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The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - (very out of date) Who's Who *pics*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

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I think there may be some preliminary flying lessons going on with the swallows this morning. I don’t think the babies will take the plunge today, but mom and dad and spending a lot of time flutter around in front of the next, and going back and forth, and chattering (vocal instructions?:). I’ve been sitting out side watching so Bink can go out for awhile. He’s going to have to stay in the house now unless I’m out there watching.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

next=nest.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

We’re watching it now.

I think you might find it very basic for your level... but I remember it having very good information in it for beginners. He’s talking now about checking them over for injuries, checking their feet. I recall he spends quite a bit of time on saddle placement and cinching up...

For free... you might as well get it :~)

See... I thought Clinton Anderson was older than this guy :~)

[HairOfTheDog]

Ah - cool! Take some pics if you can!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Nah, he is a fairly young guy. Kind a cute:) Love his accent.

He talked about how when he was really young, that he had trouble getting people to let him work with their horses because they didn’t think he could be good at his age. He learned a lot of his stuff from some old mentor he talks about.

I wouldn’t mind seeing the part of saddle placement. Every single time I put my saddle on I wonder if I’m getting it right. I think I may have a tendency to get it too far forward. But of course it does could slip back some after just a short time, but that’s always been something I’ve had questions about, that no one has ever been able to give me a definitive answer on. It’s one of those things I think I’m just being thick about:)

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I’ve taken a few, but it’s hard to catch them in flight. I was trying to load them but my hosting sight is down right now.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Horses are so strange....I’ve got Harley saddled up and standing tied where I can see him. You know I mentioned the last couple of times I’ve rode, he did a lot of back and forth pacing and pawing while tied, something he’d never done till now,,,today he is standing there quiet as a mouse, actually looks like he’s sleeping..So what was his problem before, and why is it OK now...who knows. Hope he rides as nice today as he is standing there.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Maybe there was something bugging him the other day... an itch he couldn’t reach, bugs, a bee, something in the wind, who knows.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Who knows indeed, and that’s the part about horses that makes me looney...always trying to figure out the why’s and what for’s of their behavior.:) It’s full time job. Well, I’m off.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Have a good ride :~)

Take pictures!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

We had a great ride:) No pictures tho, sorry.

Not one problem today. I still think I was more the cause of the problem then him, and by myself riding for pleasure, I’m a lot better horseman:). Now I just need to learn to transfer that to competition.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I can see that.

I think the tendency to rush the judged obstacles is pretty common. Just try to put out of your mind that someone’s watching and ride the horse.

Easy to say, right?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

LOL...right. Rushing is exactly what I did too.

Oh well, I’m just glad to know my horse is not turning into a brat:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

We all have our days. :~)

[Beaker]

Back from the clinic. Exhausted. More later.

[HairOfTheDog]

That’s not a very good report Beaker! Come back and tell us how it went!

[HairOfTheDog]

Rainy day pictures...

Bay spending the day in the barn...

Wet Pony pony doesn't care about the rain...

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I’ve always thought there was something funny about a horse standing in a doorway like that looking out:) I don’t know why tho.

Becky

[Beaker]

OK a proper report! I should start out by saying that I didn't get any pictures, BUT I will be doing a clinic again in July or August, and there will be plenty of pictures then I promise.

The clinic went smashingly. There were two of us riding, and the second rider far outclassed me, but I certainly held my own. We did some lateral work, mostly walk-trot, three loop serpintines etc. I rode for more than an hour, and when Levi was good and tired, then we cantered. :-) He was definitely charging around the ring to begin with, but was amazingly well behaved. With the second horse there, he felt safe, which was fine with me. He did have a screaming fit when she disappeared into the barn, and there was a token spook when we went into the barn, but that was IT as far as misbehavior went. My trainer said that he never behaved so well, and it was like he was taking care of me. But dear GOD am I tired.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Hey, now, that sounds great. You did good, we’re proud of you:)

Sounds to me Levi did well too. I’ve gotten the impression he’s fairly new at some of this???, so for him to work well like that is an accomplishment for you to be proud of:)

Good job.

Becky