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Thread Nine: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1584833/posts |
Posted on 10/04/2005 9:56:41 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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 MissTargets will now be pinging everyone most mornings. Let MissTargets 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
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SEVEN
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
I haven't seen a thick twisted cable fence like you all are talking about, but I of course don't love barbed wire.
I think any wire fence is only safe if it's charged, the charge is strong, and the horses know it. Any fence they think they can touch, or push on, or kick through, is an unsafe fence... and that would include even pipe and board fences if they stick heads or limbs through them. So I can live with wire fencing if it's on.... all the time.
Of course, we know horses will find some way to hurt themselves given enough time.
We've been right at the freezing mark in the mornings, but the troughs haven't had ice on them yet. It's been getting to the 60's by late afternoon. Today is beautiful now.
I've always loved to read and have always thought it would be great to write something...I just don't know how to do research. If i would try the NaNo thing it would have to be about horses and living here in the country. That's about all I know. I doubt I'd get to the 50,000 word thing, I've been thinking and thinking about the getting started thing. That's where I get hung up, I don't know how to start and end.
Harley is eating a bite right now, as soon as he's finished I'll get saddled. I'm really praying hard that this weather holds till the ride, I hate riding in the cold and/or wet, which is a big possibility this time of year.
Becky
It was a dark and stormy night.... ;~D
I'll pray for good dry weather for your ride too.
It's not the thick cable wire I'm talking about. I'm talking about the bare thin wire that's run from corner post to corner post with a tightening ratchet somewhere in each strand that pulls it super tight. That's the stuff that'll cut 'em to ribbons. Yours looks like that but I don't know if it is or not. But you've got so many strands, plus it's is hot so they give it a wide berth, but I have seen people put it up just by itself.
Sheesh, it's been a long afternoon. ;o)
Thanks:)
In other news: Over the last year Mack and I have been considering selling this place and moving. It's getting way to populated. We have actually been considering taking one end of the building we own in downtown Bixby and converting it into a living area. It's a nice location, big open windows that look out at the park. Downtown Bixby is not like what you think of as town. Most of the business have moved out and are located out on the main road. There are a few small businsess there, but at night it's a ghost town.
With not having made a definite decision it's been hard to get excited about doing much around here. Our house is about 30 years old and really needs a face life bad. It's been deciding what we want. There is so much maintanice around here, we've been negetful about things for alot of years.
But in the end we've decided we just couldn't live anywhere else. So this weekend we committed to over the next 2-3 years of getting this place cleaned and spruced up. Replacing the windows first, then the ceiling, then going thru each room one at a time and remodeling/redecorating. Then the floors last.
Hopefully once everthing is back in tip top shape, and without all the traffic we had during the children raising faze of our lives things won't be so hard to keep up with. Something we need to consider at our age. It doesn't get easier as you get older and creakier:), so if we get it done now, we should be able to maintain, hopefully anyway.
Becky
The paddock fence is the most secure, there's 10 wires...
The pasture fence is not quite this close together, but there's 7 wires.
But there's not horses on the other side of these fencelines, either, so there's little temptation to strike through them. I think the fences separating horses from each other are best if they are tight no-climb mesh or chain-link. That will be my goal on my own place.
Remodeling on any scale is both tiring, at times expensive and discouraging, but really a lot of fun too. I'm glad you decided to stay, I can't picture you in town. I know I don't ever want to go anywhere where my horses aren't right out the window. :~D
Our pereimeter fence is barb wire. It use to be across the front too. We took that front line down years ago. We had several horses that got bad cuts from pawing at it always around feed time. They never even hang over it at the sides and back. But all the horses we have ever had hang on the front looking towards the house around feed time. Once we took the front down, we've never had a problem. We kept the front hot and now the front is all panels. I've never had one hurt seriously on the panels.
Becky
I think that even with that kind of fence you need at least one hot wire around the top to keep 'em off of it. Otherwise, they just lean over the top and ride it down, especially chain link. There used to be this pasture on my way to work that had chain link along the road and I think their bulls just climbed over it. Or at least that's what it looked like judging by how bent the top rails were.
Yeah - need good safe barriers between horses, and the barrier between the horses and the house, or the horses and anywhere else they'd really like to be! That's a good point.
The panels are really pretty safe, but they can still end up in them and knock them over. The safest fence I ever saw was six-foot chain link. If money was no object, I think I'd do that... but of course, money always is an object :~D
Agreed. hot wire over the top of it if they can reach over.
I think one of the prettiest fences is tight no climb mesh or chain link with a rail top and bottom and pulled really tight.
The horses and riding were a big consideration. I told Mack I could deal with that IF I could board them at a place that had some open areas to ride for short ride, (not just arena) and not far from this area where I could trailer when I had more time and wanted longer rides. There are a few stables around that would have worked. It wouldn't have been the same, no doubt, but I think it could have been workable.
I'm like any woman I guess. I wouldn't mind a new house, BUT I also think a complete makeover would be just as good. Especially this time we'll have a bit more funds to draw on then we had before.
I think if we take our time and don't set major time frames to be done by, it will be OK. When we first built this house we had to move in before it was finished, we were raising kids, and Mack was working like 50-60 hours a week. It was hard to stay enthuisastic about finishing. Took 17 years, and then it was done in the most inexpensive and simplest, plainest way. This time we have alot more time to devote to the job, and more funds.
Becky
Good luck with it, and feel free to post pictures to brag about your progress :~D
Oh you know that will happen:).
Well Harley is saddled so I'm off.
Becky
It was a dark and stormy night when suddenly out of the windy forest a chihuahua with a Democrat's head crept out of the sludge, foaming at the mouth....
ROFLOL
Becky
Don't Democrats always foam at the mouth?
I agree with you on the fence. I just finished putting in Spur HTP. It feeds through beltloop brackets and is only actually attached to the posts at the end posts. At least it has give to it. It is a continuous run around my pasture and won't break either. They kinda "bounce" off it if they hit it. It is 4" wide too without any sharp edges to cut or bind. Plan is to finish it off with a run of hot wire (braided kind or tape) around the perimeter just above the top rail to keep them from leaning on it.
Of course, we all know that horses will find a way to get hurt no matter how horse-safe we think something is.
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