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]

rough board?

???????????

[malakhi]

He's getting big! Looks quite capable of handling a coyote.

Great garden pictures! I happen to prefer the "overgrown" look to something overly manicured. More like a cottage garden.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well thanks:) I think I must like the manicured look tho...although I'm not sure how to go about manicuring this thing, It just seems to grow and grow, alot like Alice:), so I'll just leave it alone.

Grizzly is really getting to be a good dog. I feared for him for awhile, but I think he is just about over the puppy stage. Remember last week when I had to take those kittens to back to the neighbor. Well I know he goes over there sometimes, because I keep finding little kids shoes in my yard:]. I just keep tossing them back over there when I ride up the trail that divides our properties. I asked her if he bothered them (I don't think she knew about the shoes), and she said no we just love him. He comes over when were sitting around outside and gets in a chair and sits there like he's part of the group:). He so funny the way he does that. He gets in all our lawn chairs, sits on the lawn mower, and once, eek....he got up and sat on Macks Honda Goldwing. I about lost him over that one.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Another question:)

I'm just dying of curiosity about Harley, how he is doing. Woud it seem out of place if tomorrow after Heather and I get done riding we stop by there to see how he is doing? This is the same stable she takes lessons at, she knows everyone. I thought I would go sometime any way, but got to wondering if that would seem pushy. You guys that said 30 trails were normal, do the people that own the horse check on him through out the 30 days???

Becky

[malakhi]

I think I must like the manicured look tho...although I'm not sure how to go about manicuring this thing, It just seems to grow and grow, alot like Alice:)

Don't be afraid to just hack away at it. It might sulk for a while, but it'll come around. Your climate makes for a pretty forgiving garden.

[malakhi]

and once, eek....he got up and sat on Macks Honda Goldwing. I about lost him over that one.

ROFLOL!!! Too bad you didn't have your camera handy, that would've been a heck of a picture.

[Quester]

Looks great, Becky.

It maybe doesn't seem like it in the pictures, but it's getting that overgrown look again to me. But I'm not sure I want to go cutting on stuff now.

Fall will take care of any overgrowth shortly.

[Beaker]

Woud it seem out of place if tomorrow after Heather and I get done riding we stop by there to see how he is doing?
Hmm... I don't know. I'd wait a little bit.

[Beaker]

Rogh board is having your horse boarded on pasture land. No stall.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

The only way we knew it happened was the muddy paw prints on the seat and gas tank:{

Becky

[Beaker]

There's no way I'd let a horse of mine be a "lesson" horse. I don't like alot of people riding mine either.

Yeah it was a stupid move on my part, and not one that I'll repeat, that's for sure. I wanted to ride constantly, and the money was good, so I went for it. He wasn't constantly used in the lesson program because he was so difficult to ride. Usually only experienced people rode him, so there never were any bad habits to be picked up.
But here's a story for you. I walk in the barn one day, out to the ring in time to see someone riding him in a twisted gag bit. A gag bit. He dumped her in five minutes flat beacuse she pulled too hard. The trainer and I got into quite a fight. She said that he was too strong, but that bit was way too strong for his poor mouth. You just had to know how to ride him. He went happily in a kimberwicke.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

2J, chicken question:)

I've got a hen that keeps killing chicks. She's in a dog crate now, she's killed her last one. I'm getting up the will power to chop her head off. She doesn't lay eggs, she's just mean, she's got to go.

My question is, I had a hen sitting on a nest, I didn't realize they were hatching. Well this serial killer chicken got in there and killed one that had hatched and the momma is off the nest, but eggs are still hatching. Will she get back on them? or do I need to put them in the incubator? How long should I wait to see if she will get back on them?

Becky

[CindyDawg]

He's a rogh:') (how do you pronounce that?)

When I get my own place though I want to have an open stall he can come in and out of as he wants:')

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I know what you mean. I quit working for a girl who did that sort of thing to horses she was training, but then when the owners were there it was a kimberwick. I just couldn't keep working for and keep my mouth shut about that sort of thing. After I quit I told several people they needed to start showing up over there when they weren't expected. No one listened tho. She was the "trainer" I was just the stall mucker, what did I know:)

Becky

[Beaker]

He's a rogh:') (how do you pronounce that?)
(snicker) I meant rough, sorry. :-) Pronounce whatever that was however you want! ;-)Perhaps that should go up with stuning ones' beeber. I'm series. :-D

[Beaker]

Stall muckers see all, ya know. :-)

[2Jedismom]

I agree with you about the mean chicken...off with it's head. Let me know how she tastes.

I don't know about the other question...you really should sign up to the backyardchickens.com bulletin board! There are real experts on there...can answer any question!

Did you hear what my chicken did to me? I had her on my lap and she jumped off and flapped, her wing scratched a rather big abrasion on my cornea! Happened about 4 hours ago. Got a patch on my eye and a doc appt in the morning to have it rechecked.

Sigh...if it ain't one thing, tis another.

[CindyDawg]

Well rogh it is. :')

[HairOfTheDog]

Gosh, I think your garden looks great! (catching up now) I love the morning glories!

What do you think about that tree? Do you think you'll like it there when it get's bigger?

[HairOfTheDog]

I just don't know how to approach the subject with her, or if I even should.

She's using low quality feed in lieu of having to work and train a horse that actually has energy!

Low quality hay and oats certainly has no nutrition in it... He only makes poop out of it. OK - so you can't say that, but perhaps when she is around if she could look at how your horses look, and look at the feed, maybe she'd come around! Eating yucky wet round bales that sit outside is a horrid method, if you ask me. He's gonna get a moldy hay colic eventually.

But even if she doesn't switch to pellets, there are feeds that are between just oats and sweet feed. Dry COB even. I sometimes mix dry COB in with sweet, or mix it with Bay's complete senior, to cut it a little when they are too round or getting a lot of green grass.