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.

[Beaker]

Have you rode yet?
Oh yeah, I rode. It was an adventure before I even got on though. I walked on the property to find one of the horses loose, grazing easy as you please. So I went and found someone only to discover that it was ok.... even though he could have easly gotten to the road. (?)
So, that done, I went and got Banjo, who got into a big fight with his pasture buddy because they both wanted to get through the gate. So there was great deal of kicking and biting and squealing, with me on one end of the lead rope, trying not to get in the middle, but at the same time, trying to prevent another loose horse on the property. So I get Banjo out, while keeping the other horse in.
I never panicked, mind you, I just reached an um.. er.. "Heightened State of Awareness" Yeah. :-p
So now Banjo is quite full of himself as you can imagine, because he "beat his opponent." (ie, got away) So we wrestle down the lane to the main barn, while he's on his toes and circling and blowing.
Well, wouldn't you know that there's a mare in season? And the gelding that was loose was taking a decided interest in her. So that got Banjo going again, and I never knew that a 22 year old gelding could be that studly. So I finally drag him into the barn, and once I got him crosstied, he settled right down.
But by then I was so exhausted I didn't even want to ride! :-)
The ride overall went very well. I have a lot to work on. My trainer said that I have a long way to go... I got a lovely canter, though, that I was proud of. Dressage is just so different from hunter jumper that there's so much I have to relearn. There are so many finer points.

[Beaker]

*chuckle* Yeah, inversion plus speed plus solid fence is def. a recipe for disaster
Hehe... physics at its worst! :-)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

You here yet? Check your answering machine. I left you a message.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I just got done watching Seabiscuit. What at great movie.
Is there anything prettier then a running horse:)

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Go to the home page of Freerepublic and click on "Log in". There's a place there to click that will e-mail you your password. Once you have the password you will be able to log on.

If you have figured this out call me so I will know:)

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Anyone good at identifying snakes:

Found this in my driveway already dead and wondering if it was poisonous or not.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

Ok, thanks about the trailer info.

[CindyDawg]

"Heightened State of Awareness

I like that. I'm gonna borrow it, ok? :')

[CindyDawg]

Yikes! You find out what it was?

[CindyDawg]

I've been thinking about this today. I'm really not so worried about falling and I'm getting much looser riding. It's what I need to do in critical situations and how to land if it happens again that's getting to me. I think about it alot. I even wake up at night thinking about it. I play the scene over and over about what I did wrong and what I need to correct. When something bothering me I do this until I work it out. I can roll and fall good backwards but I've never practiced sideways. I need to get back into my aikido classes and talk with the "fall guys" Also, I need to figure out how to abort or complete a mount. I'm going to do more mounting work this week because this is getting in my way and I need to work it out. I was reading in a training book that you won't feel safe until you know you can get safely get off if you want. I mentioned this to the owner and she said she didn't teach me to bail because she was afraid I would get hurt. Duh!

I'm scheduled (with Okie) for a three day weekend at a horse clinic in basic horsemanship the last weekend in Sept. They are going to work with me on this and some other stuff.

Okie and I can continue to go back as we need to and I can afford it. I'm actually looking forward to it. I was scheduled for trail riding work and will still get some of it but going to make sure I have this other stuff down first

I was also told I was top heavy and that that doesn't help with my balance so I'm working on that too. I've lost about 10 lbs. this last month. I'm not playing horsie. I'm serious about this:')

[Beaker]

I like that. I'm gonna borrow it, ok? :')
Sure thing! :-)

[Beaker]

The first fall is always the hardest to get over, especially if it's a bad one. I had a really tough time getting over my first fall, so I can definately sympathize.
Be careful, though, about over thinking things. Accidents do happpen. Definately talk to your trainer about learning the emergency dismount, if learning it will make you feel better and give you confidence. It's great to hear that you're doing better!

[CindyDawg]

Yep, thats me. An overthinker:')

It's going to be a mini vacation for Okie and I. My husband may go too. He still has a few days to decide. I will be getting at least 7 hrs of riding and I'm free to go city shopping in the evenings. Probably going to be more like a hot bath and bed though:')

The plan was to do this and go on a trail ride in Oct (pre-fall). Still thinking about it. We'll see:')

[CindyDawg]

My husband must be really tired. He's snoring away. I keep yelling at him and he will wake up and say "what" and I'll tell him to turn over and he'll go back to sleep

This last tme he asked me if he was snoring again and I told him "no, you were too quiet". He said "oh, ok " and went back to sleep. If he remembers this in the morning (which he probably will) he won't be a happy camper:')

[Beaker]

I hope that you managed to sleep ok! :-)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Good morning everyone! Welcome to the horse thread.

Anyone riding today? Anyone doing anything interesting today:)?

If the rain holds off here I will ride this morning and then go to a horse show. There will be pictutres this evening of it if I go.

If any of you want pings to pictures let me know.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

There's nothing scarier then trying to get a horse out of a gate when others are crowding. Or being in the middle of horses fighting. You did have a timte of it.

Training ourselves and/or training horses is a fun part of riding. We have to always want to be better and have goals. But sometimes don't forget to just ride and enjoy the horse without all the concentration of being perfect:). Sometimes just riding is the best thing you can do for you and your horse.

Becky

[Centaur]

Mornin' Becky

Plan on riding this morning and tomorrow, if the rain holds here too. Gotta pick some clover first for a stable cough remedy I make and rub down the one gelding who pulled a shoulder, but then off to the races, so to speak.

I WILL post pix as soon as I figure out how to accomplish that little feat.

Happy Trails
Lynn

[HairOfTheDog]

Good morning all!

Cindy, I actually think you should force yourself ~not~ to think about it so much. Nobody is good at falling. The key is to become a better rider so that you can better stay balanced and control the horse and avoid falling....

Honestly... I think when you are dwelling on this you have to force yourself to think positive thoughts instead!

[HairOfTheDog]

Beaker, what was up with the horse that was just loose?

Seabiscuit is a great movie.... ecurbh and I red the book too, and it's also really good.