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]

Don't get me started. They haven't shown up yet. I'll tell you more about it later.

[HairOfTheDog]

Hullo... I've only caught the last conversation and I think I missed other good ones I'll have to look up in the morning.

Regarding stall versus pasture, it will of course be better Cindy when they are at home and you don't have to choose only one or the other for a season. You could then decide to turn out or put in based on the night's forecast. I leave mine outside at night in the summer when the weather's good. They are better off out at pasture than they are cooped up for all but 5 hours. If I were you, I'd prolly opt to switch to pasture for the summer through fall, and then stall him again at night when your weather turns again.

My horses don't even really tolerate being kept in only a small paddock. They get stircrazy.

Good night ladies, hope to have lots of time to catch up in the morning!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Cindy's luck, the weather never gets bad where she lives like it does where you live. Sounds like they get rain, but NO winter. I may move in with her next winter:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Do horses in that kind of climate still do a coat-change with the seasons?

Mine are out now and I have caught up. I put them in last night because it was threatening rain which never came. At least they got a good night's sleep and got to lay down.

Didn't really have anything to add to the turning discussion that hadn't already been said. I have not been as formally trained as AAM, my dressage has been unschooled in the pasture, or in my dreams! Need a horse that has more aptitude for it before I try it in real life. Bay is patient, but he is no dressage horse.

When I think of bending in turns, I think of the reins controlling the front end bend, and I think of the leg aids as controlling the rear end... driving him forward while controlling his rear end side to side by moving the leg back as needed... whichever legs is needed to increase or decrease the bend. Bay for example, knows ME. If he needs to bend more, I cue with the inside leg right at the cinch to bend him, and on the outside I'll pop him in rythm for impulsion. If he is swinging his butt out, I'll move the outside leg back and tighten the outside rein to stop that.

[CindyDawg]

Morning. Actually the rain probably normal for us but we wouldn't know it because we have been in a drought for so long:') (years) I'm going to get MY vet to come check him out then turn him loose if he gives him a clear bill. Thanks for the advice, yall.

HOTD, that's where I'm headed, my own place. Land high around here and we are looking a little further out.

[HairOfTheDog]

What are you concerned about with him and being turned out versus stalled? Him being in the weather or something else? I think I missed the beginning of the story.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

So, do you have the place all pretty for the big day.

Becky

[Superdoot]

It's another beautiful day in the neighborhood.:) Hope you guys don't get yet, it really looks dark out there.

[Superdoot]

What big day?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

That sounds more like what we do. The only part that was confusing me with AAM was when she said "raising" the outside rein closes the door, lowering opened the door. That sounded backwards.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

She's getting married in June. She has been at her father's home getting it ready. I think they are getting married there??

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Ping to #970, sorry.

Becky

[Superdoot]

Gotcha.

[Superdoot]

Gotta goteach someone else how to make the citizens of tulsa more beautiful, what fun!!!! Talk at you later, have a good day.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

LOL...Ok you have a good day too:)

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

So who all is riding today? Heather and her mother will be here at 9. Julie wants to trail ride today. Usually she brings her younger 2 and the three of them ride in the arena then they leave and Heather and I trail ride. But she is leaving them home today so she can trail ride. We can do that now that I have 3 horses. I'm trying to decide who is going to ride who. Both Julie and Heather are good riders. I'll probably go ahead and ride Rusty, Heather can ride Harley she rode him last week in the arena, and Julie can go on Rock.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh the place isn't ready, but I got a lot done... :~D Going to go up on Friday and spend a few more days. That worked, to just stay up there a few days at a time to stay at it... got a lot more done than commuting back and forth. Missed my honey though ;~D

Lots to do both here and there to get the place purdied up for company.

[HairOfTheDog]

The only part that was confusing me with AAM was when she said "raising" the outside rein closes the door, lowering opened the door. That sounded backwards.

Had to really think this one through to picture what I do! And I would do it like AAM said. Lowering the inside hand and raising the outside.

Two things going on here... First... a dressage horse bending and the kind of contact and position of the hands is much more subtle in dressage than what you will do, you can tell that from the pics AAM posted. and what you do and the type of contact might be giving the same effect as doing it 'correct'. But I would say this... When you are in a lope and you bring the inside hand in and down, you allow the horse the inside, with a low head as the place to go, which is what you want. Leaving the ouside rein higher acts as the opposite. Especially with the tie-down you guys use, a high outside hand leaves him no where to go on the outside. The door is closed if the horse can't go that way. I would wonder if the tie-downs you guys use barrel racing interferes a little with bending, because they will often run tight against it, using it to balance, which makes for a hard rather than soft neck.

[CindyDawg]

Food changes and losing weight mostly and that I will probably loose the stall if it doesn't work. He may be gettng too big anyway. We'll see. The trainer wants to know by Friday but I'm sorry. I'm paid up until the first. I just talked to my vet and told him I want to be there when he comes out and then I'm going to go ahead and switch him now while I'm still paid up.

[CindyDawg]

I'm taking off around two today so that I can be home in x for church tonight. I think the tieing up helping with the saddle too because he can't associate it with just riding now.