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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 don't mind discussing prices as long as you don't think I got took:') People in love with their trailers around here and don't let the used ones go too often or cheap. I paid 1500.
I'm going to be taking him distances though and I want to keep floundering (ms?) risks to a minimum. I didn't know about pulling them out though. Thanks. I can do that after I car wash it down of course:')
Hey that sounds like a great price for a barely used trailer! Look forward to the pictures!
Do you have the one handy about the shadow of the spider?
Those mats are too hard to handle! It's like moving a body! I wouldn't pull them out frequently either. I'd just keep the water to a minimum and wanted Cindy to have it looked at and keep it in mind. It is something folk don't think about.
Yours probably doesn't get rain in since it's closed eh? Many around here are open on the sides, and I kindof like that for most fair-weather trips but they do let more weather in.
It does have some rust spots though. You just can't get around it down here. We would have liked to have it sand blasted and repainted before I start using it but getting him in more important than looks right now so we are going to wait awhile.
This one open on the top sides. I liked that so Okie could see out. The other one just had air grills. Rain will get in. Besides we car wash them after use. In this oven weather things dry out fast though.
What problems are you expecting with trailering Okie? Did you have trouble on your way down there?
The open sides are good for ventilation when it is hot out too. Rain gets in going downt he road that way, but I'm thinking most days I am trailering, it'll be for trail rides when I am going in nice weather!
Getting him in? lol
Correct me if I'm wrong here, Becky. He hasn't needed a lot of loading. He lived close to Becky and hadn't been in a trailer much. I think the first real ride was to her farm. Then I took him on a two day ride to his new home. Trailers just not something he likes but I really don't anticipate any problems , just a lot of work. He'll be ok. Probably just a lot of balking and backing up at first but he'll do it. I'm not concerned about that. What I want to work on is getting him to walk right in when I get where I'm going. I don't want any problems and that is gonna take some practice.
Think about it though. We are asking a prey animal to walk into a dark box and stay calm in an area that he can't get out of. That takes a lot of trust in us from them. No telling what they think they are in.
I'm not going to drive in hard rain anyway. I'll pull over, under something.
Ah... Straight load trailers are small dark and narrow, this one will not be. Walk up to the trailer like you don't expect a slowdown, and walk right in. I bet you won't have any trouble at all. Bay would probably refuse to this day to get in one, but he was too big for the one Bob had, and he was smarter than stubborn. But he'll load in any open stock or slant trailer.
I think the long term key to horses loading well is very good driving. Long easy slows, no hard braking or turning... and a trailer that fits the horse.
It would pay for ~you~ to ride in it a little to feel how hard it would be to stand when it lurches if you didn't have hands to hold you up. The first thing to hit when you hit the brakes with them tied is their face... Always good to remember that. :~D
And you didn't comment when I said it before, but I was serious about leaving him loose in the front compartment being the best way for a lot of horses in stock trailers, unless he would really pace, which he won't going down the road. Bay likes to ride backwards, and when I do have to tie him in Tiff's big stock trailer, I tie him backwards in the front compartment with her two tied slant in the back compartment.
.... meaning a straight load trailer.
I didn't tie him coming home and not planning to in this one but I thought you had to in a slant until I read your post about it. I was thinking at the time about how I was going to keep him in while closing the door. It wasn't the riding I was talking about but keeping him in until the doors secured. In the old one we closed the door behind him as he went in and then dropped the butt bar. No bar here and not possible with this big a door.
He had had two trailer rides when I got him.
Celia got him in to bring him here, which was his 2nd time, by backing her trailer up to her round pen, putting his feed, water, and hay at the front where he had to get in to get anything. Took 2 days.
The first time I put him in after he got here, it took Charlie and I 6 1/2 hours, 3 lead ropes, and 2 differnt trailers. It wasn't pretty. But after the first time, I put him in everyday, and he was going in and out of mine just fine.
Every horse has a hole. The only problem I ever had with that horse was putting him in a trailer. I told Celia she should have her butt kicked for not getting him trailer broke when he was a baby. There is no reason for a horse to be that way. It wasn't his fault, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with. I imagine everytime he is asked to get into a differnt trailer it's going to take some time and work.
What ever you do, the day you go to do it do not stop till he is in, so start early in the morning.
Becky
If you tie a horse you need to tie them short. Use one of those trailer ties with the panic snaps.
When you leave them loose, do you take off the lead rope? If a horse is loose in the back compartment and doesn't have his head by a window where you and reattach the rope, how do you know for sure when he comes out you'll be able to grab the halter?
Becky
Yeah, I'm not going to try to get him in until Saturday. Today I'm just going to tie him up to the trailer and gradually start letting him stick his neck in if he wants his "snack" and moving it back further until he goes and gets it but I want him to do it so that he doesn't think he wins any battles. If not , it won't hurt him to miss it and I'll offer it again the next day. He'll go get it though. His belly rules:') By dusk Sat I expect to take him for a ride though.
Yes..., lead ropes off, so they aren't dragging and stepping on it.
In the back compartment, I slip in like you would slip into a gate or a stall, and have someone hold the door closed behind me... Hook them up and walk out. If you were alone, I imagine that you could get them to walk within reach from the outside to get the lead rope on, or at least slip in holding the door behind you and get the horse to approach. It hasn't been an issue, and is less of an issue when they are in the front compartment.
Oh, OK. I guess I worry about stuff like that because soooooo much of the time I'm by myself. I have always tied mine in. If I've got one that might come out before I get him untied, I reach in thru the window and unclip the tie. Then I go in and back them out.
Becky
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