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]

I understand why they didn't turn him out but I used to feel sorry for the stud that was in the stalls. He was wild. He would concern me every time I walked by. Okie , was scared of him too. He would try to kick the door out. I don't know where he went but I have decided that taking Okie out of the stalls the best thing I ever did for him. A different horse. When I have my own place I want to fix it up where they can come in and out and still be able to run and play. This horse just didn't interact. I tried talking with him but it was like I wasn't there.

[Beaker]

Vicks in his nose? Never heard of that remedy .. oh.. haha. I get why now. :-)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

We're back. The ride went smooth as silk as I knew it would.

Anyway, here's some pictures, Starting out:

Took her awhile to figure out that Rocky needed to be steered:) He just wouldn't follow along, he'd wonder off trail to eat grass.

She got to see a deer run across the trail. She did pretty good. We only had to remind her a few times to pay attention. We rode about 1 1/2 hours. She was getting tired at the hour mark, but I wanted to make sure she got her fill:)

Becky

[Beaker]

Well she looked happy! :-) Glad to hear that everything went well.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Her mom asked her if she liked the arena or trails best and she kind of said I don't know. I think she was getting bored. She really is a gutsy kid. Doesn't seem at all afraid. She always wants to go fast. Might be a way to discourage her on trails. She is not going to even trot out there. She came back and rode in the arena for awhile, trotting. But is what she doesn't get, and I don't think mother is either, and I've explained it, that when she trots, the horse is pretty much going where he wants. She hasn't gotten the knack of controlling and trotting. I keep telling her to work on it, that she will never lope till she can control the trot. I really don't care if she never gets it. But her and her mom always want to blame the horse when he goes is circles:). It's like "Rocky" and you can hear the frustration in their voices. I keep trying to tactfully say, it's not the horse, YOU have to steer, LOL, it's not sinking in. Which means she'll never lope.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Great trail ride pics! Bay is outside looking really bored. We should ride this afternoon, it isn't gonna be too hot, I could use the break from the news, and he hasn't been worked since our trail ride.

[Beaker]

I keep trying to tactfully say, it's not the horse, YOU have to steer, LOL, it's not sinking in.
*sigh*... Yup. Been there. Does Rocky neck rein? I feel bad for him. I have yet to figure out how to properly deal with people like that. But it's important to emphasize that she's the one in control. Sometimes it's like talking to a wall, I know. And I don't mean that in a mean way, at all, but I think that you know what I mean. How well can she control him at the walk?
I don't know how much you want to help this process along, but what I used to do with my kids is set up a line of cones and have them weave in and out of them at a walk. It really strengthens their ability to steer. Figure eights help too. I'd try having her do large figure eights at the trot. Of course this all depends on if she wants to focus or not. If she doesn't then there is nothing you can do. :-) I sound like a witch, I know, but I certainly don't mean to be.

I once had a kid who absolutely refused to listen to any direction that I gave her, and mauled our horses around so badly all the time that we finally had enough, and after repeated warnings, banned her from riding there again.
I also once had a mum rip a horse's lead rope from my hands because he was being stubborn, and her exact words were "I'll show you how to do it!" Before I could stop her, she wrapped the shank around her hand and gave a terrific pull. He dragged her across that ring so fast that I'm still amazed she didn't hurt herself.

[HairOfTheDog]

It's hard concepts to explain how to communicate with the horse.... especially to kids. I've seen the "Rocky!" frustration too, along with the frustrated throwing down of the reins. If Bay's passenger doesn't drive, he'll just trot back to the starting point, or the group of onlookers :~D

[HairOfTheDog]

Vicks in his nose? Never heard of that remedy .. oh.. haha. I get why now. :-)

It also did wonders for my Labrador's concentration at dog shows ;~D

[Beaker]

I'm really going to have to try that some time. :-)
Oh! This is off topic, but I ordered a new Low D pennywhistle. It should be arriving soon.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

No Rocky doesn't neck rein at all, but no more strength then she has I doubt he felt her up there much. She didn't seem to jerk on him much. She just thought once he was in the middle of the trail he would stay there and go straight:)

The mom was just as bad. I kept hearing tree branches swishing because Rusty would go under them. I kept tell her he'll move over with leg pressure, watcht the trail and move him back and forth with your legs as you need to. I watched her legs, never used them. I remember being under the misconception that horses would just walk straight down the trail. There is a big learning curve to all this. But most people just want to run, run, run, before they can even walk. The kid does real good at the walk, and does good at the trot but only when you remind her too. You can't do that on a trail. Like today, I was watching her ride Rocky at the trot in the arena and he was just going here and there and in circles. I finally told her keep him on the rail. She did it, she just doesn't want too. She just wants to be a passenger, which is OK in the arena I guess, but not on trails. After all that she asked if she could run barrels:).

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Today Rocky kept wanting to go back to a spot where the mare had peed to sniff the spot:) I told the kid several times don't let him go over there, that's when I finally said stay on the rail. She went around one time and then had had enough.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

could use the break from the news

Has something happened. I haven't had the TV on all day????

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

No.... ~nothing~ has happened... just the drivel about the convention. Keep the TV off... not watching is probably why you are a happy person ;~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

ROFLOL:)

I learned that during the last election. Mack watched that $#!t 24/7 for, what, how long did that fiasco last? a month. I've never watched much news since then. Turn it on just a few minutes in the evening to make sure nothing major has taken place. Watch the breaking news here some and that's about it.

Becky

[Beaker]

I know that with a lot of places that offer trail rides, the horses will just follow one another. Maybe that's what the mum and the daughter thought (?)

And again, here I go sounding like a witch,:-) but her being a passenger isn't good for Rocky either, because of bad habits that he might develop. :-) Telling her that she can't ride unless she rides the right way is the perfect carrot in front of her nose. It works wonders with kids her age.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I know that with a lot of places that offer trail rides, the horses will just follow one another. Maybe that's what the mum and the daughter thought (?)

Yep, I think that's what they thought.

Keeping Rocky from bad habits is exactly why I have shut down her and even Heather for a time running barrels on him. Until my daughter can come up here and school on him, they're not doing it. He's been pulling some stuff even with Heather. Nothing to do with the stud thing, but more him getting real sloppy about the way he turns the barrels. Jenny will probably never really compete on him seriously, but that's no reason to let him be messed up.The thing is, he is solid enought, that I'm 90% sure he won't even try it with Jenny. Like leads. Lately, he is always picking up the wrong leads with mom and Heather. I climbed on him and he did it right first try:) He's really smart. But that's something Heather has to learn, that it's her not him.

Becky

[Beaker]

lol. Horses are very smart, and non-horse people don't give them enough credit. They know who will let them get away with things, and who won't. I used to have to school a lot of the school horses, and they would never ever pull any crud with me that they would with the kids.
"Canter? Ok, ma'am. See how nice I'm doing it? I'm a good boy! I won't try to go for that hey, nope! You want the right lead, sure thing boss!"

The know who can ride and who can't.
lol, I once had my horse groan when I got on him after he had just been a twit and tossed a little kid. Everyone started to crack up.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

LOL. It's what Hair said about learning to communicate to the horse is the hardest part of riding.

I've told them and told them. YOu need to pay attention to the horse and learn to read him so you can correct something before he even does it. Rocky tends to want to go to the gate and stop. I've told them start kissing and tapping BEFORE you get to the spot where he starts heading for the gate and keep it up till he is past it. If they would just do this a few times, he'd stop trying, it wouldn't have to be something you do ALL the time. I don't have to do it:). But over a year and they still haven't learned to anticipate his moves. Oh well.

Becky

[Beaker]

Eeep! Okey doke. If it's been over a year, they just aren't gonna learn. :-) Hey, and you know what? Making this girl do what she has to do rather than what she wants to do might solve all your problems.
You might find that she suddenly loses interest.