The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread NINE

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
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!

[HairOfTheDog]

Good night :~)

[HairOfTheDog]

Hair, I love home grown corn, I hope yours makes it.

It's the best thing ever :~D

Even if it's just a couple ears, it'll be fun. More fun than tomatos.

[HairOfTheDog]

Hopefully them dogs can go take a load off :~D

And you too, after runnin' along after a 2 year old :~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'm trying to get going here and get supper cooked then go take a nice easy ride at least. I think it would make me feel better, if I can just get started. Rain in the forecast tomorrow:\

[HairOfTheDog]

I'm trying to get motivated to go out and mow pasture a bit. It's not too bad, but I think there's a bit of weeds out there that will at least get me walking :~D

[MissTargets]

Pictures of Alison's first time showing in Walk-Trot classes. She is too old for Leadline now. Her mother was really nervous and I would have been too, if I would have been there. She did well, and no mishaps. She won a third, 3 fourths and a fifth. Not too bad for a 12 and under class with bigger kids. The horse is "Andy" a 21 year old QH a friend owns.

English Showmanship

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

What a beautiful little girl:)..she looks so tiny on that big ole horse:) but has a very good seat. Very nice color coordination too:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Isn't she adorable! :~D

Very cute. Looks like a nice ole horse to take care of her in there :~D

[RebaJ]

She is adorable.

[CindyDawg]

You're confusing things

No I'm not;') Frog understood. I don't want mine grazing, grabing a tree snack or feeding with a bit. I've read where you can but, no. Mine wear a halter under the bridle any way. It would be more comfortable for the horse and save me time. That's what I'm thinking anyways. I looked at the hackamores but can you control a horse as well without a mouth bit? That was my concern.

[HairOfTheDog]

OK - I get it. I thought you were speaking of some particular task you needed to give a treat for while working them. If you normally leave the halter on while you ride, I don't see that you're gaining anything with the combo... you still have to switch one for the other. :~\

The answer to the control question is that those hackamores are a lot more 'severe' than many mouth bits... So yes, you'd have control. BUT, you can't use it with a halter on, so you can't tie them unless you bring one. That's the hassle I'm dealing with now.

[CindyDawg]

I was washing my gelding down yesterday. They have been running new pipe so I went to the hose behind the stalls where this crazy stallion lives. My horse is used to him and he's never got out so even though I kind of look at the walls bowing, he just ignores him. Yesterday he looked over though and jumped and looked at me , like "what is it? ". So....I took him to check out the new stallion who is probably less than 3 feet tall. It was like, ",ok, I'm here but I don't like minis. Can we go now?" Funny guy.

[CindyDawg]

Well, I'm trying to eliminate the halter. Too much tack. I need it right now though because, it's a pain to go get the halter, take off the briddle, and put it back on. Sarah lee gets down time. I have to tie her up with her halter or she would graze bridled. Since she doesn't go anywhere , I figure why not get one I can take the bit out of. I do teach with occasion horse food. Not every time but that's good, IMO because it keeps her alert and paying attention caz she doesn't know if she's getting a good girl, a pat, or feed, or if she's hit the lottery and getting all 3:')

Anyway, back to the hackamore. Can you stop one with it as well as a mouth bit? It seems like it would be more omfortable for the horse. What's the draw back why more people aren't using them?

[CindyDawg]

AWWWWW. She's so cute.

[CindyDawg]

I would have been concerned too, esp with him just recently having inside work done.

[HairOfTheDog]

Okay - You know what you want :~)

Hackamores: Mechanical Hackamores like Cyn's wearing there are much more severe than many bits, like I said. I don't know what kind of bit you're using now, but it's far more severe than a snaffle, more severe than a tom thumb or short shanked curb bit. Yes, you have as much 'whoah' as those bits. The drawbacks are that it's not a contact bit, so you don't want to ride with tightened reins, it's too severe... you'd ride it like a curb bit. People who are really working on precise collection use a snaffle because they can ride with it on contact. More people aren't using them because there's lots of choices out there and everyone's situation is different. Though you can adjust the leverage on them by tightening or loosening the chin chain, they may be too severe some horses, or some riders who don't have gentle hands. They aren't any more uncommon than anything else.

While I'll let Bay eat on trail in it on breaks while I hold him, you wouldn't want to leave it on them while they grazed LOOSE, they could step on it. So as long as you are doing that, it's not for you.

[CindyDawg]

Sorry, it's taken me a little bit too get back to your post. I had to think about some stuff. Make sure she gets those tires ok? I'll send her some money if she needs it. I feel really bad though, thinking about what could have happened. I try to go the "don't go to bed, mad" way but when she called last week , she said,was "Jan, a tornado just hit , Reba, all serious like. You think the worst, you know? Then she said "but she's ok" and then wanted to talk it to death and I didn't because I was mad that she was being a drama queen and I got scared. I was kind of abrupt with her and told her I had to go. I'll call her tonight.

[CindyDawg]

Sounds like for more experienced riders. I have worked very hard to overcome it, but I still tend to get short on the reins occasionally. It's definately something to think about in the future though.

[CindyDawg]

This is one? How does it work? Does the bit just clip on to the buckles? Do you have to have a special bit?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

You could use any bit you want with this.

The little loop that is laying at the side is what you would hook the bit too. To take the bit on and off you unclip the snap that is up by the buckle. When unclip the bit will just have a strap on each side with a snap at the other end of the strap.

Becky