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 knew you were smart but that's brain stuff ') That's a heavy load. After nursing school I started some pre-med classes and took a general chemistry. I loved science and working in the lab. Micro was my favorite. I thought I was in a math class! I made a B but it was the hardest studying I had ever done. I thought chemistry would be mixing components and that sort of stuff. Almost ate my lunch. The sad thing is , is that I can find the formulas if I need them but I didn't retain them.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

while Becky is tooling down the interstate in the RV! :o)

It will probably be more like lurching around:)

Becky

[malakhi]

It will probably be more like lurching around:)

Uhhh, does Mack know this? ;o)

[CindyDawg]

Just got back. I spent some time in the round pen just getting on and off. Doing better. Not dragging my leg over his back getting off as much. Funny, he knows what I'm doing and just stands there as I get off. It's not good though. Another horse might react to it.

I tried getting him to walk faster by gently setting a beat with my calves. I confused the hell out of him. He was trying to turn and then when he saw that wasn't what I wanted he tried to walk sideways. This definately needs work:') I did get him moving faster just clucking and "easy" when he would trot. I couldn't maintain it yet though but I'll get there. He should never have showed me what a nice , pretty fast walk he has:')

[HairOfTheDog]

Use whatever works for him! you can cluck or tsk to him in rhythm too.... It sounds silly, but horses really are rhythmic, and they hate to be out of beat. start out at his rhythm and then speed up or slow down a little, I bet he'll adjust to match it and won't even ~really~ know why.

[HairOfTheDog]

Ping!

Olympic Equestrian events ping! Wonder if any of you have been watching too, or maybe need a little help with the schedule so you can catch what is still to come!

My awards based on the news photos: (more news photos: equestrian)

Best example of staying focused on the goal no matter how badly things are actually going:

Best gift of 110% by a nice grey:

American with the best chance for a medal, Kimberly Severson, currently in third place after dressage and x-country:

Best shot of a nice half-pass in dressage

Ooh this one is good too:

Dressage is a test of obedience:

Schedule for the rest of the week:

These times are Pacific time: Check BRAVO local listings for your times:

Wed, Aug 18 8:00 AM-12:00 Noon PT - BRAVO channel
Equestrian – Three-Day Event Jumping, Team Gold Medal Final (LIVE)

Wed, Aug 18 6:00-8:00 PM PT - BRAVO channel
Equestrian – Three-Day Event Jumping, Individual Gold Medal Final

Fri, Aug 20 5:00 AM PT - BRAVO channel
Equestrian – Dressage

Sat, Aug 21 4:00-10:00 AM PT - BRAVO channel
Equestrian – Team Dressage Gold Medal Final

Sun, Aug 22 7:00-10:00 AM PT - BRAVO channel
Equestrian – Jumping

Mon, Aug 23 5:00 AM PT - BRAVO channel
Equestrian – Dressage Competition

Tue, Aug 24 7:00-10:00 AM - BRAVO channel
EQUESTRIAN - TEAM JUMPING GOLD MEDAL FINAL, FIRST ROUND

Tue, Aug 24 5:00-7:00 PM - BRAVO channel
Events: Equestrian – Team Jumping Gold Medal Final Round

Wed, Aug 25 8:00 AM-12:00 Noon - BRAVO channel
Equestrian – Individual Dressage Gold Medal Final (LIVE)

Fri, Aug 27 9:00 AM
Equestrian – Individual Jumping Gold Medal Final, Round 1 (LIVE)

[CindyDawg]

start out at his rhythm

Ok, cluck.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................cluck.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................cluck..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................cluck:')

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well, I just got a call about my flyer on Harley:)

It's the same guy that called a couple of weeks ago. The lady that gives his daughter lessons, same place Heather takes lessons, told him to call and ask me if I would let them take the horse for 30 days so she could ride him and access if the horse would work for the kid. The kid wants to jump.

You know anything about getting a horse to jump? Is it hard?

The guy said if this lady likes him and says he'll work they'll buy him, he wants a Quarter horse, and his daughter would love a palamino.

This makes me rather nervous. I'm hoping my judgement about the horse is correct.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

LOL - He don't look ~that~ lazy to me ;~D

[CindyDawg]

He's not lazy. Me either. We just like taking in the sites:')

[CindyDawg]

Would it be rude to ask for a deposit in case something happens to him? Maybe what you have invested?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I told the guy if something happened to him in his care, the horse was his at the full price. That's the way it works.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

I have a question. How often should you float? It's been 6 months and today he was fussing with the bit some. I thought maybe my hands o high. He hasn't been doing this. I thought it was me but he usually spits his bit out. Today it kind of got hung and he pulled back and I had to help him a lot to get it out. I thought maybe I put something in wrong but Eddie checked it while I was on and it was good.

[CindyDawg]

Ok, I didn't know. It just seemed the seller taking all the risks.

[HairOfTheDog]

You know anything about getting a horse to jump? Is it hard?

I know lots about starting them. All horses ~can~ do it, some just do it more artfully than others.

You can just let them start him if you trust these folks to have him for 30 days. If you ~want~ to try him, it isn't too hard to build a simple cavaletti. You can start him over it on the lunge. You can see the construction of this one. How long your crosses are determines how high the jump is. This one can be rotated around to be different heights, either quite high or very low. Start out really low, and don't go this high for awhile and only if he's eager and goin well. Start him at about 12 inches. Any lower and he can just slop over it and doesn't ~have~ to jump.

At first, position the jump so it is up against your arena wall on the far side, and you can then drive him without him having ~as~ good a chance to shy around it.

When I am doing this, I will send them around just inside the jump for a few turns, then move to set them up for the jump ~just after they pass inside it~, say "do the jump this time" which they will learn means to prepare for that and simultaneously move inside to guide them to the correct position to approach it. Trot him on approach to the jump, and at the point he should take off, give him a "HUP!" or a "HOOP!". Lift the line high up like I have so it doesn't snag in the cavaletti. When they are over it, then move back out for a rotation or two. They will always canter out of the jump, bring them back down to the trot and when they are collected again and ready, do it again. .... does that make sense?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

That was the first question I asked him when he told me what they wanted to do. Who's taking the risk?

You know if something happens that is fixable, say a colic or such, then they would just have to pay vet bills. But if the horse dies or something that is a permenant disability then they come up with the price of the horse.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

A horse his age shouldn't need his teeth done but every year or probably every two years unless he has a pretty crooked bite and they don't wear correctly at all. They need it more often as they age. I doubt that's it.

[HairOfTheDog]

Lots of times I know these are kindof 'handshake agreements' but there may be a trial or lease agreement contract you can find on the net if you want something to hold up in court if needed.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yeah thanks. I don't think it would take much to get him to jump. He jumped ditches all the time:).

I'll just let them do whatever. I've gone to this stable once to watch Heather in a horse show. The lady that runs the place seemed very nice. And Heather and her mother go there every Sat to feed and take a lesson, so they'd be there to keep an eye on him. Of course I'd tell them I may drop in to see how things are going occasionally.

I just want him to do what I've said he woud do. Not be an idiot:) Glad I've been hauling him a bit the last 2 weeks:) The lady may call tonight to set up when I bring him. I told Mack, if it's tomorrow I'll have to take Trash to my camping. He's the only one I've got other then Harley that's in any kind of shape. Tami would be thrilled too, she asked me if I was taking him.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well actually, that's kind of what I figured. Just a handshake, I just wanted to hear the guy say he would be responsible for him in case of a mishap. I don't forsee anything going wrong. I'd bet they'll keep him somewhere by himself. Would it be out of place to ask them to feed the feed his is on now?

Becky