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.

[HairOfTheDog]

~camera~

:~D

[Beaker]

Crud, sorry, I posted to the wrong person. I'm in top form today. (post #4620)

[HairOfTheDog]

You need coffee!

[Centaur]

That's all we ride around here...well, and bareback. I like the fun of western riding but I love the close contact of English riding. It's not hard to learn. Have fun.

Flies here have been hellish this year too. Supposed to be related to the wet spring, but I think it has more to do with the chicken mega-farm down the road.

[CindyDawg]

Welcome

I was at College Station last weekend. I went to an Equestrian Market Day. It was at the Louis Pearce Pavilion. I bet you know where that's at, huh?:')

I'm one of the rookies around here. There are a few others but I haven't seen them post in awhile. I'm reading every thing I can and taking classes and practicing to try to get a jump start and kind of catch up though.

[CindyDawg]

Faith, the dog:')

Sorry you are feeling bad. Take care of yourself.

[Beaker]

You know, you could cheat and buy an australian stock saddle if you do a lot of trail riding. I've always wanted one. They lock incredibly comfortable. Of course, maybe I've watched The Man from Snowy River and Return to Snowy River one too many times.
Go here and scroll down to "The Classic Endurance" I've seen saddles exactly like this exect without those really bizzare knee roles.

[HairOfTheDog]

I'm one of the rookies around here. There are a few others but I haven't seen them post in awhile.

ecurbh reads everything but he's just a lurker much of the time or we just turn and talk about it.... He needs to have his conversations ~on~ the thread sometimes so it ain't just the few of us chatting incessantly!

[Empress]

I think (again, versatility) that riders should learn at least the basics of both. For one thing, an english saddle forces the rider to not rely on tack to keep them on the horse. A very good thing, esp for you barrel racing speed junkies. *lol* (Not that I'm one to talk, I certainly enjoyed the semester I spent as a Quarter Horse exercise jockey.)

Personally I prefer the flexibility of an english saddle, but I enjoy western events. Except for western pleasure, I don't like watching horses go nowhere very slowly, even though I appreciate how much effort it takes to train them that way.

[Beaker]

er... lock= look. :-)

[Empress]

Indeed I do, had horse training labs out there once upon a time, not so long ago, but in a country far, far away. :)

[CindyDawg]

That kind of mud bad around here too (South Texas)when we get wet. I have lost two shoes. One was mine which I fought for. My 4 y/o grandson lost the other. I have no idea where it went. It was just gone. Joshua, told me "the monster ate the sucker" :')

[Centaur]

LOL. I thought you were talking about horseshoes!! The mud can only be handled here barefoot.....lol.

[CindyDawg]

OOPS! Sorry. Take it as a compliment though that I didn't think of you as a rookie. Actually, I was wondering what happened to Estrogen.

[Centaur]

That's not a bad idea. When I used to field trial, I used a Buena Vista which is a good cross between western and english...basically a stocky, padded flat saddle.

[CindyDawg]

LOL. I thought you were talking about horseshoes!! The mud can only be handled here barefoot.....lol.

My turn:') Horses or humans?

[Centaur]

Hehe. Both actually ;)

[Beaker]

You need coffee!
lol Indeed I do! :-)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Except for western pleasure, I don't like watching horses go nowhere very slowly, even though I appreciate how much effort it takes to train them that way.

Exactly.

I'm not necessarily a speed junkie:) I've only seriously been working on barrels for about a year now, and have had several set backs. The speed is the part that I have trouble with. Scares me to death. I know all the proper steps to barrels and do fine up to a pretty fast lope, after that I get real nervous. Again I think it's my age showing:) Everytime I have started feeling more comfortable speeding up, the horse I'm working with has had problems and I've had to stop. He's the one I'm getting ready to get back going today.

Becky

[Centaur]

Well just enough time to watch a little equestrian and then off to work. Nice chatting with y'all. Be back later.