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.

[MissTargets]

Here is the little one, "Patches". We turn her out, in the back yard. Never have to worry about her running away. She is 38", so I don't think, she qualifies as a mini. We had planned on breeding her to a mini stud. That would be too hard on her now.

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh she's a doll!

And she is having foot pain now from a previous founder? How bad was the founder? Does she have rotation of the coffin bone?

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't think we get enough snow to justify the team or the sleigh! Remember the sleigh we saw for sale here? I don't remember if you were around to post the pictures ~to~. It was relatively small, I thought my pony might pull it.

It just needed some TLC!

[Inge_CAV]

That is a neat looking sleigh. I think all the parts needed to repair them are still available.

There isn't enough snowfall here to justify owning one either.

[HairOfTheDog]

I think my pony could drive, if I had an excuse to own a cart.... and perhaps a way to disconnect her quickly in an emergency. Can you rig an 'eject' handle for a horse drawn cart? ;~D

[CindyDawg]

Oh, shes so cute. She looks like a snowball (these two have me thinking of winter now:') When I first read your post though I thought you were saying she was 38!. We havw a 32 y/o at our stable.

[CindyDawg]

LoL

[Inge_CAV]

Not that I know of but I am sure someone knows of a way to disconnect quickly in an emergency situation.

I pinged Frog because you would not believe the horse and cart wreck that she and I witnessed on a long trail ride once. I was riding her Walking horse gelding that day and it was an all day ride with many riders. We had stopped for lunch at someone's vacation cabin, way out in the boonies.

The guy driving the cart has diabetes and couldn't ride but wanted to go anyway. To get into the yard at the cabin there was a large drainge ditch that had a culvert covered with dirt to make a bridge. Recent heavy rains had left a steep dropoff, about 10 feet deep, on each side of the little bridge. There was just enough room left for the cart to cross. The cart driver was leery of driving across so the guy leading us that day offered to drive the horse and cart across for him. About half way across the horse looked to it's right and got a glimpse of how deep the ditch was. His bridle had blinders so it did not look to it's left where the other, even deeper dropoff was. The horse stepped way to it's left to put plenty of distance between itself and the ditch on the right. As a result, horse and cart tumbled into the deep end with the driver jumping out at the last second. There was no quick diconnect on the harness either. The horse managed to stand upright but could not get out. A couple of people scrambled down into the ditch and unhooked the horse safley. With ropes and several of us pulling we did get the horse and cart out. Nothing but minor scratches on the horse and cart, thankfully. Lunch was great but horses and riders were worn out by the time we got back to the trucks and trailers. Bet the cart horse had plenty to tell his buddies back at the barn that night.

[Inge_CAV]

I did not say that......... : )

[HairOfTheDog]

I do think carts are dangerous! Much less control than under saddle. -And my pony can blow up pretty good! If she got spooked I don't think she'd stop running till the cart was gone... and that might be awhile!

I saw a wreck once in Arabian Stallions driving... I was in the class with my stallion, and another stallion freaked and tried to climb the wall out of the arena into the stands. I was too worried about my own to see it begin but it ended with them just cutting harness loose.

[Inge_CAV]

The poles from the cart that run along each side of the horse would be the difficult part to unhitch in an emergency. In my opinion.

[CindyDawg]

You had lot's of good news today, didn't you?:') Wow! The horse club gonna have a baby!.

I finally have the house deep cleaned. My new DIL will be here Fri. Now I need to do some cooking and baking I guess:')

[MissTargets]

When we got her this spring, her toes were curled up. Not totaly elf like, but bad enough. She walks on the outside of her hinds. I don't really know, if the farrier put testers on her or not. I would imagine, that she does have rotation. She has gotten a lot better, since we have her trimmed all the time. At least she doesn't spend all her time laying down now. I will call the vet, and see what he thinks about putting her on bute.

The sleigh is cool. I bet they want a lot for it. Did you ever call about that Appaloosa mare? I would be interested, in knowing her breeding. I need to get a picture of our Arabian mare, you will like her.

[HairOfTheDog]

We didn't call on that appy mare, she's a little far away, but she was so striking I feel I am going to compare other prospects to her! We really aren't ready. Need to build another stall in the barn... It's the rainy season starting, and I would hate to buy one before we had adequate shelter up.

I think we figured out how to do a new stall in there though.... we need to rearrange.

I don't know a lot about treating serious founder. Best of luck with her.... she's already better for having been rescued from where she was :~)

[ecurbh]

Eeeek! I just got accepted to audition for Jeopardy next month in Seattle.

How un-hobbit-like of me. I better start studying.

[CindyDawg]

Really? Wow. Congratulations:')

[ecurbh]

Thanks. It's still a pretty long shot to actually get on the show, but I'm kinda excited about it. Been watching Jeopardy most of my life!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

That is really cool:)

What did you have to do to get an audition?

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Good morning

Becky

[ecurbh]

Just signed up on the Jeopardy website.

The audition consists of a 50-question written test, and if you do well enough on that, a live game in front of the contestant coordinators. And if you do well enough on that too, you are entered into the contestant pool, and wait for a phone call any time within the next year.