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.

[Beaker]

If someone with evil on their mind wants a gun they will get one, and I doubt if they will ask, "please" from the government.

That's very true. I think that law just makes it harder for them to do it. Bad people are bad people. It's just a shame that you have punish everyone. And the child support stipulation is absurd!

[Beaker]

I agree at a trot that would kill you on a Quarter horse if you didn't post, and you could tell he didn't like that "Up down stuff:)".
The quarter that I ride has a big trot and sitting it kills me just going around in the ring. :-)I couldn't imagine keeping up with a gaited horse. I've always wanted to ride one of those, especially a Tennessee walker at a running walk, just to see what it's like.

I had a student who was an older gentleman who had ridden western his entire life, and thought that posting was "sissy stuff" :-D Had a beautiful sitting trot though! :-)

[Beaker]

. The situational decision making, the legal and ethical judgment calls you must make when deciding to use lethal force would be the valuable part.
I agree. Hopefully it would never come to that.

[Empress]

In Memoriam
Quintus Maximus I
May 12, 1991 - Oct 16, 2004

I hope the catmunchies are plentiful up there.

[Duchess47]

Well, he may come back. Even if he doesn't though, you've got some good advertising. He will mention the horse to others.

[TalonDJ]

:(

[Duchess47]

I don't believe I've mentioned to anyone that I work in a library. Anyway, co-worker has passed to me "Breakthrough" Books on Horses 2004 for recommendations on videos.

Anyone that has some free time, please go to www.booksonhorses.com/ and take a look at the videos available there. I'd appreciate any suggestions, videos that you have seen and were useful, videos that sound good, videos by trainers that you are familiar with. If you see some books that look good, let me know also and I'll pass them on to the person that orders books.

Thanks in advance.

[CindyDawg]

Sarah Lee has a very fast walk. She trots normal though

[Beaker]

Sarah Lee has a very fast walk. She trots normal though

This quarterhorse is funny. She's a thoroughbredy type (I honestly thought that she was, she looked and acted like one) and she has a funny lilting trot when she trots to the right. I thought that she was lame when I first rode her, or at least sore, but that's the way that she always goes. Don't quite know why. Overall she has a big trot. I've ridden a few other quarter horses too, but can't really compare their ways of going, because I don't quite remember. :-)

[CindyDawg]

HMM. I don't know if this natural for SL or not if taught but she'll high step and walk off and leave other horses. I'll lightly tug back on the reins a few times til she slows and she will but she grad will go right back to this speed. I like it but it's hard when riding with others. Okie will do it too but just when we are headed "home":')

[OLD REGGIE]

My cat would never do such a stupid thing.

[CindyDawg]

Huh????? You talking about the one that almost died? I think she was probably born in the crate. Her eyes wern't even open yet.

So how have you and Reggie been doing? I'm still looking for those hip pads, for me!:')

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yeah, he may come back. But, after listening to him about how he rides, I'm not real sorry he didn't buy him. Sounded like he liked to yahoo, and ride balls to the walls, for hours and hours. AND mostly only on the weekends. I think that would break a horse down quick. I'd hate to see that happen to such a nice of a horse as Harley. Altho I think whoever told him they were moving at 7mph, was stretching a bit. That is fast on a horse. But I don't know anything about gaited horses, so it might be true....?????

Becky

[Duchess47]

I don't know, 7mph sounds like a fast pace for any length of time. My daughter-in-law ran 2miles in ten minutes on a Pony Express leg but that was on an endurance mare going flat out and she couldn't have done another mile at that speed. They ride 20-30 miles on endurance rides running 4-6hrs plus. That is on conditioned horses holding a trot or lope for the most part, with vet checks along the way. And that takes some conditioning.

Thoroughbreds can hit 35miles per hr I think, but for all of 2minutes. Gaited horses aren't going to go any faster than any other horse. IMO

[Duchess47]

I guess I should have added that the Pony Express Ride translated to about 12mph and I have to emphasize that the mare was going flat out and could not have run another mile. The endurance rides are probably about 4-5mph.

[MissTargets]

This is what a Tennessee Walking horse can do at a flat walk:

The flat foot walk is a brisk, long-reaching walk that can cover from 4 to 8 miles an hour.

And the running walk:

The running walk is the gait for which the walking horse is most noted! This extra-smooth gliding gait is basically the same as the flat walk with a marked increase in speed. This breed can travel 10 to 20 miles per hour at this gait.

A non gaited horse walks about 4 miles per hour, on average.

[Duchess47]

Well, I'll be ** :)

One of things I like about this place, you learn something new everyday. I'd have not believed that but I don't think I've ever been around a Tennessee Walker. Can they maintain this for any length of time? Well, they must, they were originally bred for plantations weren't they?

[Inge_CAV]

"Can they maintain this for any length of time?"

Yes, they can. It does not take long to cover a 15 mile trail ride.

And your butt will thank you.......

[Duchess47]

:)

Thanks. Now if they were as pretty as appys, I'd be tempted. (just kidding)

[MissTargets]

On large, organized trail rides, those gaited horse people, would hit the lunch stop, have eaten, and be ready to go, before us 4-beaters would get there.....lol

They may be easier on your butt, but wouldn't you think, that they get just as tired as non-gaited horses?