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]

I worry because he doesn't. :~)

[HairOfTheDog]

There's a story on our local news about a miniture horse that was on the loose in Portland. And a woman who sold the little guy two days ago recognized him on the news!

Animal Control caught him, and she took possession to find the new owner again, but she is now trying to cancel the sale.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

If he's not worried, then I don't think you should.

The first full size horse that Jenny had let us know in no uncertain terms when he was done. Happened it seemed to us over night. I think the thing is to KNOW the horse, which I think you do as far as Bay is concerned. It's recognizing the signs, I think. This horse just overnight started refusing to work...being's as he was older, and until that point he had been a willing worker, I figured it was time to ease up on him. Sure enough, within less then 6 months he died.

I think Bay will know when it's time for you to quit on him. And that doesn't mean I think you should suddenly start doing 50 milers on him, he doesn't deserve that, but for what you do, I think you've got lots of time barring something unforeseen.

But that's JMO:)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Wow...that would be a tough call.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

He doesn't look worried right now... a little bored and nappish, but not worried :~)

I'm glad to hear your opinion on him, because it's what I want to hear, and it's an experienced opinion especially now that you've met him.

I didn't mean to over-emphasize my pre-loss mourning of Bay, I just was kindof voicing the subtle pressure I've had in my head telling me to ride him while I can because he won't be here forever. I think I'm safe to go do some other things we want to do besides ride, and that's a good thing. :~)

[HairOfTheDog]

Heh... I think just just realized she maybe sold the horse to an idiot, or at least an owner with bad fencing, is all. Good grief. Can you imagine seeing a horse you just sold trotting through town on the news? ~cracks me up~

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I didn't mean to over-emphasize my pre-loss mourning of Bay, I

I know that:), and I understand. I think anyone who owns a horse they really like has it in the back of the mind all the time the fear of losing them, even if they have a young horse:), it's part of the whole owning animals experience.

a little bored

I have to say it:). Could it be that after the active life he has led he IS bored...:)

I think I'm safe to go do some other things we want to do besides ride, and that's a good thing. :~)

And believe it or not, I do think there is life beyond horses:). Go for it, but don't not ride, because you think he can't still do it.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

LOL...it would be a shock to see the horse you sold on the news:)...

I'd wonder too about the buyers ability to keep one if that happened, but it could have just been a freak thing. We lost a pony we bought the first night we brought him home. It happens.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

That's right! It did happen to you. I had forgotten that story.

Well, I think the woman just sounded a little protective of the thing at this point... if the people she sold to can get it together (maybe this will help them get a little more ready!) she'll likely give them the horse back.

[HairOfTheDog]

Go for it, but don't not ride, because you think he can't still do it.

Fair enough, you're right :~)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I swear....we've been keeping all the doors and windows open since the AC died. It hasn't been bad at all this week as far as the heat, but now we are having to contend with mosquitoes...lots of them...I truly thought for a while this morning this poison ivy I have was mosquito bites, it's not, but while I'm sitting here, I keep have them buzz me...I don't need anything else to itch:)

We went to town for awhile this evening, and everyone was asking me who hit me in the eye, it's still very swollen and very red all around it, and I think I'm starting to break out around my mouth...I guess I came in contact with it with my hands and then from wiping the sweat off my face, I spread it to my face...I don't need insect bites on top of this mess:)...and no, I'm not taking any pictures of myself:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

...and no, I'm not taking any pictures of myself:)

Heh... oooookay... But you know if it was a horse breaking out, I'd want to see it. :~)

Sounds awful, I'm so sorry. My brother has an awful reaction to poison ivy or poison oak, and I've seen him suffer it. It's been a long time now.

I was feeling a little wilted and realized it's 90 here. It kindof snuck up on me, it's been cool lately.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

We've got low 80's for the highs, and high 50's for lows forecast for all next week. PERFECT!!!

I wasn't going to ride at all next week, but because he came in so good today, I may ride one day. I have a little training I need to do with him. He's been being very bad to grab bites from EVERY tree we pass that he can reach...he's getting very annoying about it, even at the trot. I asked Charlie to bring me a bit that has a bit of bite to it...I'd like to take him out before the ride next week, and really wack him, so that for the ride I can go back to the dog bone snaffle. He works really really well in it, except for I can't keep him from turning his head to get a bite if he want's it. I don't mind him doing it a bit, keeps the gut sounds good, but only when I say, he's getting a bit to headstrong about it..

You have any suggestions on how to break this...this is all I can think of...I can pretty much tell too, when he is going to do it...I can look up the trail and see a tree and know, he's going for that one...I think if I can snatch him up right before he does it, it might help.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I wondered if you all had poison ivy up there.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

LOL...I typed in google "stop horse from eating while riding" and got this:

http://www.horseadvice.com/

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

If you have warning that he's going to do it, I think I'd slow down and reach up and whack him at the top of the head when he starts to reach for it. That might surprise him!

I don't like it when they do that while moving, especially because here, it seems they always end up grabbing bracken ferns, which aren't even good for them.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Charlie said whacking him like you say would work better...I guess tho, I'm just a bit nervous about doing that...not sure what his reaction will be. That would probably be better too, I hate to ruin his mouth...he responds so good now to the lightest cues....

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

We do have it... but it's been so long since I've seen it, I fear I wouldn't recognize it till I was squatting over it on trail :~0. We have a lot of stinging nettles here on the property. I hate em, but they aren't as bad, just a rash that lasts an hour or so. Do you have those?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Not that I know of....We've got some kinds of plants that have stickers, and if you get into them, they can itch for a few hours...blackberry stickers do that.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, if you aren't sure, whack him softly the first time :~) I've just reached up and poked Bay on the top of the head when he does it, usually accompanied by my parental "Baaaaaay! :~["... he knows he's bein' bad.