FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread 12

[HaveFaith]

Yeah, she can show out at times.
It was a mix, prob. more non-gaited, but the Sun. AM ride they split us up and the gaited rode behind Janet Whittemore, one of the host trail owners. She had a “fast” gaited horse and Gary & Marilyn were there at the head of the pack. The lawyer and wife rode with us that we saw in B’ham and they were out front, too.
Hal got Gary to ride with him before the ride to see if Soldier could keep up with his horse. Nah! But, he gave it his all. He was trying to break out in a canter to keep up. Sun. was the most fun, ‘cause we got to go our speed and the evening we went out on our own. Beth was on Bob and holding him back to make him stay “under control”.

[BladeRider]

The lawyer and wife rode with us that we saw in B’ham and they were out front, too.

Why am I not surprised Mr TV Lawyer was on the ride! LOL. That would have been a good ride for Jake, he could have kept up easy! Poor Blade would have given up before he gave out. Lazy little boy.

[HairOfTheDog]

Hair: What did the shoer do? Do yours just not stay on long because of the terrain? Seems like he comes more than ours.

I've never ~wanted~ a shoer to come out this often before, but Bay needed it. The way Bay's feet are growing right now at four weeks his heels were already horribly run forward and he was all toe. Even the vet commented on it when he was here so I wanted him to come back.

It's so frustrating to me getting a shoer I like. This guy should be good but I don't like how he's shoeing. I took some pictures, I just haven't wanted to talk about shoes, lol. Knock on wood, at least Bay's moving OK.

He didn't trim Cyn or the pony... they're fine still.

[HairOfTheDog]

Has there been much posting on horse forum about the Derby tragedy? I did not watch, after last year the Derby just kinda lost its appeal for me.

I agree on not wanting to watch any more...

There was this discussion of the derby... I posted my thoughts on it there... Tragic Derby ending for Eight Belles (Stress Analysis)

[HairOfTheDog]

These pictures are cool! I hope to one day see the show!

[BladeRider]

Now... just because a horse is young doesn’t mean it should be bubble wrapped and prevented from moving... good exercise, including running and playing in big wide open spaces is vital to physical development, just as it is for our own children during the growing phase. Some work under saddle during the growing phase of a horse is arguably good for them, the movement and ‘stress’ to the structure while they are still growing encourages them to grow even stronger. The debate is always about how much is too much. The powers-that-be will never raise the age these horses are raised, so the question may be moot.

This was a good point. Self limited exercise is what we do with the setter puppies. They are not allowed to play with dogs older than them because they may try to keep up and overdo it. In dogs there are many recognized bone problems due to working a dog to early and to hard. Horse rely on their feet and legs so much more than a dog, you would think it would behoove (sp?) the racing industry to allow them to grow just one more year. Make the Derby something they have to Qualify for the year before, kinda like Westminster is in dogs or the Eukanuba Invitational. Make it for 5 year olds. The horse SHOULD be the #1 priority.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I had the truck radio on yesterday while I was watching the grandchildren (and cleaning out the weekend debris) and heard someone comment that "a contributing factor might have been that the horse was a filly running with the boys."

But it would seem to be a good idea to raise the age. I have a 3 y.o. filly up in the pasture and it's very apparent she's not fully grown yet. And I don't know beans yet about horses.

[BladeRider]

heard someone comment that "a contributing factor might have been that the horse was a filly running with the boys."

My personal opinion on that is a filly is as capable of running with the colts, but they should be older-4 or 5 years. My gelding Blade has grown at leasat a coupl of inches since I got him as a 3 year old, he is now 6. Wait til they are done growing before stressing those bones.

[HaveFaith]

Agreed. Faith was almost 3 and in just over a year either she’s grown or my leg has shrunk!

[CindyDawg]

Awww:’)

[CindyDawg]

Huh. That’s interesting. They are about the same then? Looking at it from the human side I would think a girl would have to work much harder to compete with guys. I’ve seen them keep up with the boys in cross country but not on the track.

[FrogInABlender]

Well, I finally figured that If I was ever going to have time to post pictures if our trail ride it was going to have to be before I go to work, so here goes...

Here's a pic of our original campsite. It was great at first, with plenty of shade and the horse corrals right behind, but when it rained during the night that red clay spot they put in to level up the upper spot turned into a muddy mess, so we moved to a more grassy spot across the way...

Daisy and Soldier in their stalls...

Bob and Hope...

My bed buddy. I think Kari said her name was Callie, but Hal called her Nasty. I have no idea why because she sure was sweet...

Kari and her nephew Stephen before we rode out on Saturday morning...

Me and Stephen...

Crowd shots before Sunday morning's ride. I sure was glad the weather turned out nicer!...

During the opening ceremonies, which had been postponed from Saturday morning because of the rain, I got this shot of this guy who had taught his horse to bow, and he did it every time the flag bearer passed in front of him. It was pretty cool!

Out on the trail...

Peruvian Pasos...

And that's all folks. We met lots of nice people, had lots of good food, and a good time was had by all. What more can you ask?!

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Great shots -- what fun.

It came a gullywasher Saturday morning - we were up by Pisgah trying to get the house ready for company. I thought the yardwork stuff wasn't going to happen, but then it turned out fine.

Love the color of Stephen's horse.

[FrogInABlender]

The horse that Stephen was on is my filly Hope, a half sister to Bob, the horse that I was riding.

Stephen is a student at Montevallo and I really enjoyed riding with him. He’s really fun to be around. He had ridden with Kari at her house a time or two before but this was his first “real” trail ride and he did great. There was a time or two that I was amazed that he stayed on, but then he made the comment that his gymnastics classes had finally paid off, so that explained that. The kid had great balance. He was a little scared at first about letting Hope rack on out, but once he got the hang of it he had a blast. Now he’s as addicted to horses and speed as the rest of us. ;o)

[HairOfTheDog]

Great pictures.... wondered where you were!

I wasn’t around much yesterday either... finally had my dentist appt. I skipped a couple weeks ago, and they tell me I have to come back and get a couple fillings in June. :~|

[FrogInABlender]

...they tell me I have to come back and get a couple fillings in June. :~|

Don't you just hate that! But I guess their appointment book is full every day with checkups so they have to bump you out to where they have an opening. Understandable I guess, but aggravating.

[HairOfTheDog]

Ugh is it.

There sure were a lot of people on that ride! Yikes! I bet Bay would have been a little snorty at the flag lady. I’m impressed by the guy whose horse will bow. :~)

[FrogInABlender]

There were a hundred or so I guess. It was a pretty good mix of gaiteds, non-gaiteds and mules. There was even one Icelandic. You don't see those much around here.

The bowing horse's rider had a little riding crop and he would tap him on the left shoulder to cue him to do it. I'll bet he did it 7 or 8 times coz I got a picture of it 3 times.

[HairOfTheDog]

It’s a fun trick to have taught him. I thought about teaching my pony to bow... worked on it for about an hour one afternoon....

The trouble with me is sticking with things :~)

[FrogInABlender]

The only trick I ever taught was to my old guy Tennessee. He’ll pick up my hat in his mouth and give it to me if it gets knocked off on the trail. That’s come in handy more than once.