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.

[CindyDawg]

So on trails unless we are turning, it doesn't matter which shoulder I get into a rhythm to rise with then?

[AnAmericanMother]

Correct.

Except of course that you need to alternate from time to time (I change every 3-5 minutes or so) and ride more on the rougher diagonal.

I also tend to sit my trot on downhills. The general rule is, collect on downhills and extend on uphills.

[CindyDawg]

Got it. Thanks :')

[HairOfTheDog]

Fair enough, good description!

[AnAmericanMother]

I've really gotten into the technical aspects of riding since I read a fascinating book by a career diplomat named Noel Jackson, Effective Horsemanship. I think it's out of print, but I managed to find a copy to give to my trainer for Christmas!

Jackson was posted to Portugal and was able to train with the military riding school at Mafra. He is a big advocate of physical mechanics and dressage in everything from jumping to making polo ponies. It's a very good book!

[HairOfTheDog]

I thought about it and I don't notice any real difference at all between Bay's trotting or the comfort of posting in either diagonal. I think he must be pretty even.

[AnAmericanMother]

As extensively as he's been worked on trail, I'd say he would have to be even or he would have developed soreness problems a long time ago.

My mare was contracted left because she was a broodmare and unbroken until she was 14 - nobody ever even longed her, she had never had a bit in her mouth.

[HairOfTheDog]

It was good to ride in my own saddle again! Been mostly having ecurbh ride lately, with me riding just a little stirrupless in his saddle to keep from messing with them.

I want to remain committed to getting him ridden every day by one of us, as soon as I get back from spending a few days at my Dad's working on the house. I hope to fit in a ride in the morning before I go.

[AnAmericanMother]

I have occasionally wound up riding in my husband's saddle. It's a nice saddle, but it doesn't fit me at all. It's an old Pariani forward seat hunting saddle with big knee rolls that we picked up for $100 in a pet store that for some reason had it on consignment. They couldn't sell it because it is a TWENTY-THREE inch saddle! I rattle around on it like a BB in a boxcar. My husband is 6'6" and 240 pounds so it fits him perfectly. My Courbette is a 16 1/2 or 17, can't remember which.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well the kids all left now. Mack is watching a boxing match on TV so it will be tomrrow before I can get him to post the pictures. My son and DIL came and my son rode his young horse, 4, out on the trails while Kristy stayed at the house to watch the baby.

Blake rode Dot and did great. No problems. After we got back Charlie watched the baby and Kristy rode their young horse. It was her first time one him. Charlie has been training him. It's his first one from the ground up. He got the horse as a two year old, and it hadn't been touched since it was 6 months. It has tended to buck on occasion so Charlie hasn't wanted Kristy on him. But he's been working him alot this past winter and he's doing good. He's just one of those horses that needs to be worked everyday, and you can't let your guard down. IOW's not a beginners horse. We all took a turn running the barrels when we got back from the trails. We had a blast.

[HairOfTheDog]

Sounds fun! - Can't wait to see the pics.... tomorrow! (drats!)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I know, I've got to learn to post them myself. Course if I did that, you'd probably get tired of looking at my pictures:)

I was just looking at yours again. In the forefront of the first one, is that like Boston fern growing? Looks pretty. We don't have much in our woods but rocks and scrub oaks and hickory trees. Not the prettiest setting.

I remember once at a ride in Arkansas I saw some fern growing wild and was shocked. I thought that stuff only grew in post:)

Becky

[CindyDawg]

There is a colt at the stables about 3 weeks old now. Wears a halter and they are already working with him. He's very friendly and likes to be petted. Momma stays close but doesn't seem to mind. I was watching Okie out of the corner of my eye and when I would talk and pet the mare he would stop and watch.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

suppose to be "grew in POTS.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Tomorrow when you see the pictures, the bay horse that Blake is riding is Dot. She is out of my old mare, and Rocky. We watched her birth. I had a halter on her the 2nd day, was leading her by the end of her first week, and ponying her at 3 months off her momma. She has been as easy as pie to break. The one Charlie has he bought as a 2 year old. It didn't have much handling as a baby. I think that really makes a difference. We;re breeding that mare again this year and I want to raise one and break it now.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Jenny is the one that has done the riding part of breaking Dot. I was always a bit afraid to get on one that had never been rode before. I thought they all just automatically buck:). I don't think Dot ever has yet.

Now she didn't want to step in puddles when Jenny took her out the first time. That resulted in a war. But she never bucked, just kept sidestepping and jumping over even if that put her in trees. Once Jenny got her in tho, she's never been a problem. Funny too, she got right in the creek just didn't want to get in puddles.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

Tomorrow not looking good. It may have to be day two instead of 4 :'( We just got back from Walmarts (no chickens and I needed eggs). It's just misting now but the roads backed up and Walmarts parking lot was flooded. Another heavy rain and we may be in trouble. The drains full. We sit higher than most but we went by this subdivision (very expensive big houses) and if they don't have water in the house yet it's darn close.

[HairOfTheDog]

Sword fern.... like a boston, but they are stiffer in the stems. I love them... Unfortunately so do the horses... I moved a bunch of them from the woods to my yard, and Bay eats them if he gets a chance!

We also have a lot of bracken fern, seen especially in the fourth pic. They are toxic to horses, grow up new in a few days, and unlike a lot of toxics, the horses LOVE them. Takes a lot of them to do the horses great harm, but they cause a temporary paralysis-like symptom when severe, general muscle weakness or achiness in small doses.

I pull the bracken when the horses are turned out in that area, and the good news is, the ferns are dormant all winter when I leave the horses in that area the most.

Do you have a lot of toxic plants there that you have to worry about?

[HairOfTheDog]

Unbelievable all this rain and flooding for you! - What a nuisance!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well I know around here this time of year you kinda have to expect rain.

I'm dropping to sleep sitting here, I've got to go to bed.

Becky