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The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - (very out of date) Who's Who *pics*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

[HairOfTheDog]

Exactly... he said she was harder, as a training issue, than one that simply refused, because you can correct the outright misbehavior easier than the one who does what you want but grumbles about it.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

We just got back. Both of us are dripping, but Mr. Harley was showing his butt today, so we had to keep going till he decided to behave. He did a slight rear up once when backing, then he did his sidewise bouncing down the trail, twice, he stepped on Grizzly which called a bouncing around episode... He kept wanting to “run” instead of lope...the first hour he was just an all around dope.

I don’t know what got into him, but since the ride he’s been being a bit of a pill. Probably because of me, I didn’t handle him well at the ride. I was so nervous I was in his mouth alot, I’ll admit it:)...so now I’m having to reassure him, I’m not going to do that. It just seems the slightest pressure on him, and he gets pushy/pulley on the bit.

Does any of that make sense:)

Becky

[FrogInABlender]

I think all that stems from the fact that she’s not AFRAID of people. Or better yet, doesn’t RESPECT people, so she doesn’t have that will to please that the other two have. But as long as she’s cooperative, you can put up with the rest.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yeah, why complain just because she doesn’t “look” right? As long as she stands and doesn’t pull away, I’d not worry about. However:), I would, because of experience’s, keep an eye out always for her to maybe bite or kick....you never know with the quiet ones that aren’t happy, when they are going to reach their limit. I doubt seriously Cyn would do anything, you just never know tho.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Huh... I don’t know what to make of that, or why he’d suddenly become a butt now.

[HairOfTheDog]

She’s never actually kicked... yet.
She’s never actually bitten... yet.

But I don’t trust her. You’re right, it’s the quiet ones that end up in the bell tower with a machine gun ;~)

Even when Bay acted up, I know he wouldn’t kick... when he pulled out of the farrier’s hands I picked up his back foot and stretched it every which way, he wasn’t particularly stiff, I think he was just acting stiff for the farrier because when the farrier has him he is as tense as a rubber band.

[FrogInABlender]

Yeah, it does. But at least you rode him through it. I have days like that witn Bob, but it’s usually because he doesn’t get rode near enough and he’s feeling sassy and wanting to do what HE wants to do, which is usually to be right on top of the horse he’s following. I don’t know what might be causing Harley to be doing that, since you definately ride him regular and usually ride him alone. Strange!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I think he just got tired of me pulling on him, and he’s still pissed at it:), can’t says I blame him.

But something else that I think about horses. I’ve come to think that they do go thru a rebellious teenage stage, anywhere between 6-10, They can be great for years, 3-5..then get really pissy. He’s 8, so maybe that’s what’s going on. Kind of a coincedence tho that it’s happening right after the ride. But like right now, he’s standing out there pawing tied up...he’s never done that till just the other day..??

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well since the ride, he’s only been out 3-4 times, and all of them have been easy, easy. Today, I wanted to make him work a bit...

But thinking about it, he pulled some of this stuff a little bit before the ride too, so it could be he’s being a teenager:)

Becky

[Beaker]

"You can make me do what you want, but you can't make me like it, or YOU!" ;o)

We have a mare who will do what you want, but to express her displeasure will clamp her tail to her butt and pinch and pucker her lip in. All of our mares are "mare-ish" and try to bully you a bit if you let them get away with it. I wish that I could get pictures of it, it's definitely a "You're p!ssing me off but I won't bite or kick because I know better!" face.

[FrogInABlender]

...She’s never actually kicked... yet. She’s never actually bitten... yet. But I don’t trust her

If she ever does, she's going to be one of the ones that you need to correct REALLY fast and REALLY hard. Otherwise she's liable to become a holy terror if she thinks she can get by with it. Some horses you can get by with just scaring them really bad, but she don't scare, so she's gonna have to be SHOWN.

[Beaker]

Well, don't forget, that farrier was responsible for the boogery cart that bit him. ;-) In Bay's mind, who knows that else the farrier has up his sleeve.

[HairOfTheDog]

You’re right about that Frog ;~)

We did talk about the fact that she’s got a bunch of fresh marks on her butt. I think Bay’s had it with her backchatter too ;~)

[HairOfTheDog]

He hasn’t forgotten that cart either... every time he moved it Bay got all wide eyed.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

LOL....maybe Cyn is going thru the teen years:)...how old is she?

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Huh - well, could be. Cyn’s 8 too.... right?

[HairOfTheDog]

I just asked the same question... she’s either 8 or 9.

[FrogInABlender]

...Well since the ride, he’s only been out 3-4 times, and all of them have been easy, easy. Today, I wanted to make him work a bit...

I definitely think they can get it in their heads what is "supposed" to happen when you ride, like you're "supposed" to ride to this place for this long then come back be done, and when that doesn't happen they get pissed. But then you usually ride different places and usually leave him tied for a while when you get back, so I don't know if that's it or not. It's a mystery.

[FrogInABlender]

Heh, the BayMan knows how to handle mouthy wimmen! ;o)

[HairOfTheDog]

Heh... yeah, he does. She’s got teeth marks.