The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread 11

[HairOfTheDog]

The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - (very out of date) Who's Who *pics*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
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread TEN

New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!

[Duchess47]

Thanks :) we were pleased to see how he’s grown up.

[BladeRider]

I noticed in Frog's picture that a couple horses had even stopped to poop on the bridge... it's just like getting in a trailer ;~)

That would be Blade and Ellie.

[Duchess47]

Yikes. I’m a coward - I’d no more walk a horse through that than fly to the moon.

[AnAmericanMother]

You can buy a wider English breastcollar that instead of going into the rings, slips over the girth on both sides just below the buckles. My trainer uses one on her big Hanoverian because he's just so BIG. Gracie is tall but quite narrow, and the narrow high breastplate with the rings works just fine on her. The elastic ones that hook into the rings tend to ride too high on her and cut into her windpipe - I don't like them on her at all.

This is the kind of breastplate my trainer uses:

But this one is elastic, hers is all leather. I think the elastic looks a little tacky and like the plain leather. It's about the same width, has the same little keeper strap over the neck. She hunts all day in it with no slippage or problems with fit, and Dante is one BIG horse.

[AnAmericanMother]

If you are ever near a barn, you absolutely have to keep your tetanus shots up to date. Just one of those things you have to do. Shut your eyes and think of England. < g >

[HairOfTheDog]

See... Attaching it to the girth leathers works in a flat saddle like that, but not in mine... In mine, it has to come over the knee rolls and it just isn't good. If that would work, I'd use the same elastic one I have, but it sits really awkward.

[HairOfTheDog]

I think it’s too late now.... and my jaw feels fine :~)

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh - you said it attaches below the buckles on the girth? That ~might~ work, I’ll have to try it.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

That would be scary.

Looks like they have it blocked some to keep them from rolling, but it would still be hairy.

Becky

[AnAmericanMother]

I think in that picture, they have it too high up the girth. The breastplate should be absolutely level all the way across to the girth.

It's just a simple loop of leather on the end, that the girth can slide through. On some models it can be tightened down, or a lot of people use a heavy rubber band to hold it exactly in position.

I have a hunting saddle, a Courbette, that has a very deep knee roll and a long flap. I've used the large breastplate and it works fine -- but I use the hunting breastplate because I can attach my martingale to the ring in front, and Gracie definitely needs the German martingale or she gets above the bit pretty quickly when galloping.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Good morning:)

It’s hot here again, but there is still a nice breeze. My horse is saddled, so I’m gone for awhile.

Just pinging everyone I can think of. Seems a lot of our regulars are disappearing:(

Becky

[MissTargets]

Good Morning.

Our friend Dakota has a new horse. He used PJ for many years and had been showing another leased horse. His Dad bought him a nice 3 yo QH gelding. The horse is here at our place, until fall. It is raining today, or else I would get some pictures. I had posted pictures of Dakota in the past.

[HairOfTheDog]

We’re here, having coffee :~D

Got horses fed... It’s going to be a remarkably grey and cool day... wish we could go riding, it would be nice!

Have a good ride there.

[HairOfTheDog]

I’m gonna start a new thread today...

(I know I’ve said that before but this time I mean it!)

Will you be around to ping it so no one gets lost?

[MissTargets]

Yes. I have a doctor’s appt at 11, but will do, when I get back.

[HairOfTheDog]

OK - I may do it right now... No better time than the present, I guess!

[Beaker]

I saw that on the horse forum. It seems dangerous to me, especially if the horse decided to get nervous and either bolt through or throw himself about. I could see this happening with Levi.

[HairOfTheDog]

New thread up finally!

FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread 12