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!

[BladeRider]

Wow! Third cut alfafa does not go for that much here. We have 200 bales on order for 2 bucks a bale. It is a timothy grass mix. Gosh, I feel bad for you horse owners, that have to pay that price

I pay $2 a bale out of the field and $3 a bale out of the barn. If I need to get it from the Co-op they charge $4.50 a bale. $6 a bale is high. WHen I was in MI last week they were just doing their first cutting.

[ShakeNJake]

It wasn't this expensive before the drought. I could pick up excellent coastal in the field for $2 to 2.50 a bale. Usually, the hay growers around here get 3 cuttings but this year, most of them only got one. Basic supply and demand problem. There will be lots of good horses at cheap prices come October or November. Bargain basement by January. The meat buyers should have another good year. People dump their horses at auction because they don't want to have to feed them through the winter.

I'd drive quite a distance to pick up good hay at $2 a bale.

[RebaJ]

There should be a loop around Austin. I think it is 183. Also if you want country you could take 77 out of Corpus and it comes through Waco. I'm not sure about what it is like on your end but we travel 77 to see Dad and the roads aren't bad all the way to 10.

[FrogInABlender]

Don't worry 'bout horses for us, we'll bring our own, that is if you can find us a place to put them.

[ShakeNJake]

I will bring my own horse too as long as there is available stabling. Jake doesn't need much. He isn't picky.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Are your horses use to Hot Wire?? i was already thinking about that. The ones use to hot wire, i would put up some temp. pens. I could space them so strange horses aren't up against others. I also have the arena. We'd figure something out:)

How far a drive would it be for you?

Becky

[BladeRider]

Maybe me and BladeRider could team up and come out there in her trailer since it's got sleeping quarters. We'd have borrow somebody else's truck though. Lee and I keep saying we're gonna buy one, but then we say a lot of things. ;o)

Sounds good to me! I was just in Oolagah last month, took me about 13 hours to drive it. Probably take a little longer pulling horses, although you don't have to stop and potty them like you do the dogs.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Great:). How far are you?

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Any horse not use to hot wire, I just thought, I could move the arena panels and make smaller pens with them. I have a bunch, so I don't think we'd have any problems.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

... I can get horses:)

Prolly bouncy ones though, the poor gaited gals will be spilling their champagne everywhere down the trail... ;~)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Have you all ever trailered horses that far? 6 hours is tops for me.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

LOL,, yeah any horse I get would be Quarter's:), but it sounds like they would be covered. We might get a chance to try a gaited one, we may all be selling and changing breeds:)

Becky

[BladeRider]

Prolly bouncy ones though, the poor gaited gals will be spilling their champagne everywhere down the trail... ;~)

That is why we will bring our own! Can't spill that champagne!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Sounds like a good horse moot is in the making:)

Becky

[BladeRider]

We might get a chance to try a gaited one, we may all be selling and changing breeds:)

Gaited are easier on the old bodies that is for sure! The Gentlemans horse.

[HairOfTheDog]

It does! That many, it's a good thing we can ride right out of your place, it'd be a lot of logistics if we had to trailer someplace :~)

[FrogInABlender]

Nope, I haven't either. We'd probably need to stop somewhere and let them out for a bit to stretch their necks. Blade and Bob load pretty well so hopefully that wouldn't be a problem.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yeah, I was thinking about that too. Might limit us to going other places, but I think we would be able to ride enough here to make the trip worth while for those coming so far with their own horses. I'd say I've got between 10-15 miles just around here. But then again those bringing their own horses will have a trailer:), and I can get trailers too, if we have enough drivers, if we decide to go anywhere which we can. There are several places around here that make good day trips.

Becky

[ShakeNJake]

I am near McKinney Texas. You are near Tulsa aren't you? That is about 225 miles, so around 4 1/2 hours. Looks like I can take I75/69 to the Indian Nation Turnpike.

I'm headed out to get hay. I'll be pissed if I get there and he has sold it all.

[BladeRider]

Have you all ever trailered horses that far? 6 hours is tops for me

Furthest I have trailered was when I went to pick up a mare in southern ILL. We took Queen with us so we could stop at Land Between The Lakes in KY to ride on the way home. Poor Queen was in a trailer for 18 hours with a brief outting in So. ILL then back in. She did fairly well but was pretty tired by the time we got to LBL. The only problem I had was getting her to drink while trailered, but I did not know about the apple juice back then.