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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.
That is exactly the sort of thing, Cindy, I would look for in the mare you are trying. Coming from a dude ranch, she probably has had a lot of, As AAM so kindly put it, less then competent riders on her. She could be pretty hard mouthed, (hard to stop, hard to turn, etc.), but then again she could be real nice and has learned to be easy. I had a horse from a dude string once, she was good as long as she had her nose in a horse tail in front of her, but if I tried to take her out by my self, look out. At the time I had NO expertise in riding, I knew NOTHING:). It didn't work.
Becky
What's happened to the thread? Anyone else suddenly having trouble getting the thread to refresh, and then the picture at the top not being there except for that small empty box?
It was fine a minute ago?
Nevermind, it's fine again.
Becky
I watched someone ride her and she did well. I had a header but she stood still when I got on. She's a little shorter and narrower. The kid riding her did fine. I had a little trouble with turning and walking straight though. I'm use to mostly leg control with Okie. She responds better with the briddle and since I'm doing neck reining I'm still working on the finese.
I guess my bigs concerns are that they ride differently and I'll be riding both of them and that she's underweight. She seems very gentle and calm but how's she going to be at max. health. I also don't want two horses that aren't going to get along. I'm going to put them both in the round pen awhile today. I've kept them seperated but someon brought there horse up yesterday (Nino) and they were "nose to nose" and she showed him her teeth.
I have a week to decide if I want her and then if I do I have to take a test for the owner to see if she wants to sell her to me:') She did say she liked what she saw yesterday but I just need to relax. Easy for her to say lol. She's used to switching back and forth. Me, I don't care for changes too much:')
It's not fun changing horses, especially when your just getting started. You sound like you know the things to look for tho, so you'll probably make a good decision. I thought you had 30 days to decide, now just a week?
Becky
I have a week to decide and then the rest of the 30 days. If I don't want her the owner will credit me and take her for a school horse or trade her in for another horse. The guy she buys from won't refund her money but will let her trade if she gets one that doesn't work out. I hate to do that though. Not good for me or fair for the horse. She needs an owner. I want to get it right the first time.
I also don't want two horses that aren't going to get along. I'm going to put them both in the round pen awhile today. I've kept them seperated but someon brought there horse up yesterday (Nino) and they were "nose to nose" and she showed him her teeth.
A round pen is too small a space to introduce two horses. If you are going to do this.... It has to be a bigger area. Putting them in too small a space where they know they can' retreat and have to stand and fight is going to cause the fight that would never happen if they met in a big area where they could feign and retreat and come back.
Has she been turned out with other horses? Do you have any idea what her former status may have been in a group? I wouldn't worry too much about them not getting along. Most horses will be defensive toward another horse that was just 'walked up' when they were confined. That's why I warned to not nose them where they could strike at each other. Two stalls where they can see and nose but not strike would be better. They may strike the wall just to make a show of force... But that's normal at first.
I can understand your concern... I will go out of my way to get another mare here, because Bay doesn't get along ~as~ well with other geldings, and he loves his mares. I don't want him to lose his spot in the pecking order, he's earned it.
Well I'm still trying to figure out what Okie gets along with:'). You see my above post? They are fascinating. It's like little cliques. He hangs out with his buddy Nino and the mare and plays with the white horse but makes him stay behind. I see others group together too. He used to be a lone and only the pony would have anything do do with him. Now the new mustang the loner and I can't figure this out, the pony stays with the mustang now:') I think they will do ok after awhile. I was just thinking in the round pen he couldn't corner her. I can tie him in front of her stall at first. I'll have to move her hay though. His belly rules :')
I only know her last years history. I was told that she was the lead horse (wrangler?) and only the calmest, most bombproof put there. She is all scuffed up. She got pastured with the mares after leaving the dude ranch (cuts not scars) and I guess fighting for her spot or new kid in the pasture?
Sure, in trhe round pen he can't corner her, but he can run her and there is no escape either. If there is no escape, she'll stand and fire with feet. If they can't be loose in adjacent stalls to take each other in at they're own speed, or turned out in a large area, then don't push them or tie them close. By tying him in front of her stall you are forcing the situation in a way that they wouldn't behave naturally. Horses are both bold and shy, when they approach in a natural setting there are all kinds of body language clues they can send. The lead rope interferes with that. walk him by on a relatively loose line and let them nose a little for a few seconds, but if there is a threat, retreat. If they were loose, that is what they would do. Just ride them together maybe, side by side but not too close, let them meet without forcing them to take a stand too fast. If she's a middle aged mare, it wouldn't surprise me that in the end, she's going to lead between the two, unless he is really alpha. Older boss mares trump plucky youth all the time.
Okie was co-alpha with Nino. They went back and forth. Now that the mustang here both the "boys" put in their place:')
You could be right though. I pulled her back from Nino yesterday before she could try to bite him. Funny , she didn't just go for him. They stood there a few seconds and sniffed and then she showed her whites. Yuke. This girl needs her teeth brushed:')
I agree with you that they'd adjust to each other and life will go on just fine.
I think it'd be a mistake to force them together in a small space as some kind of 'test', don't you? I am picturing a horse getting hurt and Cindy thinking the two don't get along because of it.
If I bought a horse today, I would bring her here, and put her in an adjacent field for awhile before removing the barrier. Maybe a few days.
I just don't want them getting in a fight in my trailer OR trying to bite each other on trail. They can have at it in the pasture but I do want them behaving in public and around me .
If she's turned out with a group now, and so is he, I wouldn't worry about it. If you like the horse, get her. Making them get along is not really a problem that needs solved.
Well, that's kind of already happening because the mare pasture and the gelding pasture are connected.
I agree with the not putting them in a round pen 100%.
I just don't agree with the part of not keeping/buying a good horse
just because it may not get along with one you have. They will adjust. I don't think it would be a problem for Bay if you got a gelding and he took the lead position.
I think running them in adjoining pens is the best way to introduce new horses to each other.
Becky
Correct them if they do that. But they probably won't. There is an ettiquette to riding together that needs to be observed, whether the horses know each other or not. Horses are not allowed to reach out to each other, and need to be kept at a comfortable distance. If a horse gets too close to Bay's rear, he swishes and threatens. It was the rider behind who never should have let them get that close.
In the trailer you tie their heads:) to keep them from biting each other.
When riding, I don't care how much horses "like" each other you need to keep at least a horse length on all sides away from each other. That's called trail manners. I hate it when people let their horse nose mine when I'm on it. You never know what will happen even with horses that are familiar with each other. I especially want to puke when the riders say "Oh look at that they like each other" ~gag~. Horses are not suppose to be socializing when they are working, and if you are on their backs, or leading them they are working.
Becky
This is mostly a joke, but Bay will retire and die here, and I will keep him from getting beat up in his old age. If I have to seperate him, that's my job.
I'd like to get a horse that would do the least to upset the way things are now, because I have kindof a bottleneck where the shelter is. If it was a problem, I'd re-design it before I'd get rid of a good horse.
A mare would be good, but that's only a maybe. I know some pretty bossy mares ;~D
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