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The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - (very out of date) Who's Who *pics*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

[CindyDawg]

JMO but if anyway possible I suggest you buy your own horse. That way you call the shots and if you need to move on you can take your horse with you.

[HairOfTheDog]

Are there two 'other' women involved here, the other buyer, and a trainer, or are they the same person?

[Duchess47]

What is the riding level of the other person you are going in on this with? It wouldn't hurt you to be "pushed" a little, that's how you grow, but if the horse far exceeds the ability of the other rider you will have a problem there.

What are the two of you going to be doing with the horse? Lessons, trail rides, showing? Sometimes a horse that is suitable for lessons will be limited for showing and if that's where you are headed, you'll outgrow the horse in no time.

:) These are all just my personal thoughts and worth about two cents.

[Beaker]

That way you call the shots and if you need to move on you can take your horse with you.

I would be calling some of the shots, and I say this now, and of course things change, but the good thing about this barn is that it's not clique-y, and I don't plan on actually moving myself anywhere for quite a while. Cost of living around here is pretty expensive, and right now I have a pretty sweet deal. But I totally understand what you're saying, and it's a very valid point and one I've considered. Certainly the situation isn't ideal.

[CindyDawg]

It might work fine for you then. I give stuff away but I don't share too well:')

[Beaker]

What are the two of you going to be doing with the horse? Lessons, trail rides, showing? Sometimes a horse that is suitable for lessons will be limited for showing and if that's where you are headed, you'll outgrow the horse in no time.

We are at roughly the same level. I have no desire to show, really, and neither does the other person. Plus, the barn really isn't a show barn. We'd be doing lessons and trails, nothing great, maybe a clinc or show here and there just to judge our progress against other riders, but nothing serious.

[Beaker]

The people that are involved are myself, the other woman, (I'll call her Sandy*,) and my trainer. My trainer is involved because, well, that's what trainers are there for. :-)

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent.
:-p

[Beaker]

:) These are all just my personal thoughts and worth about two cents.

Well I think that it's good input, and they are things that I've considered, and since another horse person has also considered them, that means that I'm on the right track in thinking about this. I appreciate this, ladies, because I don't have any other horse people to talk to that are neutral.

[Duchess47]

The fact that you aren't planning on showing then gives you a lot more leeway in the decision on the horse. You just need a good horse that you can enjoy, without worrying about top conformation, show background, etc. etc.

Maybe if the two of you ladies talked to the trainer together and explained that you both wanted to reach a little and knew that she would be there to assist that would help her in her selection. I'm sure that she is trying to avoid being put in the position of finding a horse that is just a little bit more than you are currently riding. Is this making sense?

[Beaker]

I'm sure that she is trying to avoid being put in the position of finding a horse that is just a little bit more than you are currently riding. Is this making sense?

Oh absolutely. We're both at 2nd level, able to ride at 3rd level, which isn't too shabby considering, and I guess I'm just concerned that she's going to be too conservative, which is possible considering that she won't want to deal with the aftermath should the horse not be suitable, and frankly I don't blame her. I just need to be sure that we're on the same page, and I'm communicating with her the way that I should be, because sometimes I just let her take me where she wants me to go.

[Duchess47]

I think maybe you and "Sandy" should discuss it together and then double team your trainer :) so that she knows just where you both want to head. That will make it easier for her too.

[Beaker]

I think maybe you and "Sandy" should discuss it together and then double team your trainer :) so that she knows just where you both want to head.

Yup, and I'm meating Sandy at the barn on Sunday for just that purpose. :-)

[Duchess47]

LOL - great minds and all that :)

[Beaker]

LOL - great minds and all that :)

Absolutely! I'm glad to know that I'm doing "all the right things"

[Duchess47]

:) I think you both are on the right track. I'm really anxious to see what horse you get (not pushing or anything) but I think that will be great.

[Beaker]

I'm really anxious to see what horse you get (not pushing or anything)

Oh believe me, we're anxious too. :-) But of course, it's important to take one's time with these things, though I must admit I'm big on the immediate gratification. I want things NOW, and it's one of my biggest flaws.

[Duchess47]

I'll just interject one warning. Horses are like potato chips - you can't have just one.

[tuffydoodle]

Hoo boy, I don't know. That's gonna be a tricky situation. Wish you lived down here, I have several horses that need to be ridden...

[CindyDawg]

When you have to pay for boarding though, you limit your chips usually. I hope it works out for Beaker. An arrangement like that would drive me nuts.:')

[Beaker]

Wish you lived down here, I have several horses that need to be ridden...

lol. Sometimes I wish that I didn't live here either... :-)