The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread TEN

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
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread NINE

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]

Sweet talker! :~)

[MissTargets]

Good Morning.

Oh Hair, I am so sorry Homer is AOL, praying you find him safe and sound. Wonderful pictures of your trail ride. So nice to get some good riding in. Becky, you are going to have to get all acclimated to the heat again. It is going to be a hot one here today also. Fair is over, so I have to go get my camper and mow the yard. It is finally drying out.

[HairOfTheDog]

I think it's the straightness of the trees, and the size too, that impresses Becky... She's used to trees that go up and branch out and have lots of crooks in them :~)

[MissTargets]

Have an great day!

Mine is Saturday.

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks, the ride was great, ecurbh and I rarely push ourselves to do that trail because we're lazy riders :~) but the views are wonderful and worth the trip. We aren't used to big expansive views, with all the trees, we can't see more than the trees in front of us most times, and the only reason we can see from up there on top now is that it's been recently cut.

About to go feed breakfast, Becky's still asleep. Bay was a bit backsore last night, partly because the ride was longer than usual and I'm no featherweight, and partly because the saddle kept sliding back. I buted him, and he can have a good long rest now.

- We'll still hope for Homer, and try to make the best of today.... one more day before Becky has to go home, and not sure what we're going to do with it.

[HairOfTheDog]

Happy birthday Beaker :~)

[cjshapi]

The pics look great. Was at a show in this 90+ heat over the weekend. We went 4 for 4, winning all of our classes but got no pics. Between the misery of the heat and worry over Deuce, who was scoped last Weds before we left for the show and was diagnosed with a mass in his airway I was not in the mood for documenting the fun.

The good news is that most of these masses (this one is long and filled with blood vessels) are benign. Praying that is the case here. This poor horse has had such a rough month I could cry for him.

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh dear. Masses? Some kind of tumors? I'm so sorry! What now?

[cjshapi]

Spoke with a friend during the weekend that had worked at some large veterinary hospitals. He said that they are very common at surgical facilities. They're masses of cells that sort of mutate into blood vessel filled lumps. They can be lasered off, frozen or banded off.

I was a wreck at first because my trainer tends to be the "gloom and doom" sort so he's always ready to amputate for a hangnail.

[HairOfTheDog]

Sometimes you want to hear the worst case scenario, and sometimes you want a little positive thinking!

So there is surgery you can do for him? That's good, but sounds really expensive, prayers for both of you in doing what you can. If you do that, might these masses come back or ??? What causes them?

[cjshapi]

Surgery will be at OSU. Not sure of the expense but at current gas prices that might be the largest part of the ordeal!

My friend says they are caused by the biological makeup of some cell just not being normal. This weekend I met a young lady who owned a 4 yr old half arab gelding. He had the same problem at 2 but his got so severe his food backed up. Surgery was a success...but the poor guy got shot in the knee with an arrow the next year. And that surgery was a success too. It's amazing how resilient some animals can be.

I told the trainer that Deuce has to have a big heart to work the way he did for him with a blockage to his airway. He deserves every chance and that's what I'm going to give him.

[HairOfTheDog]

Good for you and the best of luck to Deuce! Keep us updated!

And congratulations on all the blue ribbons!

[HairOfTheDog]

This has been a great trip, I have enjoyed every momemt.

Adjusting to the heat at home is probably going to be a shocker to the system:\

Good morning:)

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

What time will you arrive at the airport tomorrow?

I half to know so I can find a schedule for your buss ride home. :)

BigMack

[HairOfTheDog]

HI!:)

The schedule says I'm getting home at 2:38.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I think the best way for you to get me is to park the truck and come in to the luggage claim area. You could ask what turntable my flight will come in on.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh, and I should tell you my flight number is #3817

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Homer's home! Thanks for the kind thoughts and prayers and the help of all the saints!

I could just shoot him now.

[AnAmericanMother]

WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!

Welcome Home, Homer!

(. . . we know you just wanted to make sure that your parents loved you, but they DO! Now STOP! . . . )

Thank you dear Virgin, and St. Francis, St. Anthony, and St. George.

I found out incidentally that St. Roch is the specific patron of dogs. He was lost in the woods and dying of the plague when a dog brought him food and kept him company until he recovered.

[MissTargets]

Oh good! Did he come back on his own?

I had to come in for a big to the A/C. It's really hot and I only mowed for about an hour and half. Still have more to do, but I will wait a bit. We did get the camper home. Yeah! got to pull it with my new truck.