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.

[Inge_CAV]

"How are you?"

Doing very well, Thanks! Attempting to make Muscadine jelly but think I am lacking a key ingredient or something.

How did your day go? Did you get the metal bent yesterday?

[CindyDawg]

I have not seen her play at all, come to think of it. Sad.

[Beaker]

Their spirit was beaten out of them, in a manner of speaking.

Yeah, and it's really really sad. My horse, before I had him, was a school horse, and they worked him so much that he just got the most sour disposition. So I took him on as my project pony, and within two weeks, he was a different horse, sweet and affectonate, and wonderful. However, he so detested being ridden more than once a day, that once I was done, that was it. Now, when I rode him, he would go until he dropped, but as soon as I got off, he called it quits. Don't get me wrong he gave me a lot of attitude too, but he also became a one person horse, and would toss just about anyone else that got on him. When I went to school, and could no longer ride, (I leased him) they sold him within a month or so because he just didn't want to be part of the lesson program. He was an excellent horse. I could free lunge him- he walked trotted, and cantered on voice command alone, and I didn't need a lead rope for him either. He followed me around like a dog.

[HairOfTheDog]

The baby was handled every day. We did something too her everyday. She was halter broke by the time she was 4-5 days old. We sprayed her with water from a bottle, like fly spray would be, we picked up her feet, cleaned them, hammered on them gently, just anything we could think of to bomb proof her. Flapped bags at her, put ropes around her legs, just whatever. The horse is 4 now, and bomb proof I'd say. Blake rides her on trails just fine.

I agree... I rode this mare up till the last month, with the last two months spent with minimal trotting and just walking. But we rode afterwards, lightly, after about a week. The hassle for you, if you didn't want the foal yourself, is that the foal is so 'in the way' for six months. But they are kindof fun if they're yours.

[Beaker]

My day went well. Had a lot of work to do, but that's ok. Haha, I didn't get the metal bent, but I did get the machine rented. The thing weighs about twice what I do, and I don't even know how to work it. I just pointed at it, and said "I'd like that thing over there." I was just doing the renting as a favor. But the thing was impossible to find. The first place that we went to sold their rental, why I don't know, and the second place was closed. The third place we called didn't rent (It's about 1200 to buy one) but at the fourth place we struck gold, and accomplished our task.

[Beaker]

What on earth is Muscadine jelly?

[Inge_CAV]

"I have not seen her play at all, come to think of it. Sad."

I searched for my first horse over a year. Found her one Saturday night at a horse sale. She was nearly three, just barely broke to ride but her spirit was alive and well. The trader that brought her to the sale has an excellent reputation for being truthful. Anyway, I looked her over and made up my mind on the spot. She was my horse and she was coming home with me. Never a regret at all and her present owner is crazy about her too. She is still playful and spirited, just what anyone would want in a horse. Sold her colt a couple months back and it was just like it's mother. : )

[Beaker]

What a gorgeous mare.

[Inge_CAV]

I use a Blue-Flame wrench to bend metal, an oxy-acetylene torch. Just have to be careful where you point it. : )

[Beaker]

I use a Blue-Flame wrench to bend metal, an oxy-acetylene torch. Just have to be careful where you point it. : )
Haha. Indeed.

[CindyDawg]

You know that you are teaching me how to ruin a perfectly good dude/school horse, don't you ? :')

[HairOfTheDog]

Trail ride report! Just ecurbh riding around the place, but it's as close as we could come today. He rode, I worked the pony a little.

Watch me.... I can lunge the pony, and take pictures of ecurbh at the same time!

OK - not very well.... so I turned her loose so she could follow him around. If Bay's moving, the pony gets exercise also, it's a two-fer-one deal.

Bay, ecurbh, and their shadow....

Becky we posed this one for you because I know you like the big trees!

[Inge_CAV]

"What on earth is Muscadine jelly?"

Muscadine is a wild grape that grows down here and has a musky type taste to it. They are also known as Scuppernongs. They have round black berrys about the size of a nickel or larger. When made into jelly it is delicious.

[AnAmericanMother]

Hair, is Bay rolling his eye at the big trees, or is that just flash from the camera?

Frances is due to hit here tomorrow, so I think instead of our riding lesson the kids and I will have a "ground lesson" - How to Bandage Horses or How to Braid or How to Clean Tack. We'd much rather ride, but as I keep telling the kids, you have to know all this other stuff to be a horseman.

I may braid Gracie - her braids stay in pretty well, and Saturday is the Hunter Pace. THIS time I'm wearing spurs!

Does anybody know where I could get a hunting sandwich case/flask for cheap? I like carrying sherry and a turkey sandwich along, just in case I get hungry or thirsty. There's also room for a cellphone if you don't make too thick a sandwich . . .

[CindyDawg]

It shouldn't have to be like this though. People need school horses for learning and nothing wrong with a horse vacation. The ones at my stable are treated well. They work but they get lots of loving and treats and are turned out when not working. Is it not possible to make a profit at a dude ranch and also provide the horses with time to rest and play?

[Beaker]

You know that you are teaching me how to ruin a perfectly good dude/school horse, don't you ?
Oh good! :-)

[MissTargets]

My daughter is doing ok. She has been doing all the doctoring. I hope, she has learned from this.

There is a little swelling, but nothing like I thought, would happen. Ice packs if it does.

We were just keeping Tubby here, while my ex was on vacation. He bought the pony for my grandaughter,and kept her at his place. He tends to be strong armed among horses, and the pony was head shy, from this kind of treatment. IMO, my daughter grabbed the pony, she threw her head and got injured. She would never admit to this, as she knows, that I do not tolerate such treatment.

I hope you had a great Holiday.

[Beaker]

That sounds really good.

[AnAmericanMother]

Muscadines always smell like fox to me.

We have a vine that grows in a maple tree near the driveway. When the grapes form we all get dive-bombed as we walk down the driveway. The Lab ate a bunch of them once and got sick - at least she had the sense to leave them alone after that!

[HairOfTheDog]

I feel bad for you, pony and your daughter. That pony still has a very sweet face. Thanks for posting the pics of her!