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.

[2Jedismom]

It's Redbud...I had to look it up! I think it's over by the zoo somewhere!

http://www.oxleynaturecenter.org/redbud.htm

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Oh, I had never heard of it.

Looks like it's going to stay pretty nice around here for the next few days.

Becky

[Beaker]

On this thread that could be taken literally:')

No, in that case they would all be RATS!
Ok, that's enough out of me. :-p

[Beaker]

On this thread that could be taken literally:')

Quite true, but in that case they would all be RATS!
Ok, that's enough out of me. :-p

[Beaker]

Drat double posted. :-/ Sorry

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

What are you talking about?

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Never mind I get it now:)

Becky

[CindyDawg]

we got it!!

[CindyDawg]

[CindyDawg]

Yeah, I need to work on reining :')

[Beaker]

How old is Okie? (That is Okie, right?) Either way, he's a pretty boy!

[CindyDawg]

He is 6 now. He had a birthday in May (when he was born) or Jan according to the QHA. Gets confusing :')

[CindyDawg]

In the last picture I was trying to get his head up. It was much lower. Seems backwards but when I started lowering the reins instead of raising them his head stayed up.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Busy week here.

My dad is coming in town this afternoon to see Mack's building and have lunch with us. He will probably come out to the house for awhile.

Heather's mother asked if she and her youngest, a girl 7, could go trail riding tomorrow. She has been riding Rocky in the arena but I gather has been bugging her mom to let her go on a trial ride. I feel bad about the way I feel about it, because I REally don't want to do it, as I'm not real fond of this kid. A Bit whiney and seems to be one of those kids who get bored with something after only a few minutes, I've rode with kids like here before and I know she's going to get out there and be hot, and is this all there is, and can we trot, etc etc. You know, I just don't enjoy messing with the horses with kids who are not really interested. And besides it means Heather probably won't get to ride this week because I'm so busy with other stuff and SHE'S the one I invited to ride. But I couldn't get out of it gracefully and mom said she told the kid only this 1 time. Yeah right, I've seen how well this kid listens. Every week it's the same thing, do I have to wear the helmet, can I lope, can I run barrels, etc etc. and every week it's the same answer NO NO NO:). Sorry for the rant.

Then tomorrow night I'm going to go watch Blake ride in a play day, will take pictures:) Checking these playdays out as a possible place I could take Heather to compete on Rocky or even maybe Harley because Jenny thinks this place has a rule about no kids on studs. Stupid rule, considering, from what Jenny says, that there are several out of control geldings there. Hey, but that's OK, better then an in control stud....I don't get it:)

Possible chance that HEather will get to ride Wed. and then on Thurs I have bunko here at my house. Fri. morning will be my regular Fri morn. Then in the afternoon, Jenny and I are going to go have Chinese food, and then a movie.

And on top of all this I have to ride that mare and I would like to find time to get some good rides in on Harley. May have someone coming to look at him. I got a call Sat. and they sounded like they were very interested. Who knows, generally that stuff falls thru.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

OH good! you got your pics up! Cindy, you'll get it. A balanced position just takes a lot of practice!

[HairOfTheDog]

Heh.... I know what you mean about the first little girl. A lot of work for you without a lot of fun in it.

I ran into that stud rule when I had mine, and it was silly in his case too, because he was also so easy.

[Beaker]

I feel bad about the way I feel about it, because I REally don't want to do it, as I'm not real fond of this kid.

Ok, first of all, don't feel bad at all. Just tell the mother that you don't feel this girl is ready for a trail ride. It's as simple as that. Maybe after a little more practice she'll be ready. It's completely different on the trail than it is in the arena. Do you think her seat is secure enough? That she can stay on? I used to run into pushy parents and whiney kids all the time, and used to deal with the same thing time and time again. If all else fails, make something up. You don't want to take the horse on the trail because he's footsore. Tell her the truth and say that the trail is hot and buggy, and she won't like it. Something.
Be firm. Remember, these are your horses. They aren't paying you, are they? If you don't want to do something, you don't have to. :-)
And as for the helmet/barrels thing. Don't feel afraid to sit down with the kid and gently but firmly remind her that yes, she has to wear a helmet no matter what, and no, she can't canter (lope, sorry) until you feel she's ready, etc. Go over the importance of helmet safety.
I truely hope that you don't think that I'm a cranky witch. That's the end of my rant on your behalf. :-)

[Beaker]

When you have the reins up like that, it puts pressure on the roof of his mouth, and keeps his head up, as soon as you lower the reins, he'll lower his head. Is he leaning on the bit a lot? In the picture, it looks like you might want to take a bit more contact, unless he just pulled the reins out of your hands. Western horses naturally carry they're heads low, but not so low that they're noses are dragging on the ground. :-)

[Beaker]

I started lowering the reins instead of raising them his head stayed up.
Sorry, I misread that. I can be really dumb sometimes. :-) It could be that he was just comfortable keeping his head the way that it was.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I enjoyed your cranky rant:)

I think the kid will be fine on the trail. For one thing the horse is as solid as you will find. And two, she's not a bad rider for her experience, she's just not ready to lope on Rock because he has such a powerful take off being an old barrel horse. I just don't care for her:) But, (and I don't like this about myself), I have trouble telling people no. No, they don't pay to ride my horses. I met Heather at church and you could tell she really really wants to ride, alot. Interested in doing/learning things the correct way. She just didn't get to ride alot because of the expense. I understand that 100%. And she's just a good kid too, very quiet. When we started going to this church and she found out thru the grapevine that I had horses she came and talked to me everytime we were there. You could just see how much she wants a horse and how much she wants to ride. I had a very good horse standing here doing nothing because no one had the time or desire to ride him because we were all busy with other ones. But I hate to see a good horse wasted. I told her if her mother was willing to bring her out here she could ride him and I would run her home when we got done. Well the thing has kind of snowballed to where all the kids, 3 besides Heather, and mom all take turns now. Funny thing 2 of them don't even want too do it, but mom wanted all of them to try. Don't get me wrong, I like the mother and don't think she is deliberatly taking advantage, I really don't, she just doesn't understand about horses either:), if you know what I mean.

Becky