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!

[FrogInABlender]

...It's so funny, this lady is the perfect image of Ma Kettle, I swear she has a lip full of snuff, and has this old hat with the crown cut out, but with a very wide brim and, she looks older then the horse. Very inspirational tho what seniors, horses and human can accomplish...

Unless something happens to me, that's how I wanna be when I get old. Tough as leather and still riding hard until they put me in the ground.

[BladeRider]

I was going to ask about dental issues too. There may be something that needs to be looked at even if you no longer are trying to bit her, especially if she's older and not been recently floated. My 24 year old gets floated just about every year, though this last time, he was still good so we just did the mares.

We have her teeth checked every year when she agets her shots and coggins done. She has not had to be floated the last couple times. She seems to be able to go every other year.

[cjshapi]

A cutback is a flat saddle, used for saddle seat riding. Hair of the Dog posted a pic a on this thread of her riding her gray Arabian in this style some years ago. They looked like they were having a ball.

[FrogInABlender]

The halter/bridle from National Bridle is really well made. I actually have one of those. Shirley bought it and it didn't fit his big foundation bloodline Walking Horse heads so I bought it from him. It's black biothane. I'll put it on Grace this afternoon and take some pictures of it. You'd really like it I think, if you ever wanted to try something different.

[HairOfTheDog]

What is a cutback saddle?

I'm gonna steal her thunder and answer... Cutback saddle... named for the cutback at the wither.

Also called a flat saddle or "saddle seat" saddle, it's the type of saddle used to show horses that are not 'hunters'... IE, Arabs, National Show Horses, Gaited Breeds, etc. It's just a style, styled after the Southern country gentleman's plantation saddle, rather than a jumper saddle. People show in formal long coat-tails and derby hats, rather than the shorter hunter jacket/breeches. And the horse is flashier, showier, with a higher tighter headset and higher, snappier action.

Years ago in Arabs the English Pleasure horse was a saddle seat horse, with the kind of pretty action and head carriage we all picture with Arabians. The fad when my stallion was about ready to retire anyway was looking for MORE and MORE action, to where "English Pleasure" became "BIG NOISY TORNADO OF A PARK HORSE". There had always been a Park Horse class, but those horses started to dominate in what has always been the quieter Pleasure class. The older traditional English horse, the nice pretty, showy but quieter horse that actually looked like a pleasure to ride through the countryside on, became "Country English Pleasure". That's the type cjshapi is training her horse for. It's also the type my stallion would be in today.

Personally, while I marvel at the movement and fire of the Park Horses, they aren't natural, and I don't think they are the best example of an Arab I'd like to own. Not now, I'm quieter now. :~D

[FrogInABlender]

They've done the same thing to the Arab Park Pleasure Horse that they've done to the Big Lick Walking and Racking Horse. They figured if some animation was good, then MORE must be better, until they ruined it.

[cjshapi]

Awesome explanation. Thanks! Freeping at work kinda makes it hard to keep up sometimes.

Damn job....

[HairOfTheDog]

We have her teeth checked every year when she agets her shots and coggins done.

Well, then sometimes it's just attitude! ;~D Always good to check and rule out something wrong in the mouth when they won't tolerate any kind of bit well.

[HairOfTheDog]

They've done the same thing to the Arab Park Pleasure Horse that they've done to the Big Lick Walking and Racking Horse. They figured if some animation was good, then MORE must be better, until they ruined it.

And they've also had to create a new "Plantation Walker" class for the 'normal' traditional horses, right?

[HairOfTheDog]

Heh, thanks... As a friend just said on another thread, we work to support our horse's lifestyle, right? :~D

[FrogInABlender]

Yeah, and they've also started up a couple of new Registries for naturally gaited Walking and Racking horses. I really should look into them because that's really what I'm raising.

[BladeRider]

Well, then sometimes it's just attitude! ;~D Always good to check and rule out something wrong in the mouth when they won't tolerate any kind of bit well.

In her younger days Queen had quite the attitude. Red ribbon in the tail and all! Ain't that right Frog?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well, I have enough house work and bookwork done that I can go ride now (it's not raining), guilt free:) As soon as I finish lunch anyway:)

Thanks for the explanation. I just had now clue there was so many types of English saddles.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Three basics:

Forward seat or jumping saddle - hunt seat
Cutback or flat saddle - saddle seat
Dressage

All Purpose saddles like yours and mine are a combination of features of all three, but look most like the forward seat. You could use one in a hunter class, but not in the others.

[CindyDawg]

Thanks. I'm gonna need them. I'll be doing good if I make it thru the day without quiting my job. I was thinking this morning that yeah I needed to come off the blood pressure meds Friday. Everything was moving but me. After finding out my son wrecked his car (he's ok) and my grandson cut his mouth on a stick (he's ok) and my nursing boss dumping another project on me while I'm already swatting gators (I'm not sure about her being ok) my blood pressure is all nice and back to borderline normal. The only thing keeping me there is my health insurance.

[CindyDawg]

It's cheap and junk. Got it:')

[CindyDawg]

I'm going with black too

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh dear :~\

[CindyDawg]

Well, ok. I'll go with red then:')

[FrogInABlender]

Sounds like you're having one of those days. I'm glad your son and grandson are ok, and not so glad about your Nursing Supervisor. One of these days in the not-so-distant-future you're gonna have so much fun telling her to bite your @$$. ;o)