The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread

[HairOfTheDog]

Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?

A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can 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. We may not ~always~ have a lot of activity, but when we do, it will be fun. I will put 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 will also develop a ping list for horse threads that are of interest. 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.

I am hoping this thread will be a 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.

[CindyDawg]

I'm looking for one in Aug for my husband. He's going to start practicing on one of the school horses on trails. I was telling Becky that I don't know if the instructor offered to just be nice or wants me to have a keeper. (I've decided I like out of the arena better and I make her nrevous:') We want to go to Big Ben when it cools off and go camping.

[HairOfTheDog]

I was kinda standing in the center, and Bay would just keep coming in to me and stopping...

When ecurbh trotted the first couple times, Bay kept just turning and trotting right up to me and stopping. ecurbh had to work it to keep him in a circle.

I know Bay is dead broke and will never buck, but he doesn't 'know' as many of the finer things a school horse should know. He doesn't have a nice steady jog-trot, and he doesn't neck rein well... you really have to two hand him.

[CindyDawg]

My instructor had to stand back because her school horses would come up to her and stop too. She called it "looking for momma".

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

He's an endurance horse right? See, I don't think trail horses really ever neck rein anyway. I've had/seen horses that necked rein, but you get them out on the trail in a group and the group takes off, or the horse spooks at something you always have to get all the slack out with two hands, and then by then you can be in trouble. I think it's better to learn two hand.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

What's stopping you? Becky took me out on my first trail ride the day I saw him :') I wasn't pretty but it was lots of fun. We rode for a couple of hours but it didn't seem like it. I didn't get tired at all until I got tired and then it was time to stop.

[ecurbh]

Well, for one thing we only have the one horse between the two of us, so either Hair or I would have to borrow one.

[HairOfTheDog]

"looking for momma"

Exactly what he was doin. ;~D

[HairOfTheDog]

I agree on reining... You have more precise control two handed. But my cowboy friends disagree! Bay will neck rein for me, but I have to use a lot of leg, and he has to want to go that way anyway. ;~D

But I wish ecurbh could ride one handed so he could hang on to the horn if he needs to. Now, if Bay lurches on him, all he's got to hang on with ~is~ the reins and what's left of his seat.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I ride in a western saddle, but I rein like an English rider. Use more of an English bit too. Your cowboy friends ever trail ride?

Becky

[CindyDawg]

Can a horse learn both?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

She keeps selling herself short. She did very good. And I did not take her on just the easy trails. I wanted to make sure as much as I could that she would be alright with him. He is young and she was new, so I figured if she could go where I took her she'd do fine at home:)

Okie is young but very level headed, and actually acts better when you ride him then for ground work, leading, tied up etc. He spent alot of time tied to the tree here. He ripped on of my stirrup fenders off one day with his teeth:( I mean ripped the leather right in half. I figured the leather must have been bad, but when I took it to the shop to be fixed they said the leather was fine. He just was always checking stuff out:)

Becky

[CindyDawg]

You are lucky. I figure what's the use in having a horn on your saddle if you can't use it but if I get caught holding it I get threatened with going back to an english saddle which to me is the same anyway except the stirrups higher.

[HairOfTheDog]

Your cowboy friends ever trail ride?

That's all they do.

This is my friend Bob following after me on trail, and this is how he likes to ride. One hand, loose rein, quiet horse that never lurches... He likes a good steady mule, but here he is on his horse. Picture your typical Southern sheriff.

[lysie]

Nice thread. Could you add me to your ping list? Thanks.

[CindyDawg]

Aww thanks. He's still curious though. I don't know if I should but I let him check everything going on him out. I let him sniff the saddle blanket and saddle first and show him brushes etc before using them. I do it because he would try to turn his head around to see. Now when I show him he keeps his head straight (most of the x)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

You mean both western and english??

Yes and no.

I don't think so:), English horses SHOULD move totally different then a western horse. IMO, anyway, from what I have been taught when Jenny was doing 4H.

Use to be people had their english horses and their western horses.

I think the show industry saw they would make more money at their shows if they made them more similar because they would get people who could only afford one horse to sign up for both kinds.

When you go to the smaller class shows now a days about the only differnce between the two is the saddle and the clothes the rider wears. I find it very aggravating. I've seen english horses going around in an almost western jog trot. and western horses, moving out.

It's been awhile since I've been to a class A show, so I donn't know if it's changed much there or not. But class A shows are all about politics. Who knows who, which trainers are there, who has the most sparkles on their clothes and the most silver on their saddles. I'm not a big show lover.

Becky

[DouglasKC]

I know Cindy will enjoy this, but thought you guys might too. You've always said you like to read my babbling about the horses:)

Thanks Becky...I do and I will...

[CindyDawg]

No, I meant neck and direct reining caz Okie doing both. During lessons its always neck but when I have him by myself I find since I'm holding with two hands I tend to pull back instead of across and he seems to respond better. Not trying to mix him up. Just I notice it happens. If I was holding the reins with one hand it wouldn't but I'm using both.

[HairOfTheDog]

You're right.

I think there are horses that can be real good medium level competitors in both disciplines, but to be really good, it confuses them to be two different kinds of horses.

The head set and their gaits should look different, and it to often looks the same.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

:)

Becky