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]

When I groom Sarah Lee she energetically will rub her neck on the pole. I only tell her to quit when I'm working in that area or she's moving about. I know not to let her use me as a scratching post and it doesn't really bother me unless it's a bad habit. Should I let her do it? I hadn't thought much about it until the vet frowned and made a comment when he saw her doing it.

I think she likes being rubbed is all. Mine do it on the trees in the paddock. Bay will also play lip games and stretch his neck around to me when grooming feels good. When I am scratching a spot that is particularly good, he'll ~begin~ to scratch my back with his lips.... I only tenuously let ~him~ do this because I know his intent. He's doing the mutual backscratch like he does the pony. I say tenuously because with her, he uses teeth. He never has with me, though.

As for your mare, from the description I think it sounds like part of her personality, and I would think it kindof funny and endearing.

[HairOfTheDog]

Always glad to tell a story that will make ya laugh!

[Inge_CAV]

"Always glad to tell a story that will make ya laugh!"

You did tell a good one and you told it very well.

Maybe, someday I can tell you about a couple of my flying instructors........ : )

Say, I know you have this image of me and my "planters". And Beaker hasn't gotten over the picture I posted of one on the "New Truck" thread yet. Well, you would never guess what I drove home tonight... a new Ford truck. No, not mine to drive all time, but for tonight, yes.

[HairOfTheDog]

A brand-shiny new truck? Wow!

[Inge_CAV]

Yep! And I just looked out and a cat is curled up and asleep right in the middle of the hood. : )

[Inge_CAV]

"Who knows, I may end up with as many horses as Cav has cats! ;o)"

Hey, I saw that. BTW, I am teaching your cat to play fetch. It picked up on the game right away. : )

[FrogInABlender]

LOL!!! Well, you notice I didn't say how MANY cats, mostly because you've got so many you're afraid to tell me. That's alright though, you take better care of 'em than most people take care of their kids. If I die before you do, I wanna come back as one of your cats! ;o)

Oh, and thanks for teaching mine to fetch. Now if you can just train her to find the tv remote I'll be in business.

[FrogInABlender]

Hey, you can't have a new truck without cat footprints all over it. Between those and the horse noseprints all over the windows, I don't even wash the jeep anymore. Once they reach a certain "patina" they don't ever look any dirtier. That's MY story anyways!

[Inge_CAV]

I only have as many as I am allowed to have...... : )

Once I get moved, someday, they can have the run of the barn. Trying to eat pizza and type too......

She knows where the tv remote is ... she uses it as a pillow.

[Inge_CAV]

I wash mine once a year, whether it needs it or not. : )

[FrogInABlender]

Hi Hair!

I'm glad somebody to hear somebody else has a horse that likes to play "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours". My old gelding will work your shirt tail right over your head if you'll let him. He seems to prefer bare skin, but it's kinda gross coz he slobbers on you. I love it though. It's a bonding thing I guess. He'll get this glazed look in his eyes like he's just in absolute HEAVEN as long as you're scratching that spot. :)

[HairOfTheDog]

As long as he's careful I'll let him! It's affectionate. I have to watch him though.... he can get so rough that even the pony squirms away ;~D

[FrogInABlender]

Pizza sounds good. I'm eating a piece of leftover Wal-Mart rotisserie chicken, some Fritos and a glass of tea. Mmmmmm, we got health food here.

[Inge_CAV]

Health food is good for you....... : )

You will have to tell Hair about how your horse will pick up your trail riding hat when it falls off.

[CindyDawg]

Yeah, I didn't see a problem with it but wanted to check that this wasn't a bad habit I was allowing:') Yesterday I was cleaning her hoof and I felt this butterfly brush on my back. I gently set her back though till we get to know each other better. Now that Okie. We turn um lose to eat supper and sit at a picnic table and talk. He likes to come over and "drop in" His head ok but when he acts like he's going to sit down with us he's gone:')

[FrogInABlender]

OK. (break my arm)

This is Tennessee, the same horse that likes to back scratch. He was such a mouthy thing when I got him that I taught him to pick up stuff for a treat, just to see if he'd do it. Started off with the brush and worked up to a hat. It sure is handy when you're riding a 17 hand horse to have one that'll pick up your hat and hand it to you when it gets knocked off by a branch. The thing was, it had to be MY hat. He wouldn't pick up anybody else's hat, until just this past year. He even picked up my trail sponge out of a creek one time when I dropped the string. I didn't EVEN think he'd do it, but you never know if you don't ask, so I asked him and he did. I was glad I had trail buddies as witnesses coz nobody would've ever believed me if they hadn't seen it. He's getting mischievous in his old age though, coz the last time he did it, just as I got it in my hand, he jerked it at the last minute and tore a big chunk out of the brim. The big goofus. It was a straw hat and you could tell he thought it was funny.

[FrogInABlender]

Well ya'll, I hate to run, but it's my bedtime. Gotta be ready to get back in the blender tomorrow. Talk to ya'll later.

Frog

[Inge_CAV]

Thanks for stopping by, Good night!

[CindyDawg]

night

[CindyDawg]

Well back to the kitchen. I have found that I have two blenders, two coffee pots and a new mixer in a box that I can't remember when I bought. Probably on sale or something or a Christmas present:')