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]

Well, everyone knows how I feel about raffles, and we all know how Reba and Duchess and Frog and Cindy feel about raffles, I'm glad we now know how Becky feels about raffles too :~)

I think we should openly post our feelings and beliefs and advice, as diplomatically as we can when we know what we're saying isn't what the person wants to hear.

That's all I'm askin' for :~)

[squarebarb]

Hmmmm. I see there's a bit of a spat going on heree.

No need for it.

I've asked advince many times on this thread and was very happy for it.

Example: people told me that my gray mare getting freckled was normal as they grow older. I thought she was breaking out in smallpox or something.

Recently somebody gave me advice/knowledge that mares don't bag up until just before they give birth, as I think the Hell Bitch is now pregnant.

When Miss Accident-Prone was ill with lymphoma I got a lot of advice, ideas, and most of all sympathy when she died.

This is an invaluable thread.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I think we are just clearing the air of maybe some tensions that have built up....just like what happens with any long term relationships:) If everyone will be adult, and stick it out we'll be better for it:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Just a little spat, I unfortunately slept in today and feel fairly undercaffienated to get involved. That's being corrected with strong espresso, I'll probably feel awake enough to participate about the time everyone else is tired of it.

I think the Hell Bitch is now pregnant.

You still think she is huh? Any update on that? Vet check, etc?

[HairOfTheDog]

That was pretty funny honey :~)

[ecurbh]

And then there is always smarty pantses in the group

We all have a purpose in life!

~re-enters lurk mode~

[CindyDawg]

Insulted, not really. Talked down to... sometimes... mothered...oh please don't get me started :')

About advice...What can I say? I have to think things thru and decide if it is workable for me. I can think of no safety advice here that I have ignored though. You should here my conversations with my horses. At the end of the day, after I have thought things thru I fall in line, esp regarding safety. An example:

Hair told me not to tie my horses to the truck. I'm talking to Sarah Lee. "Oh yeah. It's ok for her but it's not ok for me. ....I don't want you hurt though. ...Sheet. Come on. Let's find some place else. You tell her and I'll kill you though":')

Pride keeps me from coming back with a follow up report sometimes, I guess. I just asked to be posted to like anyone else here that someone might have a suggestion for.

[CindyDawg]

Poor ecurbh. I forgot about you. I can turn the computer off. Hair can take a stick to your head:')

[CindyDawg]

I hate that. Hang in there. You may be getting more rain than you can imagine, soon.

[CindyDawg]

We really aren't fighting.

[HairOfTheDog]

Is this supposed to be an experts only thread and the novices/intermediates are expected to be quiet and listen and are shot down (with both barrels) any time they come up with something the experts have a different opinion about?

Honestly, Cindy, I don't think we've ever shot with both barrels... yet. Of course it's not an experts only thread or I wouldn't be here either. You seem to have a personality that takes advice as criticism, and I know that even though you think I needle you already, there are lots of time where I've "walked on eggshells" too.

Because the other part of your personality, the stubborn independent part, likes to come on here and say something like "I know I'm a beginner, but I'm thinking about _____________. The blank could be anything, I can't think of an example off the top of my head, but often, as is usually true with horses, what you want to do is full of hidden risks, considerations, challenges and dangers we don't know if you are aware of. And I think we'd be remiss in not telling you. It's true, if Becky or Frog or one of the others said they were going to go on a difficult trail ride and camping trip with the horses, I don't start prattling off advice and safety concerns... Because I know they understand what they're getting into and have been there before. Not so with you, when you post about doing such a thing, I'm excited for you finally going, but I want you to be as informed and safe as you can be and don't want to see you get hurt because of something I could have thought to warn you about.

For survival here though I try not to bring up stuff now until after the fact, so I walk on egg shells lately too.

After the fact, we can't help. I'm not here to hurt your feelings. I'm here to offer whatever experience might help you, and friendship, and support and a different point of view when you need it.

I don't know if you've noticed, but Becky and Frog and Duchess and the others all have a very different style than mine, and we have all, from time to time, posted those differences and debated them. No one here has the only right answer, but many here could safely navigate their way through a complicated horse problem, and I view them as a terrific resource.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

it is workable for me.

The only thing I want to comment about in this post is: when I give my opinion, it is what has worked for me, for the horse. That's the clincher IMO, where you and I run into problems. And please remember, I made the same mistakes too, what I believe is mistakes, but that's my opinion. Most of the things that are workable for a horse, and not things that are that easy and workable for the handler. New horse owners, (and I don't consider you all that new anymore), most generally, me included, try to find ways that work that are easy and workable for "them", but in the end you have to do the things that are workable for the horse, no matter how hard it is for you, or how distasteful.

This is my opinion, but to me it seems you are still looking for what works for YOU, rather then what works for the horse. That's fine, they are your horses, do what you want, but when you comment on those things, you may get responses back that don't agree with your way.

There are lots of ways to do things with horses, no iron clad one way is the only way, but there are things that are wrong IMO:), and can cause problems. Just a few, giving treats, free lunging, not enough riding, letting a horse decide things when you are working with them.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

See, that's what I mean. I make a post regarding what works for me, thinking about routine stuff like schedules, saddles, shoes, etc and automatically It's about me and not the horse and I'm doing what I want. Why's that? What works for me is something that works for my horse. As someone posted different stuff for different folk. It doesn't mean I don't try . It just means that not everything is workable for me.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'm glad you said that:)

Becky

[CindyDawg]

I'm sorry. I didn't see your last sentence for some reason. I guess I was answering before you finished your question. I hate that:') Anyway occasional treats and free lunging works for my horses. Many people do both. I work the line too though. You are right about the riding time though. That is one obstacle I haven't been able to overcome yet and it isn't good for my horses. I know it.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

t's about me and not the horse and I'm doing what I want. Why's that?

My post didn't mention "routine stuff". I think you do well on saddles, shoes, etc.

I'm talking about treats, free lunging, letting the horse make decisions when you are working with them...

I haven't commented on it, but you have posted numerous times on this stuff so I think you are still doing it all. IMO, those things are wrong. It may seem to be working for awhile, but I believe it can/"might" lead to problems that someone with your experience level might have problems dealing with, so why risk it??? And I guess since we are clearing the air, I think the reason it frustrates me so bad is way back before you bought Okie you told me you wouldn't do that stuff. I have come to the realization tho, that you may be listening to a trainer who is right there to help, and is coaching you. And listening to someone right there would be better then listening to some opinionated person over the internet:), which is one reason I stopped nagging about that stuff, I didn't want to confuse you or make you feel bad. I was considering your feelings.

JMO

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I have come to the realization tho, that you may be listening to a trainer who is right there to help, and is coaching you.

This one has been something I've wondered a lot about, too, because Cindy, sometimes you've had help there at that stable, and sometimes it seems like they aren't working with you and you're kindof heading out without a lot of guidance. I don't know if you have someone to follow there or not, from week to week, but I do tend to respond like you don't have anyone there to rely on who would tell you this stuff and help you out when needed.

[Duchess47]

Hi again. Here's one I rarely weigh in on. I'm a firm believer in free lungeing. I think that the horses need a couple of minutes to blow off steam and then I believe that they should obey voice commands rather than a lunge line or whip. IMO lunge lines and whips are for learning and then when a ring is not available.

I also feed treats occasionally. Not often enough that horses expect it but just because I like to. And I talk to them all the time, I believe they understand me :) - admittedly most people think I'm nuts.

[CindyDawg]

It's FR, books and RFD:') Which is fine with me. Scary huh? lol

[CindyDawg]

I wanted to make sure they weren't getting too many. I take the apple bars and break them in pieces with a hammer. They don't get but one but think they are getting a lot. As for as conditioning I don't know if that is so good though:') I lunge both ways. When they come out of the pasture they are hyped up. I let them just move a bit and then it's time to settle down and go to work. I want them to whoa, walk, trot and canter and turn by command. I used the rope when we aren't in a pen though and to put them thru circles when they don't want to behave. I talk to mine too. All the time. I don't know about the understanding but they listen:')