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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!
A few details on some of the things I learned this weekend.
What you feed your horse makes a difference:)...at least I think it must have been the feed that made the difference, it's all I could figure out.
I don't know if I mentioned, but about 10 days before the ride, I started feeding Harley an energy building supplement...not a lot, about 1 1/2 lbs a day....It worked...too well:). Also the week before he had off...:)...Sat. morning he was so full of himself...too full...we had a little incident right out of camp. He was just wanting to charge up the trail...I was holding him back, we went thru a creek and he came out of it and just suddenly came up on his front end...caught me by surprise. I pulled his head around, which might not have been the best thing to do, for a few seconds (long seconds:), I thought we were going over on his side. I did make him go on at a walk for a short time, then let him trot...he was sure on the muscle, but after a few miles he got better, but was pretty strong most of the day...
Needless to say, no more supplement, and only about 1/2 of his regular feed that day, and hay:). By the next morning I had my sane calm horse back...
I'm thinking now, that it was just the overdoing and the heat that made it seem like he was running out of energy here at home. He doesn't really need any energy builders:), or a week off.
Fri and Sat. too, he would get very agitated when Celia took Stormy for walks, they were tied next to each other. He'd run and buck and kick tied to the pole...By Sun. he was back to being fine when Stormy left.
Anyway it made for an interesting start Sat. morning:).
Becky
It was a beautiful wedding by all reports, Corin and LilFreeper were there, a few pictures and Corin and LilFreeper's descriptions of the event are on the thread, but most of the pictures are at the Hobbit Hole Yahoo site.
Interesting development though, maybe there is a happy medium somewhere that would be just the right amount...
What's the stuff you gave him?
It's called Amplify Supplement, made by Purina.
I think he'll be fine on just his feed....I talked to some people there, some of the long time competitiors who do well, and they pretty much thought his "problem" was more to do with the heat and the fact I may have been pushing too hard. As numerous people have said, any animal/person would have gotten tired doing that.
I just need to not get so obsessed with "conditioning" and just ride....
Several of the people there who were at the spring ride I went to, said Harley looked like he was really "built up" just since spring...commented on his big butt:)...I think I overdid. Poor guy:(
Becky
Could be, it's been and will continue to be a learning process :~) -but he was exactly what and where he needed to be at the end of the day Sunday!
Any more rides coming up now?
No:(
I had hoped to go to one that is in Nov. but I got an invitation to a wedding that I really need to go to, that falls on the same weekend:\ So this is it for this year. But Celia and I are planning on going to 6 rides next year:)...we're all pumped up now.
Becky
Another interesting thing.
Remember the other horse I've talked about that always checked in with a sore back and had gotten to where he was biting the judges for just getting close to his back...well this horses rider has been trying everything to fix it too.
He took the horse to some saddlemaker this summer and was going to have a new saddle built for him. The saddlemaker said he had a new pad he thought might work as good as a new saddle. This pad is made of fiberglass, the same stuff they make saddle trees with...it's more like a shield then a pad, covered with fleece. He's been using this pad all summer, and then this ride (this was the first ride since the May ride). His horse checked in sound...
He and I had to congratulate each other on finally fixing the problems:). This man has been trying for 4 years tho...But man, it's just hard to imagine that a "fiberglass pad" could work...I'd have been afraid to try something like that.
Becky
Sounds like it'd work just like a second tree that actually fits his back, but I'd want a pad between... just fleece, huh?
Glad for him though, after all that!
Yep, Tuffy placed 6th in the color class, Prez was 11th in a field of 11.
Must have been the feed 'cause that sure doesn't sound like Harley. What a way to start the day :)
Patsy and I arrived at camp Friday morning around 1:30 a.m. and we parked beside the soon to be bride & groom. We had just got to bed when Kalinda knocked on the door and said our horses had got in a kick fight. Apache got kicked inside his leg on his groin muscle. Needless to say I didn't think I would compete. I spent all day Friday icing, hosing, WALKING. Thanks to everyone that offered their assistance and support. Kalinda and Shane a special thank you for waking us up two mornings in a row (smile). But thanks to the vet's advice (he told me to take raw eggs and rub all over his wound and by george by the next morning the swelling & heat was gone). So we vetted out Saturday morning and we got to ride. It was a challenging ride, I didn't want to push him too hard but Apache has a heart of gold. The vet did think he was a little off and called him a grade 1 lame, but we got a clear to ride Sunday as well. Sunday I thought was tougher, I guess because we rode a lot faster and mostly uphill. It also heated up quickly, but had great PR's.
Anyone ever heard of using raw eggs?
Becky
Good job! That is really a great accomplishment over such a large group!
I wish you could have got some pictures.
I have never heard of using raw eggs. I've heard of using uncooked bacon or bacon rinds on cuts/infection but not this. I will however, give it a try :)
Just want to make sure everyone understands that I did not compete against 63 riders....don't want to fly under false impressions:)
There were 63 competitors, but that is in ALL the divisions, in my division there were 12 riders. There are 6 different divisions.
Jr. Novice
Novice Lightweight
Novice Heavyweight
CP = Competitive Pleasure
Jr. Open
Open lightweight
Open Heavyweight
6 and over riders is considered a full class.
Becky
I do too:) I truly thought about it a few times, I had my camera with me, but I just could never stop long enough to get any. It was a hard ride to stay on time.
Becky
Oh, I meant to add, that in a few days there will probably be pictures posted on the NATRC site. I'll get some from there or post a link.
Becky
LOL - okay, thanks for putting it in perspective.
It sounds like it's broken down like endurance rides. You are still competing against the 60+ riders for the trails, the obstacles and the vet checks. I think you are riding in a class of twelve in a group of 60+ or am I really wrong on this?
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