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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!
If it's still got the strings on it, use it for a fall display, with pumpkins and indian corn and stuff like that on it and set a mum or two around it. Some people like to stuff a scarecrow and set them down on top of it. Hay's too scarce around here to be doing that kinda stuff this year though. Anybody who touches my hay for a display this year is gonna DIE. ;o)
Start a compost pile with it. Add leaves and grass clippings and some horse manure to it and you should have some nice dirt by spring.
Yeah, Me to. I settle down once the first 15 minutes on the trail are over and Blade realizes he is not going to get left behind.
I got a couple of free bales of straw, wound up using it on a slope that got muddied up while the new deck was building. Worked great to stop the erosion, I spread it around and then ran the roller over it so it wouldn't blow in the wind. Stopped the washing out cold.
I LOVE it! LOL!!!
Switching horses around does NOT help, in fact it just makes matters worse. Takes awhile to get in synch with a horse, and for them to trust you. I'll ride Gracie at least once a week, then switch her out for one of Cathy's beginners and ride one of the young horses. It makes a big different in my competence AND confidence - Gracie and I are like a regular dancing couple, we know what the other's thinking almost before we think it. I have taken her over Pre-Novice and Novice cross-country jumps (that's big ditches and SOLID jumps built of telephone poles and rocks) without turning a hair, because we both know what we can do. On another horse, I don't get the butterflies unless he's a real bad actor or absolutely stinking green, but there's no way I'd jump the big solid stuff.
. . . we were talking last night and realized that my trainer bought Gracie unbroken almost eight years ago. I was the first rider on her back, and boy THAT was entertaining. We were both pretty nervous to begin with, but I'd ride her anywhere now.
That's better than the guy hanging from the roof with a string of lights in his hand.:')
I don't think I saw that one.
The other funny one I've seen is the two legs, in jeans and boots, sticking out of the eye of a roll of hay. They like to make big spiders out of those too, by painting eyes and fangs on the end and using that ribby black plastic drain tube for the the legs. I don't imagine there'll be many of those at all this year.
Yeah. I had a woman ask me wasn't I scared, when I told her where I was going with Sarah Lee. I said "yeah, I was scared *%@#*&%%." She said "you are, but you are going anyway"? She didn't seem to understand that one doesn't have much to do with the other for me.
If it doesn't have seed heads on it, it's good for mulch if you ever get cold and need mulch. It makes good bedding for the dog if he's not allergic to it.
I too have fears... The last time I got tossed deliberately I was warned that the mare was a little screwy and would blow for little reason. And I got on anyway to check her out. And I hurt afterward for a week!
I have fears too when I get on Bay, but they're different fears... I fear him breaking down, ever since he fell with me in the woods, I think he's going to trip. When he's really on top of his game and prancing and acting up I'm actually less afraid than when I think he's tired or off. I relax when my horse is all hyper! He never trips when he's on the muscle.
It means they're tense...chomping at the bit... rearing to go, light on their feet and strong under you, jigging and dancing rather than walking. Like a racehorse approaching the gate. Not calm, not quiet, not relaxed. Like if you poked them they'd spring.
Ok. I was just asking because someone from the ride told me that Sarah Lee was just... I forgot the word she used but it wasn't yours. She told me that she really didn't want to throw me or I would not have been able to stay on. Kind of took the wind out of my sails caz it sure seemed like it to me:') You didn't mention jumping forward onto the front legs kind of to the side though. Is that also part of "on the muscle?"
I'm not sure what 'movement' you're describing... I'm just describing a state of mind that all keyed up. It's just a phrase that describes it well to my mind.
Can you describe better what happened?
Well, at least they didn't use that long-neck squash lying in front of the straw bale there . . . coulda been worse.
It's not boring at all... I'm just not sure how to interpret what she was doing from the description so far... I know it's hard to explain some of this stuff, but I'm not getting a clear picture.
How is it related to the TW and what kind of hole? did he stumble? Was she trying to keep up with the group or not wanting to go forward? Were you trying to leave the group when she acted up or ??? What were you doing and what were the other horses doing? I do want to understand, because I think it's important for you to understand... What do others think she was doing?
I don't know how type the sound I just made but LOL really hard
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