| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 12/30/2004 7:09:47 PM PST by Admin Moderator, reason:
Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 09/18/2004 6:56:23 AM PDT by 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. In the last thread we had a great time and were a great help to each other working through lessons and training, horse lamenesses and illnesses, questions and challenges and always just our stories we like to tell.
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 Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) 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 last thread, 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.
We use to have an Arab that my daughter showed in 4H shows. He always waited to pee when it was her turn to do that class were riders work alone in the arena. Everytime:) They'd call her number and he would stretch out to pee.
Becky
Yeah, I've never thought he'd make it western pleasure. Even the palomino expert from "that place:)" commented on how he covered so much ground with seeminly little effort. Of course that is good for a barrel horse:)
Becky
And he's a stud. ;~D
Just means the plumbing working. Besides it "entertains" the crowds:')
I agree 110%. I think western pleasure horses look dumb and beat down.
That show that Jenny showed in this spring, the 2 horses that won the western pleasure horses, altho beautiful horses, looked so dead in the eyes, going around with their noses in the dirt.
Is what gets me, is in the reining classes not one horse that was being asked to do work other then walk trot canter carried their heads that way. I don't think they COULD do anything like that. Sad.
Becky
Arab people have done something equally wacky with English pleasure. When I was showing, my stallion was a champion English pleasure horse. You've seen him in pics, he moved pretty and carried himself with a little bit more flair and impulsion than in Western and Hunter, but still moved and handled with ease that would make the horse a pleasure to ride. The type of horse the 'gentleman class' might ride into town to do business.
Now they look like this:
Gorgeous to watch, but only "English Pleasure" in the sense that riding a tornado is "pleasurable".
There always was a "Park Horse" class for Arabs of that type. Now they are the standard in English Pleasure, and they have had to create a new category "Country Pleasure" in order to give regular horses a place to show.
LOL..what a good way to put it. The Arab that Jenny showed was actually my horse. But he had alot of training for the show ring. But there were times...I remember one time I was "helping" herd some cows. He was cantering in place...whew! And that was when I was still a very green rider. One of the guys we were with asked me "what the hell is that horse doing" :)
I never got comfortable on that horse altho he never did anything to dump me, but he always felt like I was on a tornado, and it didn't help that my 10 year old daughter thought it was "FUN" to ride him.
Becky
So the Quarter Horse people want their horses to look almost dead, and the Arab people have turned theirs into tornados.... somewhere in-between are the good, well rounded horses regular people like ;~D
I guess it's just a result of the "evolution" of horses. Before cars, horses were the means of transportation, now they are mainly just for pleasure and hobby. It kills me that good trail riders are kind of looked down on. At least here. Like trail riding is nothing. YOu have to show or compete.
I have an aquintance who does barrels, so she says, I've never seen her do anything but a few exhibitions. She worked with this one horse for 5 years, but never competed. We went along time once not seeing each other. I ran into her at a roping. She asked me "are you still doing your "little" trail rides. I almost responded "Yes, are you still doing your little exhibitions.:)
She came up here once to trail ride with me and several others. We rode for about 2 hours, When we got back I was in our arena working on leads, I was on my mare, her husband was watching and said "you can't that horse has been rode for 2 hours" all their horses had that head down tired look, and wouldn't canter to save thier souls.
Becky
I do like the Arabs for their naturally high carriage... Like your daughter, I think it 'fun' when they are coiled and trotting and cantering in place.
I like how Bay will trot in place (piaffe for the dressage set) the first few miles down trail when he is feeling good. I just didn't want ecurbh learning and a horse that was ~quite~ that eager to ~spring~. I think that Cyn is real quiet and stable for him to get started on, and yet probably has the endurance and youth to go all day, quietly walking while Bay coils and piaffes. Kindof like the tortiose and the hare ;~D
That's ok. I would probably have to pee first too:')
How would I find "shows" around here to go watch? I keep running into dead ends. Anything to do with horses is like a secret club that I haven't been able to tap into.
Gobblin was probably not a good one for me to have at the time. We had originally bought him for Jenny, when she was like 8. And he was too much for her then. At that time we had to put my horse down, and at the same time heard about this pony that was a great horse for a beginner. Since we only had enough money to buy one horse at the time, I took Gobblin and we bought the pony for Jen. Then after a time Jenny was able to use Gobblin in the shows.
Funny, I went from him to my "crazy" mare. Mack always thought my main reason for not liking Gobblin was stupid, and now I know he was right. At that time I did not like red flecked grays, I wanted a bay. Now color isn't important to me. Bay's are my favorite, but one that won't kill me is my top priority now:)
When I sold Gobblin the girl that tried him could sure make him do lots of stuff I didn't know he could. He was just overtrained for my abilities at the time. He would do that stuff with me, and I thought he was being nuts, but now I know I was probably queing him to do it without knowning it.
Becky
LOL...I wondered if he sensed Jenny's nervousness spike when they called her number and responded in kind:)
Becky
What's the name of the town you live in? or a big one close by?
Becky
Is there a show arena near you that could hold special events with crowds? Anyone at the barn who shows, either in open or breed shows? I'd look for ads either at the tack shops or on a schedule at the local show arena. I bet there are lots of shows near you.
I found one schedule in a google search that lists several Paint (APHA) shows in Texas in November, not sure which are near you. They do sortof have a season, and there are more shows in the spring and summer leading up to the Nationals that are usually in the fall.
http://www.showhorsepromotions.com/aphanov04.htm
That's just one promoter.... there may be others by different show organizers, and even 'open' shows with many breeds showing side by side would be interesting for you. And open shows are a little more at the level of regular folk that aren't into showing. When you get to the upper levels at breed shows, they stop resembling the horse you have in your back yard, as you gathered maybe from the conversation Becky and I were having.
Here's a more complete list of APHA approved shows in Texas.
http://www.aphaonline.com/cgi-bin/DTTRANSACT
My trainer's horse will only pee in his stall, no matter what. As soon as he gets in there, it's instant Niagra Falls.
Saddle Seat horses always look like they're ready to explode. Every time.
And mine ~won't~ pee in his stall. Bangs on the gate at 5:00 in the morning if he's been in all night.... Walks two feet out the door and pees.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.