatable trail horse he is now. She retired him from that at age 15. It was hard work, and may have contributed to him getting navicular now, but all in all, I think she trained well and kept him pretty sound. He has no other sign of breakdown at 22 (or is it 23 now?) and his Navicular, we are managing well with rolled toes, pads and a prescription drug that mostly helps promote good circulation in his feet.

But he has this enormous big trot that in his day he could settle into and coast for miles.... I'll try to take one under saddle the next time he is feeling really good if I can catch myself not looking bloated and frumpy in comparison.

This is a pretty recent pic from this summer.

[Beaker]

Yeah I'd be very careful. Abused horses can either be wonderful or a handful depending. My old barn always used to take in malnourished and/or abused horses. If it's a horse that's really really under weight, you never know what you're going to get once you put weight on them. We took in one horse who was about a 3 on a scale from 1 to 10, and that's being generous. He was great once we put weight on him. But same thing with a TB mare. She was as tractable as could be when she was under weight, gentle, and sweet. But as soon as she got up to weight and feeling good she was nuts. Afraid of everything and everyone, and spooky and kinda dangerous. Granted it wasn't her fault, but...
Does he look abused? What do mean by abandoned? Left in a field somewhere, or just unwanted?

[Beaker]

Yeah, when I saw her, I though, there is "Pony" a rider:')
Hey, I love ponies. :-) I'm a pony type of person.

[CindyDawg]

He's beautiful

[HairOfTheDog]

He is! And still spry for an old guy.... he took off running today after the shoer was done, and the shoer asked if he'd ever been shown.... He's just a diamond that stayed rough... ;~D

[Beaker]

What a great picture!
I know what you mean by the Navicular thing. My old horse has navicular changes, and we managed it with bute, a months rest barefoot, and egg bar shoes. He's still going strong. He was a trotter in his younger years, and they worked him hard and fast.

[CindyDawg]

Not sure. An add my husband found in a bargin book. He wanted to go look at her but talked himself out of it. The owner of the stables went shopping last week. She's got about a dozen horses coming in and wants him to look at a couple. She knows what he is looking for so who knows?

[CindyDawg]

Well, that's a calendar picture :') You can do that now. I'm going to with Okie when I find 12 pictures I like. Maybe Christmas presents.