The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!

[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.

[HairOfTheDog]

I know.... and they didn't ~used~ to. :~\

[Beaker]

LOL...I wondered if he sensed Jenny's nervousness spike when they called her number and responded in kind:)
Horses aren't the only ones that respond this way. :-) Every time I get nervous about riding a nutty horse I have the urge to do the same. :-)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I just found another site where I can advertise for free with a picture, don't worry the same picture worked there:)


Any way, I was browsing thru the other horses there advertised and there was foal there born in 4/04 for $150,000, in the discipline section it said roping or reining. That's crazy....how do they know that, just because of bloodlines is no gurantee the horse will do that. And I thought my price was high:)

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

LOL, seems to be the common response:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Heh.... ~cough~

$150,000 for a potentially good cow-horse. That's really going to affect the cost of beef ;~D

[CindyDawg]

AW thanks. I find stuff but not locally. (Brownsville) This isn't exactly horse country. There are more horses than boarders. I see the regular few but they are just there to ride. I just need to get out more if I'm going to stick with this. Somedays I just feel like throwing in the towel or at least throwing it at someone:'). I don't know what keeps driving me.

[HairOfTheDog]

I think the show stuff is fun for the young, I enjoyed it, but I'd be loathe to get back into it now. Just enjoy your horse and the quiet of the trail. That's the best there is.

[CindyDawg]

Nah, I just would like to see what happens so I understand better what I read. Just for fun. Watching events, exhibits etc. Kind of like going to a rodeo. You don't have to participate to enjoy:')

[HairOfTheDog]

I bet there are local events somewhere nearby more often than you think. If there is no big arena, then perhaps they use the fairgrounds. Ask around at the tack shop and/or look at bulletin boards.

[Duchess47]

Do a search for _________ Horseman's Association and variations there of. Insert the name of your town, county, state where the blank is. Also check nearby counties.

ie, Nevada Horseman's Association, Northern Reno Horseman's Association, Fallon Horseman's Association, Lyon County Horsesman's Association. They will likely be open shows and you'll meet a lot of nice people.

[MissTargets]

Your photo of the Quarter Horse reminds me of the fact, that I am not going to Congress this year. My daughter works at a tack shop, that has a display there. They need her to go this weekend, to help out. My SIL has been going every weekend, to sell boots. Someone has to stay home, and take care of all the beasts. I enjoy the Million Dollar Stallion Row the best.

[HairOfTheDog]

Are you relieved to not go or do you wish you were going?

[CindyDawg]

Thanks. I'll do some checking

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Cindy, I don't know if this will help, but I truly know what you are feeling.

I don't know if I've told you this, but I had the very same problems you are having. I understand.

The first horse that we bought that was mine turned out to be the wrong horse for me. She dumped me a few times, reared up whenever I tried to take her places, and generally had me scared to death. I sent her to a trainer, who rode her awhile then called and said she wasn't the horse for me at my experience level. This person helped me trade fine another one. The FIRST day I got that horse home and rode him, he dumped me, and I broke my hand in the fall. I didn't ride for awhile.

When I did start again I wasn't real comfortable but kept trying "occasionally". Then one day Mack and I was riding, and for no reason that we could ever figure out, he bucked me off.

I did not ride again for 2 years. I tried but I could never get back on, even when Mack would be there to lead me. We'd have the horse all saddled and I would stand beside him and cry because I was so afraid. I had the horse for sale when by accident I meet the girl who had broke this horse. I told her what had happened and she very firmly said I was going to ride that horse, she was going to help me.

She came and got me on a "regular" basis and took me down to the arena. She would ride him for me to watch, then be there and watch me, coach me, IN AN ARENA, where everything felt safe and incontrol. I did that for about a year before I started taking him out on trails again. Yes, it got boring, but I was riding. And I always rode with other people. I didn't try by myself. I never did anything for that period of time but walk him. I can't say I was really having fun, but I was doing it. Like you I wondered why I kept on, still don't know:) About the time I started trails again is when I met choctawsquaw. She use to ride with me alot. She drug me places whining and fretting the whole time. If it wasn't for her and the other girl I probably would have gave up.

That was the horse I had to put down, he broke his jaw, then I got Gobblin the one I was telling Hair about earlier. Then I got the mare. I had her for over a year before I ventured out by myself. That was something like 8 years after I first started riding. I also up to this point didn't hardly do much more then walk, trot. Even when I was competing in trail rides, I only walked and trotted. I very seldom loped and then only in an arena.

2 points I'm trying to make.

You're expecting too much of yourself. Take that horse you have and stay in the arena, with people you trust around you. Don't expect to go on "trail" rides, don't push to trot and lope. If others are riding her as much as you say, she should be fine. They'll get her over her problem if herd bound was the probem. That part of her problem is not your problem.

2nd, the only thing that will make you feel better is lots of rides where everything goes good. LOTS OF RIDES. At the beginning it's not going to be fun, you are going to wonder why you're doing it, but that's natural. I'm not lectureing, just stating facts, Your confidence will not get better not riding. It won't. Your experience is soooo much like mine was it's almost scary. To get this behind you you really need to ride more then you are. Don't worry about doing everything properly, just get on the horse as often as you can and ride her. Have someone walk beside you, or have Eddie ride Okie beside you. What ever it takes to make you feel safe. There is nothing wrong with that. You'll know when it's time to move on to the next step.

I hope this helps to know others have had problems. But the key to getting thru them is do it. ALOT.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

ecurbh went riding! I almost went along, but I actually thought it important to find out how she does alone. Both how she does, and how well Bay behaves in the pasture when she goes out of sight. He's never been left behind, we've never had another horse to take away! They did fine. Bay did some following the fenceline and calling, but no major panic. She appears to be unrattle-able.

Bruce lunged her first, and he is having to learn how to lunge all over again because she reacts very differently than Bay does. I have always been one to sortof stand in the center and give orders with voice. She appears to be more 'Monty Roberts'/'Richard Shrake' round-pen trained. If you aren't moving, she doesn't move either. You really have to drive her, and if you stop, she stops and comes to you. ecurbh had a heck of a time getting her going again with his whip and his lines everywhere and his horse just pivoting to face him when he tried to get around again. ;~D

I showed him the concept of staying at her hip and driving her aggressively and how she would immediately stop when I did. I'd like now to get him one of the Monty Roberts videos that teaches this concept, because that is definately what she knows. It's a lot more work than just standing in the center barking orders ;~D

More pics to come :~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Great. They look like they are doing great:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

That's a great post Becky.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

She is really pretty under saddle:). I really like bays.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I love this face with all that mane.

And her attitude. "If you are just going to stand here, I am going to nap.

But she just goes... She's very willing to please. Very happy with her.

[Beaker]

Cindy, don't throw in the towel. :-) I agree with Becky. We've all been there. :-)

When I first fell off, it took me a long time to get my confidence back. A long time. And I can't say my first trainer helped me with that. She just told me to suck it up and get over it, or give it up. I know that it isn't your first fall, but when a horse does something silly, you always expect it to do it again, no matter what. When you're afraid to ride, it's a special kind of fear... a different kind of fear. I remember sitting in class in middle school and on a bright beautiful day praying for rain so that I wouldn't have to ride. I would fake illness, I pulled every trick in the book, short of faking an injury that I knew that I couldn't possibly get away with. I was afraid of every new school horse that came in the barn. It was awful.

A few years later when my horse broke me, I was afraid to get on him for a while, so I would honestly just sit there on him, congratulating myself that I was actually on.

And you know what? I'm not entirely comfortable with the new mare that I'm riding either. I'm just too chicken to tell my trainer otherwise, because I don't know who else I would ride, besides the pony, and I feel silly riding him too, even though I love the fact that he's completely, utterly and totally bombproof. :-) It's a nice treat. I keep hoping that I'll be more and more comfortable with her as time goes on.