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The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - (very out of date) Who's Who *pics*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

[BladeRider]

We've been there lots and lots of times.

These are some picture we took while there, it is a pretty place. Luckily the wild hogs were more afraid of us and ran off into the woods.

[FrogInABlender]

So how did today's ride go?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I haven't been yet today....I'm getting supper in the oven as we speak and then I'll be off to saddle and go for his 40 minutes.

Mon. is Jenny's day off and we spend the day together running errands. I just got home a few minutes ago, Harley is eating.

Becky

[AnAmericanMother]

I think I've cantered down that very road with the crew from our barn!

[FrogInABlender]

We kept on seeing hog sign all along the trail on Saturday. They had wallows all over the place. I sure was glad that we didn't see any. My other riding buddy Shirley said that they usually hear you coming long before you get there and make themselves scarce. I sure hope that continues to be true. I don't think I'd have a problem getting away from them on a horse, but not if the goofy horse saw it and dumped me off first. Then the horse would just have to be faster than ME. ;o)

[BladeRider]

I think I've cantered down that very road with the crew from our barn!

There were several other GA State Parks we were looking at visiting this year. Got any recommendations?

[AnAmericanMother]

I hate meeting them when I have my dogs with me. My little pup is discreet and sticks close to me, but my big Lab is convinced that she can whip her weight in bo' hogs. Fortunately she heels and sits on command and I have an Ecollar on her to enforce that.

I still don't wander around the island without my .45 on my belt. It hasn't come to that yet, all we have to do is pop them in the butt with a pellet gun when they get too close, but I want a little insurance with me.

[BladeRider]

but not if the goofy horse saw it and dumped me off first

I know what your horses think about hogs and pigs! Blade thinks they are "of the devil" and will surely eat him alive!

[BladeRider]

I still don't wander around the island without my .45 on my belt. It hasn't come to that yet, all we have to do is pop them in the butt with a pellet gun when they get too close, but I want a little insurance with me

I think Shirley was telling us yesterday that it is legal to shoot them as long as there is something in season at the time, isn't that what he was saying Frog?

[AnAmericanMother]

Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park has lots of big open fields as well as wooded trails. If you like to canter it's perfect. There are also some jumps (fallen trees) if you like that sort of stuff. There's a nice parking area for horse trailers at the trailhead.

Another possibility is the Conyers Horse Park. They have a couple of really nice trails which wind up on the old 3-day event jump course. We looked and looked for something small enough to jump (so we could say we had "schooled on the Olympic Course"), but the big jumps were TOO BIG and the little jumps had all been overgrown with weeds and brush. Next time I'm bringing some brush clippers in my bag and we're going to MAKE a jump small enough to negotiate for a normal horse!

The Chickamauga Battlefield Park has a nice trailer area and some excellent trails that cover the battlefield. West Point does one of its Battlefield Rides there, so they're set up for horses. It's pretty country, and again there are some nice open areas for a brisk canter.

[FrogInABlender]

Yeah, he said that as long as it's a hunting season of any kind that you can hunt them too, as long as you do it with the ammo that's approved for whatever game is in season. So I wouldn't wanna try to bag one during squirrel season! ;o)

[CindyDawg]

She's told us stories:')

[CindyDawg]

All of this just makes me want to pack up and go somewhere, anywhere:')

[FrogInABlender]

I have been to Chickamauga before. It was a nice ride. There's about 10 miles of trails I think. One of these days we need to see about the 3 of us meeting up for a ride sometime.

[BladeRider]

Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park has lots of big open fields as well as wooded trails. If you like to canter it's perfect. There are also some jumps (fallen trees) if you like that sort of stuff. There's a nice parking area for horse trailers at the trailhead.

We try to find places that have stalls and electrical hook ups so we can camp. It is about a 3 hour drive to Atlanta and we like to spend at least 2-3 days there. Both our horses are gaited so we don't do much cantering but racking on the trails is about the same. We try not to let them jump either. Although sometimes they have their own ideas about stepping over logs.

[FrogInABlender]

...We try not to let them jump either...

Not me! I like to jump. Stuff that's between knee-high and crotch high anyways, I just don't know how very well and neither do my horses. One of these days I'd like to learn.

[BladeRider]

One of these days we need to see about the 3 of us meeting up for a ride sometime.

That would be fun. NE AL and NW GA have some grat trails. We rented a cabin one year on Toccoa (sp) River area, that was a pretty area to.

We stopped here on the way home and rode

[BladeRider]

Not me! I like to jump. Stuff that's between knee-high and crotch high anyways,

Yeah, I have seen you and Tennessee jump! LOL. Hope was doing a pretty good job this weekend.

[FrogInABlender]

She's fun to ride and she's a game little bugger. She'll go most anywhere you'll point her and she'll stand still when you want her to too. I'm having second thoughts about selling her!

[FrogInABlender]

That's a nice looking cabin!

Well, I'm outta here. Gotta go feed then home. Seeya tomorrow...