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The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - (very out of date) Who's Who *pics*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

[estrogen]

I have a two horse slant stock trailer.

[HairOfTheDog]

Does he load easily?

Do you usually tie him and close the divider? Would he travel well loose or with the divider open, so he can move around more?

[CindyDawg]

I understand that. I would take mine out at a ranch but no way on Walmart Parking lot:')

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

The girl that I fed horses for last year...she hauls horses all over the country as part of her business. But she has a huge trailer, that has "air ride" suspension, that she says the horses can't feel anything as far as vibration, etc....She says she's ridden with them and been able to stand and drink a drink and not spill anything....that would make a difference for the horse I would imagine.

I'll have to call her and ask some questions about how long, tied untied, etc...she hasn't always had such a nice rig:)

From what she says she makes more money doing that then with her training and boarding...

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I had some hyacinth bloom yesterday....every spring I'm so amazed how such a little flower can put out so much scent..As I walked outside this morning, it just smelled so nice. I have a lot more that hasn't bloomed yet, should really be nice when it all has:)

The pansies are really coming on now, I'll get some pictures later today, out of batteries:). I have echinacea coming up too that I planted last year, and my rose buses have leafed out quite a bit. The ornamental grass has green in it..It just seems to happen overnight:)

Becky

[FrogInABlender]

I absolutely LOVE hyacinths! I just wish they bloomed all year long. They don't last near long enough for me. Another plant I really love to smell is Gardenias. One of these days I'm going to plant one. I've bought them before and planted them in containers but they always croak on me during the winter.

My pansies are even thicker than they were in that last picture I posted, and the 60 red tulip bulbs I planted in with them are really leafing out too. I should have blooms in another week or so. I'll definately get pictures of that because it's really an eye-popper with the bright red on top of all that yellow.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I know, I wish they lasted longer too...If they weren't so easy to grow, I wouldn't mess with them..But they come back every year, kind of like Iris, you don't have to do anything at all to them.

I can't wait to see your tulips, that will be very pretty,,,but tulips don't last long either and you DO have to do stuff to them to keep them coming back. I've had no luck with them. Kristy gave me 3 trays of bulbs that she got out of a friends garage...the bulbs are over a year old, but I put them in just in case...nothing yet, but they've only been in since last week.

Becky

[BladeRider]

Darn you lol. Now I'm eating another. Oh well.:')

It wil get better, will power is not my strongest suit. Just don't let it get you down if you fall off the wagon. It took me about a week to 10 days to get over the cravings and form my appetite to calm down. I only bring to work what I "should" eat during my 8-5 day. Hard part is almost everyone has a candy dish at their desk and I have to keep on walking. One day at a time. One incident at a time.

[FrogInABlender]

Yeah, I treat tulips as annuals. They're WAY too much trouble otherwise. I bought that box of 60 from Sam's Club for $13 so it's no great loss if they don't come back. I'll just buy another box this fall.

The tulips you planted last week probably won't bloom even if they do come up. They need 8 to 12 weeks of cold temps first. I've tried to force them by putting the bulbs in the fridge but haven't had any luck with that either. Like I say, too much trouble.

[BladeRider]

I would take mine out at a ranch but no way on Walmart Parking lot:')

Been there done that! Had a flat on the trailer and had to get a new tire at Walmart and had to unload my mare while they were changing it. It was in Paducah KY and was back off the road so wasn't to bad. I walked her off to a field behind Walmart while hubby dealt with the tires. We travel a lot and have done 7-8 hour stretches with no problem. They have hay to munch on in the manger and when stop to offer them water when we gas up and stay put for a while so they are not always trying to balance in a moving trailer.

[CindyDawg]

Yeah we had a flat and went to Walmart too. We left them in though because loading had been a challlenge. Walmart was very helpful. We got bumped to the top. We were rolling again in no time. If it had been longer I would have taken them out though because it was hot.

[BladeRider]

We were rolling again in no time. If it had been longer I would have taken them out though because it was hot.

Queen is a pretty good loader and we had a little WW 2 horse straight load and due to insurance reasons Walmart did not do trailers so we had to jack the trailer up, remove the tire so they could mount it then put the tire back on. It was a simple process made difficult by red tape.

[MissTargets]

Good Morning.

Dang, if we didn't have snow last night! St. Patrick's Day is notorious for snow around this parts.

[CindyDawg]

If this pops up twice. I'm sorry. I don't know what happened to the first post

Anyway, I was saying same thing here. They loaned us a floor jack but took the rim and mounted a tire as soon as we had it off. Mine load sort of ok. It was over a 100 and the horses were comfortable so we left them in. If it had been longer we would have unloaded but the gelding just likes to get a little worked up first and let me know what he thinks about going in boxes. Funny thing is , once he is in, he calms down and looks around like "where are we going? Anything to eat in here"? The mare walks right in but will not eat or drink and looks like she just knows she is going somewhere just terrible.

[MissTargets]

Wow, you are really moving along with your plans. Good for you! Congrats on the new job. Southerns are very friendly, you won't have a problem adjusting.

Waylon should be fine alone, I wouldn't advise getting another horse, unless your husband wants to start riding. Buy him some balls and other toys to keep him busy. A couple of barn cats would give him some company also.

If it was me traveling that distance, I would make arrangements to stop along the way. Quite a few stables offer lodging for people and horses. Here is a link

[FrogInABlender]

Wow Estrogen, that's really great about the move and the new job and new house. I would LOVE to live in a subdivision like that! With 30 miles of trails, you should be able to keep Waylon in top-knotch shape. If you decide to get Waylon a pasture mate and want another gaited horse, let me know. I've got some nice ones.

As for leaving him barefoot, that's what I would do. I've got one that's been barefoot for almost a year now and she does great, even on rocks. But a lot of it depends on the horse and on the kind hoofcare that you can find in your area. I think most Rocky Mountain horses have pretty good feet, so he's got that in his favor. I'll bet he'll do just fine if you can find a good barefoot trimmer to really get his feet in shape.

[MissTargets]

There was a show on last night, about a man who ate nothing but MacDonald's food 3 times a day for 30 days. He gained about 30 lbs, blood pressure went sky high, cholesterol levels were killing his liver and he was very lethargic. Granted not too many people would eat fast food that much, but it did show how it can be very addictive,because it does taste good. Even the salads are very high in fat. The majority of the nutritionist that they polled, said even eating fast food once a month is too much.

In order to lose weight, keep it off and feel a whole like better, you have to change your life style, as Becky stated.

Maureen, is a fitness trainer. That woman eats like a horse, but she eats good foods and does work out all the time. Personally, I can't stand to go to the gym, but walks and just getting off your butt, works wonders.

[CindyDawg]

Eating out can be a life style for me if I let it. I like the fruit salad at McDonald's though. Sometimes I will get that and a small sandwich. Don't yall get tired of it all though? Tired of counting points, calories, fats, carbs, x glasses of water, 10000 steps,... I'm just trying to eat healthier. The only thing I'm committing to is writing what I eat in a journal. If that doesn't work I think I'll commit myself to a fat farm. (one with horses)

[MissTargets]

Those horses are a great way to exercise. Mine are at home, so I have the added benefit, if you want to call it that, of mucking stalls. Riding is a wonderful workout.

Don't yall get tired of it all though? Tired of counting points, calories, fats, carbs, x glasses of water, 10000 steps,...

No, I don't even weight myself..lol Every three months, I go to the doctor for blood work and there I get weighed. My surprise was, I lost 15 lbs since I stopped working. I wasn't even trying. My clothes were loose, so I knew I lost some. No more sitting at a desk all day munching and it came off.

[Duchess47]

Exactly :)