| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 01/07/2005 11:17:02 AM PST by Admin Moderator, reason:
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.
My kids showed pigs for 4H. We bought what we could afford and the boys would just spend a lot of time developing muscles. Some parents spent huge amounts of money on show pigs though. We didn't go into detail with my 8 y/o because they usually placed somewhere in the upper middle. This time though, his first show, his pig was pulled out first and put in the reserve box. He was trying so hard to keep from crying. I walked over and asked him what was wrong and he said he had the worst one. I told him no, that the exceptional ones pulled out first and his was one of the best. I'll always remember the big grin that came across his face as he was wiping his eyes.
I've even been to shows that had Adult Beginner classes over crossrails.
Sounds like what she means is green over fences (which is what I would say.) With a green horse, the kid will need to be very positive to keep the horse going, even over crossrails. In a show environment they sometimes shut off doing unfamiliar stuff.
I guess what keeps occuring to me is that these folks aren't thinking the way I would about a first horse, and that gives me misgivings about the state of people, not the state of horses.
This is a first horse. The kid may have had lessons, but she is still just a kid, she doesn't the perfect little show horse, she needs a good safe horse to ride, and go to little local shows, where parents are trying to help and don't know what they are doing, and kids are scrubbing their little saddles and clipping up their horses that were in the pasture covered with mud yesterday. If she sticks with it, perhaps she goes to bigger shows later. In the mean-time her parents need to learn about all there is to horse-keeping, the stuff Cindy is learning.... buying trailers, learning to keep them fed and sound and shod, not the evaluations of "palamino experts". The kid is nine.
I have seen the perfect show horses of the pony club set. Those kids didn't start there, they earned their way there, for the most part, riding safe old daisy-cutter school horses until they could afford their first modest pony, and then perhaps the big investment for the show horse if their parents were able. I sortof resent this family thinking they ~should~ be buying based on some expected show potential. For all they know the girl will want to ice skate next year.
The "expert" :) that has been riding them to see if he will work for them, told me today that the first time she took him to a jump he stopped and backed up a few steps. She said she got off jumped it herself and he followed, and has never refused again. I don't really know how high it was, not much I would guess.
Becky
LOL
Becky
Well, and to be fair to them, I'd say in one sense I don't blame them for getting an outside opinion. $6500 is alot to pay an not have expectations to win once in a while. But, they knew the price when they started, they knew what the horse knew and didn't know, and they "should" know thier daughters feelings on the matter of showing.
The trial deal was, will the horse do what I said, is he as safe as I said, and can he be trained to jump. According to the lady at the barn the answer to those questions have all been yes, so now they need to either buy or not. It's that simple. Wether he will win or not is not part of the deal.
Becky
I agree!
Well, our friend Bob heard we were looking for a horse, and he's on a mission to find it. Right now he is looking into an appy that is available on a free-lease. Kid going away to school, not wanting to give up horse, parent not wanting to take care of horse.
The horse was 4H'd and such, Bob is checking to see if he/she/it would be a good match for ecurbh.
Oh boy, that is exciting. Do they have a truck and trailer to go with him:)
Becky
Tami called, her shoer is coming to put a shoe back on Trash this evening.
Becky
That would be a pretty slick deal, wouldn't it? ;~D
A lease horse is a good out for us to be able to get the truck and trailer sooner than if we had to pay a lot of cash for the horse first!
That sounds like a winner! :') Around here I see packages with trucks and trailers. Some kind of high though.
Well, I guess I over hunted:') I have a JP that agreed. 15 minutes later a preacher called, interested:')
Yeah, just don't let ecurbh get too attached. Or you either, FTM:)
Becky
I know :~\ I get attached to everyone, even bad ponies...
Although, a lot of these situations end up in sales, daughters sometimes never go back to horses, or can't, and though they don't want the horse, they want to retain some control if they don't like where the horse ended up. My stallion was a lease. They had taken him as far as they were going to, and they were moving on to the next generation, but they wanted to keep tabs on him.
I would free-lease my pony before I would sell her outright. I would want to make sure it was a good match and that they would do right by her before I'd want to sell. In her case, the money is secondary. I'd be a lousy horse-trader as a living ;~D
Becky
I know what you mean, it was hard leaving Harley over there. But since I bought with resale in mind it made it a little easier.
Becky
AWW. He's getting so big. Looks a lot like you too:')
LOL, no actually he looks more like his other grandmother, really.
Becky
Well, I think I'm going to go watch the girls run again tonight. They're going to a differnt arena. Out door. Will pictures show up better?
Becky
Maybe they will - but we'll fix them if they don't!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.