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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.
Boy, it's so nice here weather wise. It's great not having to rush out soooo early to get started to miss the heat.
Becky
Heh... well, I gotta go get ready.
Have a good day:)
Becky
Thanks, that was interesting. I did not realize there was more the one Asso. :) for Foundation QH's.
Becky
Hey have you heard anything about harley yet, Just curious,
Was sitting here thinking about it and thought i would ask.
Give me a call later.
cs
Just wanted to share a story that I heard this morning. There is a ranch called Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Bend, Oregon that matches abused horses with at risk kids. She told one story about a little boy who had been punched in the mouth by his father. His "dad" would even force him to run around the house while he shot at him. I guess his form of entertainment. This little boy came to the ranch everyday to play with the horses. One day one of the volunteers asked him if he wanted to ride and took him to see a pony (I am really cutting this down). The volunteer showed him how to put a saddle on and a bridle and then backed away to see what the boy would do. The boy was standing by the pony's neck, and all the sudden the pony pushed his head around and bent his neck around the boy, literally rending the boy helpless. The pony stayed that way and the volunteer looked the boy (who only could move his eyes LOL) and told him that the pony was giving him a hug. The little boy eventually got one of his arms free and put it over the pony's neck and hugged him back, and they stayed that way for a few minutes. When the pony straightened back up the little boy could not stop saying, "He likes me! He likes me!" The volunteer and the owner of the farm said they had never seen that pony do anything like that before. The lady, Kim Meeder, wrote a book about some of the miracle stories about the kids and horses. I dont know if I could read it, this one story had me crying. Just thought I would share.
Here is the web site to listen to the broadcast or see the cover of the book.
http://family.org/fmedia/broadcast/a0033232.cfm
I really believe pet/animal therapy can't be beat. Kid therapy right behind. Horses also can help with balance and possibly cognitive problems. Something in the rhythmn :')
Yea, the horse walking imitates the human walk. Great for the kids back!!!
'There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man.'
I'm trying to get hold of the owner of the barn now. That kid is suppose to take a lesson today, so the people will be there. I'm going to be there too:)
I guess you didn't read the posts from yesterday. I talked to the lady at the barn, she told me they are having another person come in and give his opinion. A palomino expert. Kind of pissing me off. I'm not sure what's going on, but Heather told me yesterday, that other people are getting to ride him. That was not part of the deal.
I'm not going today to be confrontational, but I just want to know where we're at. I really want either a check or my horse back tomorrow. That's where I'm at, so they're going to have to do some talking tonight to convince me otherwise. The guy told me over the phone that if the trainer at the barn said the horse was as good as I said, was safe for the kid, and was trainable to jump, they would buy him. She has said yes to all. NOW they're bringing in someone else.
Becky
Since we backed out of buying that land with my BIL we have been looking closer to home. Eddie and I are going to go look at some acreage today. Out in the middle of nowhere. The real estate guy can't figure out why we would want to even look at it. He's telling us it's 5 miles down a dirt road. No electricity and only good for hunting" but.....It also borders the reserve and has a pond:') Poor guy can't understand someone wanting to be that isolated:')
WhooHoo.
I just got the info from Jenny, about when her and I are going to Vegas:) Oct. 26-30.
She's going with her company and will be in conference the first day or so, then we'll have the rest of the time to do what we want:). My brother lives there so I'll stay with him, and she'll be there when the conference is over.
Becky
Well I went and met the people who are looking at Harley. We had a good visit, but I caved on getting him or the money by tomorrow.
Funny I showed up when the expert was there:) I think they were all a bit uncomfortable for awhile. When I got there the kid was riding him and doing great, then the expert rode him. She is actually just a neighbor who has won in some world palomino shows. Anyway, then she rode him, and you could tell they didn't want me to hear what she told them, but you could also tell she liked him. Hell, he did everything she asked.
Anyway the hold up is they want him vet checked, and the, Kim has one more little jumping test she does before she will say he is a "kid" jumping horse. He has to go over a jump with her not holding the reins. Personally, I think that's stupid. But I told them get the vet there next week, have Kim do her little test this weekend then STOP jumping him, till they buy him.
The guy would have cut me a check for a lesser amount today, because they are looking for a horse for his wife too, but doesn't want to pay that much for her:), if I was the wife I'd kick his butt. LOL. I said I needed a decesion by the middle of next week.
Becky
You have any idea what a vet check will entail?? The guy said it would cost $500.
Becky
Hi - just catching up!
I don't blame you for waffling, it's hard to put your foot down with people like this...
$500 for a vet check? Jeepers.
A full soundness test on all his joints is time consuming, if they do like my vet did diagnosing Bay. He'd flex each joint individually hold it hard for a good minute, and then trot down and back in hand, looking for lingering stiffness. Flex the knee, let go and trot. flex the elbow, let go and trot.... same on all legs, all joints. My vet is really good for taking the time to do that. But we had an actual problem to solve, I can't imagine the tediousness of doing that to solve a negative. Strike that. The vet will want to see him move, but it doesn't take long to see lameness if it is there.
I wonder if they aren't x-raying his feet. It's a little silly at his age, he is not going to show any tendency for navicular or ringbone, and there would be other signs if he had ever foundered.
Maybe the vet just knows how much of a pain these people are and charges them accordingly because he knows they are going to keep him there all dang day.
No I think they are exraying his legs and feet. I just wondered if this is normal. The vet they use is also very very high. That's why I don't use him:), altho he's very cute:)
If it was just a matter of Kim and her little test I'd have pushed to get it done today, I think he will jump easy. But for the amount of money I'm asking I only felt it fair that I give them the time to vet him as long as they were paying the bill, sigh, always something.
Becky
They did seem impressed with how good a shape he is in. Even the expert mentioned it:).
Becky
Well, a test of jumping with no reins is a stupid test.
A horse that will jump without input from the rider, steady as can be, is a nice feature for an old school horse to have, but it isn't the point of riding or teaching a jumper. These people must have never gambled on anything so imprecise as a horse in their lives.
If they buy him for their daughter, I am seriously thinking of seeing if they want Rusty. There would be no trial away from here tho. They can come ride him here all they want, but that's as far as I would go.
Becky
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