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Posted on 06/19/2006 8:46:45 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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!
Wow Blade, that's such an awful time! And it just compounds things when you have a horse to worry about in the heat, nevermind the problems with the truck! I'm glad that you made it through ok.
I picked a muddy field to start from. Also pointed the revolver over and up from the back of the horse. It is a bad idea to shoot right over a horse's head as it hurts their ears. It is best to shoot blanks before you feed them several days ahead of when you want to start shooting from their back. Tha way they will associate gunfire with something good to eat.
I was thinking too that I needed to develop some cue or word to let them know it was happening. Something I don't routinely do. Any ideas?
Glad it worked out alright for you. In a similar experience I was able to get a tow truck to take my truck with the trailer still connected home. The transmission had gone out was the reason my truck quit.
Yes, I would use my fingers and tap my horse on the neck when I knew that there would be gunfire shortly. In no time the horse figured it out and expected the unexpected. Also you can show them the revolver and let them smell of it. If you prepare them properly it is fairly smooth sailing, er, shooting.
That might work for me. I might do it further back by the mane though so they wouldn't be prepared for a boom and get a stick instead. (that's what I do before giving an injection) I want it to be something that they only get when a loud noise about to happen.
At my stables is not a good idea though. Mine might be doing ok but I don't want to spook another rider's horse.
Talk to it and tell it what is going to happen. You will be surprised what they understand from us. It may sound funny but it is better than sitting on the ground with a busted rear end. : )
For flats, I recommend Walmart. They won't change the tire for you but will let you use their jack and will fix or sell you a new tire. The automotive shop is usually in the back and you can find a place away from people if you need to get them out.
Well, my idea would be to leave shooting from horseback to Hollywood stunt riders. Get out, and get on trail and leave cowboy tricks to the pros is my advice :~)
I've carried on trail rides, but not because I thought I'd fire from the horse. I've brought it for some unforeseen circumstance where I could wisely use it, like if we were approached by someone with malintent I couldn't get away from otherwise, such as at a stop when I was not on the horse. If you come to face something like a dog, or some other threat, your horse has a few things going for it that you might be better to use before thinking about shooting. One, it's got speed, if turning and moving away will get you to safety... If that doesn't work, it's got size, and a horse is pretty intimidating to a dog who was expecting to be the chaser and not the chasee... I used to have dogs come and bark at me a lot when I used to ride the road alot... and usually could get them to back off by merely turning and facing them. 99% of dogs are all bluster when it comes to a horse.
I go sooooo slow with new things. I don't like busted rear ends:')
Wait until you are off somewhere else and tie the horse to the trailer, securely. Walk off a good distance, 100ft or even further and then shoot the blanks. Then walk back, let the horse smell the revolver. Put it away then feed an apple or carrots. Do this over a period of time and let it get used to the sounds and smells. Once they know there is a treat for them the rest should be a snap, we hope.......
Ya gotta use horse sense. : )
I knew this was coming. Thanks a lot Cav:') If I was going to shoot something it would be because my horse couldn't/ wouldn't get us away. I don't want to get on the ground. It might eat me, instead.
If I had sense, I wouldn't have horses:')
Well, I'm nothing if not predictable! :~)
I think trying to stop and shoot something is the best way to end up on the ground. It's hard to take a picture that isn't blurry from a moving horse, let alone trying to shoot at something and actually hit it, while keeping the horse under you through the whole ordeal. That's a pretty complicated and difficult little manuever to try.
I think your odds of needing to do this are about as much of a longshot as actually having it work, so I think it's a fantasy issue, really... But it's a good exercise in thinking things through. Not everything we can do, should we do. :~)
I think I have just been dared:') (wink)
It worked for me but I had a lot of helpful advice plus I was around about one hundred other riders that were shooting from their horses. A lot of it is monkey see, monkey do when it comes to training horses. I would never fire over the horses head. It was always off to the side or turn the horse and fire to the rear of the horse.
With other riders I have approached a line of infantrymen, over one thousand strong, that were volley firing muskets, (blanks). The noise was deafing (sp?) but I dismounted, attached my horse's halter to another horse and they were led off. After exchanging fire for about thirty minutes my horse was brought back to me. I remounted and rode away in formation. At the same time there was a line of cannon booming away at the line of infantrymen. There was so much gunpowder being shot that a blue haze covered the battlefield.
The horses took it all in stride, no muss and no fuss. I gave my horse an apple and a good rubdown when we got back to camp.
LOL!
Dang. How old are you?:')
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