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Posted on 01/02/2007 9:57:39 AM PST 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
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!
Oh - and good morning!
Good morning:)
I’ve been mowing this morning some. The pasture finally dried up enough I can push the weed eater thru. Got a fair amount done.
I’m now going to go back to the arena with the bucket and sponge....We’ll work for awhile on the ground again, then once Mack gets home later, I may work from the saddle...
I think part of the problem, is mostly me. He’s been just goofy enough, that I’m a bit nervous. Nothing bad, or violent...but enough to make me wonder, if I really forced the issue, I mean just let him go, (as CA says to do), till he stops on his own, how violent would he get:)...
Becky
I can understand that... I wouldn’t want to push him if you think he might blow up. But then, I’m pretty conservative about that kind of thing. I don’t want to see him rock and roll on you and get you hurt.
But then I’m maybe too conservative. Like yesterday when ecurbh went in front for awhile, which he’s been doing more of, we got to a place where, for whatever reason, Cyn just stopped and snorted about going ahead. I just went past her. ecurbh protested a little and said he was willing to push her a little, but if she’ll go if I go first, I don’t see the point. Right now when she gets apprehensive she just stops and gets rather mulish and won’t move. If he whacks her with the crop, she might go, or she might learn to spin, or back up, or do something worse. Standing and refusing to move is at least a very safe response to being scared. I applaud that.
I went a little ways and then she got in front again and was fine.
LOL...I’d have protested a bit to if I was ecurbh. Celia does that to me all the time if whatever horse I’m riding balks at something. She never gives me a chance to work the horse thru it on their own, which IMO, builds trust between horse and rider. But since ecurbh, and you will probably never go ride by yourselves, it’s not that big of an issue.
Well, Harley did 100% better today with the bucket and the sponge, and me on the ground. I actually had no problem today getting him to stand next to the bucket with the sponge floating in it, he even sniffed it and bumped it, and nibbled at it.
He did kind of stretch back when I hauled it out up his side, but didn’t go anywhere. I let it hang on his shoulder and he reached around and sniffed it there too and nibbled it. I tied it to the snap on the lead, long enough that it would drag, and I went further back so it’s not like I’m there for protection, and made him drag it backwards. That didn’t seem to bother him.
It’s thundering right now, but once it either rains and stops, or doesn’t rain at all, I’ll go saddle him, and try it all from the saddle. I’m hoping Mack will be home by then:)
Becky
I understand... I’m working on not babying him so much. :~)
I just found you in a related debate on the horse forum, so I reposted and expanded on it there...
Good work on Harley... when Mack is around, hopefully he’ll take pictures :~)
I still think spurs are better then crops....it frees your hands up. If you don't get spurs that have really long shanks it really takes a lot to get the horse with them, so and accidental bump with them, is really unlikely. I know that's always the argument to not use them. Here's mine.
WEll, I don't htink it's going to rain, so I'm going to go ride awhile, maybe by the time I get back Mack will be home.
Becky
Been a busy beaver here lately. Today is the first day I have logged on since Friday. I was in Perry, GA over the weekend at a dog show and we are running electricity and water to the barn. I will try to post pictures later.
Very good! Glad you checked in...
I can agree that spurs can be better. I think a horse is less likely to buck with spurs, but that might be my particular experience too. My mustang would pop his butt up when I smacked him with a crop, never with spurs.
A Crop is not of much use on Blade, he will put his ears back to let you know he felt it but that is about it. Spurs are MUCH more affective.
Depends on the horse. Queen will give you quite a ride if you spur her. I almost wound up on the ground the first and last time I used spurs on her. A crop is sufficient enough for the old girl.
I think so. When Troy was breaking Grace he said that the first time he spurred her she went into a bucking fit that really gave him a run for his money. He was riding her with a guy on another horse and he said she bucked a complete circle around that other horse. He said the guy's eyes got big as saucers and he said he was glad he wasn't riding her. I wish I'd'a seen that!
Oh, but I wear them on her all the time now. I don’t really have to use them much though. Just a touch here or there. So he apparently got her used to them pretty quick.
Back from my ride and just in time. We got rained on the last 5 minutes or so, and now it's really coming down. Mack is here, and if it stops raining I'll saddle him up again and try the sponge in the bucket:)
I took a picture of Harley before I saddled today. He's changed colors again, and I think he doesn't look quit as portly as he did last year, a >< more trim:)
Becky
That dark blotching on him is the strangest thing! I sure hope I get to see it when we come out there coz I just can’t imagine what’s causing it. But you’re right, he does look much trimmer and I’m sure he’ll do better in the heat this summer because of it. BladeRider has really pulled the weight off of Blade and he really looks better too. Now if I can just get it off of Bob and Hope. They’re both just downright pudgy. Not near enough miles on those two here lately!
Oh, I meant to add, the blotchy spots on his shoulder is water from the sponge.
Becky
Oh, I meant to add, the blotchy spots on his shoulder is water from the sponge.
Becky
Sorry about the double post and doing this:)...but my poor dial up is having trouble with this page, I guess because of all the pictures....
Becky
Sorry about the double post and doing this:)...but my poor dial up is having trouble with this page, I guess because of all the pictures....
Becky
Sorry about the double post and doing this:)...but my poor dial up is having trouble with this page, I guess because of all the pictures....
Becky
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