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!

[Beaker]

The only problem with that is that it makes it harder to clear the saddle with the other leg, especially if you have a cantle bag on there or something like that

No you're right on that. Sometimes I've come up short on myself, especially when getting on a tall t-bred for example.

[Duchess47]

Great pictures - you really ought to design a calendar.

[HairOfTheDog]

Why thank you :~) If I could just put them in a more glamorous setting :~)

I'm looking for that one great shot I can submit to a contest or calendar some day.

[CindyDawg]

I believe the way it works is that you loop it over the horn, put your right foot in and step up and put your left foot in the stirrup, like climbing a ladder. After you are mounted, you pull it up and put it in your saddle bag. Two obstacles I see are you are going to have to move fast and get your hand on the saddle to balance your weight. They aren't much. I'm going to order one (again) and play with it.

[Duchess47]

You have a million great shots, at least I think so :)

[HairOfTheDog]

Well thanks :~D I've entered one or two various places... nothing yet.

Not horse-related, but this is one I took of our sky tonight.

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't think that's what's intended, and I don't think it would work. If you're standing with both feet in those stirrups, first of all, it's too much side weight and you can't linger there that long or you'll pull the saddle over, but I don't know how you'd then get the clearance to get your right leg over.

It's intended to used if you just can't get your left leg up high enough to reach the stirrup... you still have to get your right leg over, so the lower it is, the harder that will be.

[CindyDawg]

I read the instructions in the catalog and that's what I think was said. You use your right to step up so that you can put your left in the stirrup and continue as normal. Let me see if I can find it. BRB.

[CindyDawg]

I can't get the picture to post. Go to www.valleyvet.com and type in #25989

[HairOfTheDog]

OK I concede they intend that.... but I don't recommend it.

Kids and small people could get away with that... and they would need it, too, to scramble up a tall horse... but not a heavy adult. You'll pull the saddle over no matter how tight it is, and both your feet are in stirrups and you can't get out of it. At least mounting the regular way, one leg is free to get back on the ground.

Warning! warning!

[CindyDawg]

Staddle heck. I worry about pulling the horse over:') The only way I would try it was with a spotter and someone holding the saddle on the other side. Like I said , you would have to be fast and bearing weight down on the saddle.

[CindyDawg]

How did you do that? All I got was a red X.

[HairOfTheDog]

You're gonna do what you want :~) but I can't unrecommend this strongly enough. Find a stump or a rock or a box to stand on. I think you'd realize how dangerous it is the moment you stuck your left foot in the stirrup and couldn't immediately kick that right leg free.

[HairOfTheDog]

Just right clicked it :~) ~shrugs~

[CindyDawg]

It not a problem anymore. Good Night.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

HHHMMMMMMM....I've never seen one of those in use either....it doesn't look very safe. Especially (I realize it's an advertisment picture and may not be exactly how they intend it to be used) with the riders foot stuck sooooooooo far into it. That could make it hard to get out of to swing your leg on over. If you use one of these, I'd sure only put the very tips of my toes on it, and use it just for a quick boost up. The second your other foot is in, get out of the bottom one.

But you knew it would have to be done quick, so I'm just repeating:)

Becky

[BladeRider]

I'm curious, when yours rip around the pasture, are they gaiting? or do they gallop? I'm afraid I've never seen a loose gaitin' horse.

Mine gallop, buck, kick and trot and when they slow down they fall into a rack.

[BladeRider]

I read the instructions in the catalog and that's what I think was said. You use your right to step up so that you can put your left in the stirrup and continue as normal.

I would end up getting my legs all tangled up and fall off! As mentioned before I think it would be tough on a horse that is fidgety at the bgining of a ride. Blade is so afraid he is going to be left , once you are seated he starts fidgeting. He is great on the trail once he has settled down though.

[HairOfTheDog]

Fascinating.... I just wondered! I'd like to see that sometime :~)

Good morning everyone!

[Beaker]

Cindy, at my barn we have a tall mounting patform, it actually has steps up to it, and makes getting on the tallest horse a snap. (I love it). Do you have anything like a mounting platform or block at your barn? Like hair, I strongly unrecommend that mounting helper, it's just far too dangerous. That doesn't mean that you can't get it, I just would hate to "see" you get hurt. :-D