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Posted on 02/24/2006 9:12:25 AM PST 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
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread EIGHT
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
Ah - OK - that's a couple hours north of here.
Our Community College here in town used to have a farrier school but it's closed now. I think most of the older farriers in town went there and I dont know where the new ones learn now.
The school was right next to the show grounds and I remember running a horse over there to have them reset a loose clangy shoe before a class... Many used to have their horses shod there inexpensively so people could learn on them. I guess that'd be OK... just a little riskier than getting a perm at the beauty school ;~D
I have to disagree with you a little bit there. You're right about a horse being a tool 100 years ago. They were a very expensive tool that a lot of families couldn't afford to easily replace. I think they knew more about them than we give them credit for because hardly any of them had any access to a vet, or even a doctor for their own kids for that matter, and they HAD to learn how to care for their animals themselves or they'd starve. The average horse owner these days relies on the knowledge of others, like their Vet, their Farrier, their Trainer to take care of their horses. I don't think any of us here fall into the "average" horse owner category though.
It's true they did more trimming and doctoring themselves, and I very definately fall into the category of relying on the knowledge of others. And tools have value, I do understand that.
But comfort was not the goal in those days, the ability to keep going was.
Ah - there's that baby! Standing tied I see! How's other training going? What have you been doing?
The dog has no dignity ;~D
You're right about the dog, zero dignity.
I made her stand tied as soon as I was able to get a halter and lead rope on. She was so little I knew she couldn't break it if she pulled back but she never even tried. I clipped her bridle path with electric clippers the other day, no reaction, just mild curiousity.
Oh, no other training, really. I've been making her back up on a loose lead rope, that's about it. I need to work on getting her into a trailer.
WOW! What a GORGEOUS baby! I've been wondering how she was doing and it sounds like she's doing great. The trailer loading should be a breeze with her attitude and willingness. Thanks for updating us. Oh BTW, I LOVE the dog!
Thanks! The filly has her good points and bad points. She is very willing to do whatever I ask (so far) and has even gone for swims in the tank already. Crossing water shouldn't be a problem for her, Tuffy hates it. She is pretty high strung, not laid back at all and that's never been the kind of horse I like. Since she's so willing to learn new stuff though, I'm hoping we can work through the other issues.
The dog would love you back, she never met a stranger.
Good.... they're never easier when they're bigger ;~D
Loading's good. She's at a waiting period I guess, unless you wanted to pony her there's not much you can do with her 'cept groundwork, she's too young to lunge.
She's really flashy - I look forward to her summer coat.
I was wondering about that lunging thing. What is the age you can safely start that?
I'm also looking forward to her summer coat. She's already shedding so it shouldn't be too long before she slicks off.
I wouldn't lunge her until she's nearly mature enough to ride... Certainly not till two.
They move a little more balanced in a large round pen than they do in a small circle on a lunge line, but lots of circling is stressful to baby joints and I wouldn't do it. Lots of free running is good for her, but not a lot of repetitive circling.
Being high strung is just part of being a baby that wasn't handled much before you got her. She'll mellow out the more she's around you and the more you handle her.
My filly, Ellie, was that way when I first moved her in with the "Big Horses" at weaning time. Even though I imprinted her as a newborn and handled her a lot in her first month or so, including haltering, tying, and trailer loading, I had more or less left her in her mother's care for the whole time after that. She was realy skiddish for the first month or so after being separated from her mother, but when she learned that I would protect her from the other horses, and was pretty good for a scratch, she warmed up pretty quick.
How does your filly take to having her feet handled, or have you covered that ground yet? And what's her name? I hate refering to a horse as "your filly". ;o)
Thanks for the pointers, guys.
She's fine with her feet handled, by me. She's still nervous around the farrier but getting better. I handle her feet and clean them every day.
Her registered name is "Twilight Dream", barn name Mina. I was watching Dracula when I decided on Mina. Just her luck, coming into my ownership during Halloween.
I caught a little sass happening out in the paddock just now ;~D
Missed the shot a second later when he went after her for it ;~D
When does spring usually hit in your area? It's about 83 degrees here today, but very windy. It'll cool off again, it's not spring here, yet.
Gotta go pick up the rugrats, I'll check back in later.
Define "spring". It's 44 degrees here today, and raining... That might be described as springlike by some ;~D
Your weather sounds darn near summer-like :~D
I define spring as the grass is growing again, and that happens when we stop dipping under 50 at night, usually April. We'll have some nice warmer days come March though, where we'll start hitting upper 50s to 60. That's when I'll really get the bug to start riding again.
I'm surprised, if it's that warm all winter, that your horses get as much coat as they do... Becky's too. They must be shedding and sweltering during your hot days... is it cool at night?
Pictures loading of my ride. I got Julia to take some of me this time.
I also have one to show you of Harley's sweaty back:(. I think I'm going to have to get a new saddle. He has dry spots right behind his withers, right where he developed the sore last year. I think I'm pretty certain this saddle is just to narrow for him.
Tuffy, your baby is beautiful, and your dog looks like my Grizzly:)
Rocky is shedding real good. He started the day the snow melted last week. Harley is shedding yet. With as hot as it is he and Julia's horse were sweating real fast today. We did some good hill climbs. We only walked but it was enough to get them sweaty enough for me to see the dry spots.
Becky
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