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!

[linkinpunk]

I can see a problem if they are hunting on the property, or if the riders leave pop/beer cans, etc.

But sometimes I think these people are simply on ego trips.

(imo)

[MissTargets]

I'm just going to have to get "fit" some other way:')

You have one of the best ways to get fit, right in the barn. Horseback riding is one of the best ways to burn calories. Look at Becky, she rides a lot, and looks really good. I know, I was in a lot better shape, when I did a lot of mucking stalls, and riding.

[tuffydoodle]

My donkey Charlee is lame again. She's been 3 legged lame off and on for years for various reasons but she is a chronic founder. I finally decided, today, I'm going to do it, take her to the vet and have her put to sleep and buried in a pet cemetery. I made all the arrangements, put the trailer on the truck, went out to the pasture and got Charlee, walked her to the barn, sat down to talk to her and bawled like a baby. I then gave her some bute, cleaned her feet out real good and took her right back out to pasture. Cancelled all plans. Some farm girl I turned out to be.

[FrogInABlender]

Cool! Sounds like you had a productive weekend. So how are you gonna do up the deer, field dress it and wrap it in a tarp and just drag it or put it on a litter and drag poles or what?

[FrogInABlender]

Good work Becky! I'm impressed.

[FrogInABlender]

Cool pics of the Canal! I'd love to come up there and ride the horse trail along side it. I'll bet it's pretty this time of year.

[FrogInABlender]

That's a cute pic of the Niece and Great Niece and the critters. I can't tell for sure, but is that rabbit in a harness and a leash? I've heard of people doing that before but it sure seems funny. I hear they make nice house pets though and get along with cats very well.

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh dear...

((((((Tuffydoodle))))))

It's so hard to know when is the right time, but it seems clear we know when it ~isn't~ the right time. So, any ideas what's making him lame this time?

[FrogInABlender]

I hate to hear about Charlee. You sure have been having a time with lameness here lately. I don't blame you at all for cancelling the plans to put her down. It's a hard call to make and only you know when it's time. Hang in there!

[tuffydoodle]

I guess it wasn't the right time. My head says yes but my heart says no. And thanks, guys, for the support.

Who knows what's making her lame this time but my shoer comes out next week, we'll see what he can do. I wonder if you can put shoes on a donkey?

Time to dry my eyes, get it together, and pick the kids up from school. I don't want them to know about today's drama.

[HairOfTheDog]

The right thing to do isn't always clear. I absolutely ~dread~ making those decisions with any pet.

[FrogInABlender]

If they can shoe a mini, surely they can shoe a donkey, if she's halter broke and manageable. He might have to give her some ACE or something. He might have to find some pony shoes or maybe even make some special shoes though.

[Farmer Dean]

The thing about Rosie the pony that bothers me is that she was a therepy pony for handicapped children.She foundered and instead of getting her the help that she needed-they gave her to an older gentleman to just turn out in a pasture.No hoof care or vet visits for over 6 years!her hooves got so long and twisted up that one day she laided down and couldn't get back up.She laid out in the sun dehydrating until we saved her.Had to use a hacksaw to remove over 6 inches of overgrowth just to get her feet under her to load her in the trailer!Our farrier has been working on her feet for 4 years now to help her contracted tendons. Through all of this she never lost her sweet nature and and small child can safely ride her.Of course we limit the weight of the rider to about 50lbs.After all this she still likes everyone she meets.

[RebaJ]

Speaking of donkey. I found a journal of a man and donkey walking to Texas. http://azlb.com/donkeywalk/gallery.htm

[HairOfTheDog]

Wow... just makes me so sick to see animals made to suffer like that. If the man who owned her didn't know what it takes to care for her, it was his responsibility to ~learn~.

I am so glad you put the effort into her rehabilitation. Any chance you have photos of her before and after? I appreciate hearing her story and we can all learn from it.

[estrogen]

Welcome, Farmer, where in Ohio do you live. I live in NE Ohio in Chardon and have a cabin in Amsterdam, west of Stuebenville.

[FrogInABlender]

Welcome to the thread! I LOVE your tagline! It gave me a good laugh.

[MissTargets]

Hello and welcome. I live in North East Ohio, North of Warren. Do you ride at Mohican or the Metro Parks? We too, rescued a foundered pony. Her feet were not quite that long, when we got her, but they were curved up. She has her good and bad days. She is a mini, so no one rides here.

[MissTargets]

I am so sorry to hear about the donkey. We almost put the foundered pony down too, when she was so lame. A change of farriers and she seemed to be better. When she is really sore, we give her meds. You hate to see them in pain, but it is so heartbreaking, to have to make that decision.

Hang in there and I hope the farrier can help her.

[RMDupree]

I'll add Charlee to my prayers, tuffy.

You'll know when it's time.