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]

Thanks... I try to. It's hard on the fingers otherwise ;~D

Heck... I've been around horses 25 years, I wouldn't choose a green horse over a seasoned one. I have no interest in breakin' horses.

I think it's real fun to raise a baby, that's only because I appreciate the subtle aspects of all the early handling. It's a tough place to ~learn~ handling, and I wouldn't have a colt as my only horse, if what I was interested in was riding.

[Inge_CAV]

The quickest way I know of to gain experience as a horseperson ... is to buy a mule............... : )

[Inge_CAV]

Any mistakes made while raising a colt and you will have to pay a trainer to correct them later.

However, if you know what you are doing, raising and training a colt is very rewarding.

[CindyDawg]

If I only had a ranch....I have seen a donkey and a pony this last month that I would have bought if I had a place to keep them:') Actually, I think the most experience for me was putting one in a trailer that didn't want to go. You learn real fast that temper and strength not going to get it and that you have to out think um:')

[Duchess47]

Good morning, I've watched people that we have sold babies to. Cindy, you're right, they fall in love and good sense goes out the window. We have a mare back now as a seven year old. We sold her as a well behaved yearling to a girl who had fallen in love with her when she was born. She never made her behave, treated her like a pet dog, fed her treats all the time. We finally took her back two years ago since the girl was scared to death of her at 1200lbs and 15.3 hands. She's a good mare but she needed some serious retraining. We gave the girl another two year old that will never get that big (that she also fell in love with) but keep a close eye on both of them. We offered her one of the old geldings that she would be able to ride right away but she didn't want either of them. I think she will always just want a pet but she must learn to insist that it be a well-behaved pet.

We just sold a filly before Christmas to a man who knows nothing about horses (but fell in love with her). Fortunately, he is very willing to learn, Bob goes over to check on them and he comes over to spend an afternoon about once a week, just to ask questions. He intends to come over and learn to ride when the weather gets better.

Imprinting and early training only works to a point. If a future owner doesn't follow through, it becomes a nightmare because imprinting does make a horse not fear people and respect only lasts as long as you earn it.

[HairOfTheDog]

Agreed. I'd like to breed somebody (maybe Cyn) once sometime, so I can share that with ecurbh. It's good to learn horsemanship on a mature horse, but you never truly understand ~why~ we do the things we do until you start one from scratch.

[CindyDawg]

We were talking about horses acting like kids. There is a show on tv right now about elaborate little kids birthday parties. 1000 dollars for a cake?????? Formals????? Some really bratty kids that need their butt spanked. A momma wringing her hands about her behavior and a dad letting one hit him.

[Duchess47]

LOL - my son growing up would occassionally whine about how so-and-so got to do something that I wouldn't allow him to do. My answer was always, that's because I'm not his momma. I have never been able to understand why people are afraid to put limits on their children. They sure aren't doing them any favors.

[CindyDawg]

The dad rented her a pony. She's sooooooooo disappointed. She wanted 4!

[Duchess47]

Oh my, how old is this child? Imagine having to deal with her when she's an adult. Seriously spoiled.

[CindyDawg]

There are 2 families. The girls look about 5. The other one got a horse and a Cinderella carriage lol.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

If a future owner doesn't follow through, it becomes a nightmare

Bingo. Keeping a good horse good, requires some know how too.

Becky

[Duchess47]

What feed do you use for your horses? I'm figuring budget for the year and feed requirements for everyone and want to stop with the six different kinds of feed and multiple supplements.

Looking at the ingrediants, it looks like maybe Strategy would work for everyone except Prez, just by feeding differing amounts. What do you think?

Should add - everyone but Prez gets alfalfa hay also.

[N. Beaujon]

Very well put, Hair. By the time dandelion gets done training, vetting and weaning this thang she could buy a $7-10,000.00 horse. Never mind the lessons she'll need to learn enough about horses and riding to know that this is no gift.

[N. Beaujon]

You're right. I don't have the experience, and because of that I'll never have the experience. I'll just tell my neighbor to keep the money and spend it on Ranger's alfalfa. Ranger'd like that. Thank you

Hey girl, cowboy up. With this attitude, you're right you shouldnt own horses. You can't have this defeatist attitude.

It sounds like you love horses enough to make a great owner but that's where you start. You need to learn a lot, especially if you are just coming to horses in your adult years. Pay for lessons and buy yourself a nice sound, bombproof horse. There are tons of horses that need great homes and have all the love in the world to give. If you're intent on falling in love with a green horse because of their spirit be prepared to pay a lot of $$ for trainers and lessons. No one wants to see you get killed or deprive a good horse of a loving home.

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks... I ~think~ 15 years of horse ownership from now, dandelion would give the same advice I did. Unhandled colts are challenging projects for experienced horsemen... and not very good teachers for new ones.

[dandelion]

Why are you upset with me? I wanted some advice and a little encouragement. I took the advice, so why you'd be irritated at me - for being happy I had a horse, then being sad that everyone said I was a fool, then doing exactly what this herd wanted - is beyond me. I even told you all I appreciated the advice, even while I was crying about it. I'm not sure why that should bother you.

Why the colt? I live on thirty-six beautiful acres in central Texas - with ten acres of coastal bermuda hay - next to a horse breeder. He has liquidated much of his stock because of the drought here, but has no plans to sell any of his adults. My husband helps out on his ranch, so our neighbor offered us this beautiful colt as a gift. We insisted on paying for him. I thought it was a wonderful gesture. Stupid me.

The colt formerly known as Ranger is being housed in a 40 ft. round pen, with free water salt, feed and a stall. He is has visual and physical contact with his herd, and regular feedings. I can see him from where I live, and I've spent at least an hour a day working with him.

I went over today to feed him and was horrified to find that the round pen had "blown open" while I was gone to church. Imagine my surprise to see him waiting patiently in the round pen for me, hoping for his hay. He let me scratch his head and drag the rope around him. When he got nippy I just put my hand on his nose and told him no, and he stopped. I'm sure he'll make the right person a wonderful horse.

Hell yes, I wanted some encouragement - what is wrong with that? I was happy I had a horse, and I wanted some advice on how to handle a situation. I got the advice to get the give him back to the breeder and ask for another one (an impossiblity). So I suppose one could say that since I had lurked here, I had expected at least a welcome to the board sort of thing, rather that a "colts for me but not for thee" thing. Don't be irritated at me if it surprised me and broke my heart. I'm not a horse, I'm a human. Anyhow, I'm taking the advice. Don't fuss at me anymore, I'm doing what you all said should be done - but no, there won't be another horse, I already invested in this one and that money doesn't grow on trees.

Money grows in the hayfield evidently. Next year, I ought to sell it rather than donating all 25 round bales of it to my horse/cattle community like I did this year...

[CindyDawg]

I used to get my feelings hurt really easy here too (and sometimes still do:'). I would be so happy about something I had done and feel really upset when others didn't think it was such a good idea, so I can relate, but people are just trying to help and don't want you getting hurt.

[dandelion]

Well evidently there's no pleasing some of them because if I do what I was advised to do, then I'm not worthy of horses either.

A word fitly spoken can make such a difference in a person's life...

[CindyDawg]

I didn't read it that way. No offense intended but saying that if you give him back you are done with horses is kind of a defeatist attitude, don't you think?. If you are gonna keep him just say so.