The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread EIGHT

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 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!

[HairOfTheDog]

There's a little flooding on some of the rivers coming out of the Olympic Mountains, the ones on the Peninsula. In addition to the rain, it's warm, and it's melting off some of the snow pack.

I sure hope the scrambling to move the dirt in works, it sounds like a real messy job.

[HairOfTheDog]

Fire, floods, good grief!

I agree, I fear fire more.

[Duchess47]

Yes, fires are much worse, at least compared to the flooding we get here. There is generally time enough to get higher if necessary and we don't have to deal with feet of water, just lots of inches :) If it gets too bad, the most we will lose is the bottom bales of the hay stacks - we can get the feed in the barn up off the floor. And, if it doesn't go down shortly, we've got to move horses so they don't spend the night standing in water.

[Beaker]

Do you have a place that you can move them to? I was looking at the pictures that you posted, and I thought that the bottom one was a river until I saw the fencing.

[Beaker]

The other thread is really interesting isn't it?
It is. I like sitting back and watching what other people have to say.

[HairOfTheDog]

I like sticking my foot right in it :~D

It's a tough call, how to react to those kinds of things, for me. I have no respect for what she did. If I saw it, I'd have been jumping all over her. Hitting a horse in the head is stupid, and scarring it's face and risking their eyes in the process is idiotic.

I ~never~ want to appear to be on the side of an abuser. But horse training isn't always a 'no spanking' process, and we want to be pretty careful about getting the law involved and jailing people. What we do might be upsetting to someone next.

[Duchess47]

Well, last resort, we can put up some panels and put some of them in the yard - none of the mares though since they are pregnant.

We sold Speed a couple of weeks ago so we can get two more up at the barn. Just sort of a wait and see right now.

[Duchess47]

I did not sign the petition - I don't know enough about what happened to judge. It sounds like she's a spoiled little girl but it may have been some kind of a defense move and the only thing she had in her hand was a chain. Hard to say without all the details.

[HairOfTheDog]

I didn't sign it either. Her case should be tried before we over-react about whether the chosen punishment was just.

[tuffydoodle]

Look at what my daughter found out by the barn: He was down on the ground, acting like he was dying. He's starting to perk up now.

[tuffydoodle]

I didn't sign it, either.

Send some of that danged rain down this way, wouldya?

[tuffydoodle]

Oops, sorry guys, my nephew found the bird. He just came in and corrected me.

[HairOfTheDog]

Wow - I'll be darned, that's remarkable.

What happened to him, you think? Did he hit something? Do you have a wildlife rehab place nearby if he survives and can't fly?

[tuffydoodle]

He was next to the barn so maybe he flew into it and hit his head. I called the vet to see if they knew of a wildlife rehab place but they were closed. I didn't want to call the emergency number. I also called my feed store but they were closed as well, I guess since it's new years eve. I know of one vet that will take animals for rehab but he's probably closed, too, and he's also 50 miles away.

[tuffydoodle]

We won't let him die, I'll run him up to the zoo if I have to.

[Duchess47]

I'd love to send you some rain :)

Unbelievable picture. Do you see any injuries on the bird at all? Hope it's just stunned and can fly away in good health. Maybe offer it some food and water? I don't think that it's a type that might have west nile - usually that's crows, etc.

[HairOfTheDog]

The one we have here that will take injured birds is also about 50 miles away. I took them a nest of baby robins once that fell out of a tree. I had set it back up nearby, but the parents didn't come back to it.

Is that a dog kennel he's in? That might be a good place for him, particularly if he can fly out the top if/when he gets his wits about him.

[Beaker]

But horse training isn't always a 'no spanking' process, and we want to be pretty careful about getting the law involved and jailing people.
No it isn't. I think what she did was abuse but at the same time, I don't think that she should go to jail for it. This will stick with her for the rest of her riding career... If she still has one after all of this. That's more than enough.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, it won't be your fault if he dies. He might be fine in time, he may have something really wrong. Keep us posted!

[apackof2]

Hi All & Happy New Year,

Animal lover in general

I am a novice, just starting taking horseback riding lessons (Western)

Always wanted to learn and just decided to do it!

Picture is this years' Christmas card picture of me and my "teacher" Miss Easter Glow, otherwise known as Missy who is a registered Quarter horse

In addition to learning to ride I want to learn about horses. Behavior, body language, care etc.

Missy's owner is helping with that and I ask a million questions!

I am learning just by being around horses
Missy always gets apples & carrots when we are done with the lesson as a treat for a job well done!

Looking forward to learning here

However I have to go now as I am a "dog mom" and my Maddie must have her daily walk

Later