The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SEVEN

See our "who's who" page! ^

[HairOfTheDog]

The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - Who's Who *pics*

This is a horse chat thread where we 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. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.

I always have 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 also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. 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.

So... like the previous threads, this is intended as 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.

Previous threads:

The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX

New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!

[RMDupree]

Thanks so much! I can actually see how I should have done it and now I know why I kept losing my stirrups.

I was trying to force myself down into the saddle when I should have actually been sort-of pushing away from it using my legs.

You know, I think most of my problem was me thinking that it wasn't good to have any weight in the stirrups when in fact I ~should~ have my weight there.

A horse is not a lazy-boy recliner. LOL!

[Duchess47]

Good morning - very good news :) I'm happy to hear he will be okay.

[Duchess47]

Good morning,

Farrier #1 arrived at 7am this morning. He's hoping to get a jump on the heat, although at 8am on my way to work, temp was 83'

We have two farriers but I guess, listening to Bob last night, one is on borrowed time :) He does all trims but Bob's not happy with the way he's doing them I think. We have too many to have them all on the same day, neither Bob nor the farrier would last. Hopefully, one of these days we'll be back down to a reasonable amount.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I know it took me awhile to realize you just don't ~sit~ on a horse. You should actually be using ALOT of differnt muscle groups.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

So are we.... And he's really happy to be home.

[Duchess47]

I figure if I can stand in the stirrups and have the room to slide my hand under my rear end, the stirrups are the right length. Real technical answer, huh :)

[RMDupree]

I sure wish the instructor had just said something like that to begin with. Anything to the effect of "The horse is not a chair, you must use your legs".

The way he sat in the saddle, it just ~looks~ like he's just sitting there, but he really isn't.

But I guess they wouldn't get into that kind of detail with trail riders that may never sit a horse again.

[RMDupree]

Hey, don't laugh.

Common sense things like that are easy to remember!

[Duchess47]

:) No problem. I'll have to keep in the back of my mind when taking pictures that I need pictures suitable for a magazine cover. If nothing else, it will make me take better pictures.

[HairOfTheDog]

Hopefully, you'll be more comfortable next time, though at first, you'll still hurt somewhere afterwards. ;~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'm worried my farrier may try to get out of doing 3. He's not coming till noon...it's going to get hot. But I want all of them done, so I can keep them all on the same day. I don't like having to keep track of when this one and that one needs to be done.

Becky

[Duchess47]

It is a real pain to try to remember who has been done, who needs to be done, who does who, who gets shoes, etc. Why is he starting at noon, he's going into the hottest part of the day. Well, maybe another job earlier.

[RMDupree]

The pain is easier to bear
if you know you're getting somewhere.

*laughing*

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, if he gets too hot and wants to quit.... spray him down with the hose ;~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Hey that's a good idea:)

He probably has other horses to do before me.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well hell, he quit on before I could even spray him with the hose:).

He just called and canceled till tomorrow morning....I'll bet it's because of the heat.

Damn, and I was going to practice tonight here when It cooled off, and go down to the Bixby arena in the morning, so I'd have a couple of rides in Jenny's saddle before tomorrow night's barrel race....I can still ride this evening.....but it will probably be too hot by the time we get done tomorrow.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

We're getting ready to saddle up horses.... see if we can get our visiting friend from the hobbit hole thread up on a horse. She's less than enthusiastic about it, but the thread would love to see the pictures.

Probably put her on Cyn.... She's shorter, easier to get on... And she's just real quiet under saddle.

We've got them both hosed off so they are clean... They were dusty as old couches. Now they are standing there drying.

You can see, Cyn really loves a bath :~\

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Hey, that sounds like fun:) Tell I can't imagine anyone being less then enthusiastic about getting on a horse:)

I just got a call from Kristy. She went to a big barrel race this weekend. 280 contestants in her class. She got 7th in the 4th division and won $69.00. Entry fee was $35, so she made some money:) This is her 4th placing in the last 4 she's been too. I think the clinic paid off for her:)

Becky

[Rose of Sharn]

i have just been catching up on the posts, and i think i have learnt a lot today! : )
We have moved to the bigger cabin and it is beautiful, we also have good cingular reception here which makes the laptop and checking home great!
Unfortunatly just 2 mins into this cabin, i stubbed my foot on a piece of wood at the bottm of the staircase that is stickiing out, and i am pretty sure, by the color and weird shape, and pain,......that my middle toe on my right foot is broke. I am just wondering whether to head to a hospital or not..... i hate doctors and hospitals.

[Beaker]

You want to hold on with your knees, but your calves and heels are for cueing.
I hope that you don't mind if I disagree with you on that one, Becky. If you grip with your knees, you're going to bounce more, believe it or not. And bringing your leg under you makes you unlock your back and sit up straighter. To stop from bouncing in the trot and canter, you want your weight in your butt, and you want to lean back a bit. RM, the hardest thing about riding, is keeping your leg where it's supposed to be! :-)