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Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 04/26/2004 12:06:41 PM PDT by 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.
I think after she's done nursing, she may fill out in her width some... but she'll always be short.
Tiff said she's been feeding her a good mare-n-foal feed, but it's rich and she is getting hot to handle and raunchy on it, so she has been cutting back on that... I haven't been there to observe what kind of quantities and what quality of hay she's getting. She said she's still ribby and has no neck.
Momma just still looks like a baby.... look at that second shot, she's built like a yearling.
Happens to all of us... People are always sayin' "Yeah yeah Hair... Go straight to heck."
Hope you're having a good ride, and that you get out to see the show.... Don't forget the camera!
See you tonight when we get back home.
Really, I've always thought you'd be a good poster child (pun not intended) for diplomacy:)
I cut the ride a bit short, I got very hungry:) I'll probably leave here in the next 45 minutes to go to the show. If they're running on schedule, I should be able to see Heather ride, but will have to leave immediatly after.
Will try to get the pictures posted tonight but may be tomorrow depending on what time we get home from Jenny's.
Becky
She is a bit scrawny:(.
Do you think having mares around studs brings them into season faster, then if they were just around other mares or geldings?
I've had several people say that after having their mares up here they came into season. But when my mare was here I never knew when she was in. The girls tell me now they could tell when she was. and there is no studs down there. I think when those people thought Rocky brought their mares in, they were going to come in anyway. But I've wondered. And if that's the case young fillies might come in faster being around a stud. Who knows.
Becky
I own a Connemara stud horse..
There is a practice among breeders known as "teasing the mare"..
Some farms will actually have a special teasing wall built so the stud may stand behind it and the mare may safely walk up to him and "converse" as they are wont to do, especially at certain times of the year...
The scent of the stallion and his antics will encourage estrus in the mare...
I actually had it become a problem because people planning to breed their mare artificially would want to tease her with my stallion, which hardly seemed fair..not to mention the effect it had on his stallmanners..
By way of introduction to this thread, I event this particular horse.. I also rein...in addition I own an appendix and a OT thoroughbred..I'm a CHA certified instructor and trail guide..
Welcome to our thread:)
What is a CHA instructor?
I've always thought teasing was rather cruel in one sense for the stud also:), poor guy. I've heard of them using sheland pony studs for that.
Becky
Well the show was a bust. I haven't found out what happened to Heather yet, but when I got there I found out she had scratched. No one knew why. I'm hoping nothing serious has happened.
There were lots of people there, and I guess I could have stayed and watched, but I felt real out of place. Everyone there seemed to know everyone else, and I was getting some strange looks:).
I did see Harley. He was in a stall taking in all the commotion. One girl had her horse cross tied in front of his stall. Her saddle pad was on a rack on the front of his stall and he kept picking it up and swinging it around:). I just watched him for awhile then left.
I think since I have the time I'll go ride Rusty for awhile.
Becky
I'm currently in Ireland for my final year of vet school. I get back to the US in Dec., then start studying for the spring set of boards.
Still here Cindy, usually I just lurk.....been riding every day and still learning
Well darn, I can't ride Rusty. I forgot that I wormed him right before I left to go to the show. I don't like riding them for a day or so after worming. Anyone know if that's right or not?
Becky
Good job, sounds like you've got a good plan worked out. You might try practicing rolls and falls from a gymnastic 'horse' or similar guaranteed stationary platform. You can also practice mounts and dismounts that way without having to worry about the horse. You can switch to a live horse after you've gotten some muscle memory and confidence built up. Practice mounting and dismounting is good for any horse, it's amazing how many horses have abysmal mounting manners. After you get *completely* comfortable with the live horse (held by a friend preferably), start dismounting while the horse is at a slow walk. Having a friend lead the horse eliminates one worry and frees you up to think about exactly how your muscles are moving. Practice mounting, dismounting and emergency dismounting from *both* sides of the horse, you never know when you'll need it and anything that builds manners for the horse is a good thing. Eventually you can move up to emergency dismounts at the trot and even the canter. Also, train your horse to recognize that as soon as you leave the saddle, he should be stopping. Very little is more frustrating than getting tossed and watching your horse disappear off into the distance. :)
I'm sure that everything I've said is familiar to you, but hey. My two cents worth. Congratulations on the weight loss!
PS: I'd be remiss if I didn't cover the danger of emergency dismounts. Many trainers don't teach them, precisely because it can be more dangerous for a rider to try and get off than it is if they stuck with the horse. Remember that your horse has self-preservation instincts as well and he's doing his best to stay upright and safe when he loses his balance. (that's why I don't like motorcycles, no instincts!) I know people who have broken ankles from performing a dismount from a galloping horse onto the surface of a dry training track (which had a light, loose surface!) It's always good to know how to get off, but it's better to remain mentally focused on staying *on*.
With the older, harsh stomach tube wormers, you wouldn't want to ride afterwards. With the paste wormers, I don't know of any reason not to ride.
Really that's interesting. I use paste wormers. I rotate and use one a month. My horses are pretty much dry lotted so vets have recommeded I do it that often. I used Zimectrin this month. Well it's too late for me to ride now anyway, but next month I'll know it's OK to go ahead and ride.
Becky
Too bad about Heather scratching.... glad you got to see Harley a little :~\
I am still up at the Beach house.... we have assembled the Bush/Cheney banner! This banner is coming home with us, to go out in the pasture, I think it'll be visible from the road! It comes with it's own PVC frame, and posts that will go in the ground. I think I am going to drop it over T posts, but for height, and strength.
WHADDAYATHINK?
I had a friend who was riding and got in a boggy spot. She just assumed the horse was going to freak (I don't know why, he was the best thing:), so she bailed, broke her arm. As she was laying there she noticed the horse was standing in the bog looking at her perfectly calm:)
Becky
That looks pretty good. Wonder what the horses will think of it in their pasture:)
Becky
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