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.

[FrogInABlender]

I don't know, I just saw them talking about it. I'd like to read it too, so could someone please post the link for tuffy and me?

[CindyDawg]

helment threadhttp://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1280680/posts?page=19#19

[HairOfTheDog]

Hat or Helmet thread: Australia May Say Goodbye to Cowboy Hats

We just came in from a walk and putting horses to bed... Clicked a fall pic of Bay in the woods.

And one of Cyn goofin off in the pasture.

[Beaker]

All these possum stories remind me of one of my own. A possum had gotten into our trash can and wrapped up in a plastic bag. This got my mother into quite a tizzy when she found it, and she tried to get my brother to go and tip the trash can over so the thing could get out. However, he was too chicken to do it. So naturally I was the only one left. I donned a pair of work gloves and looked in the barrel. Turns out I had to shake him free of the bag. He was still stunned, so I tipped over the trash can. That woke him up and he made a huge racket. I turned and tried to run, but I was so spooked that I couldn't make my brain cooperate with my legs, and my mother said that I looked like an ostrich with two left feet trying to run in two directions. :-p

[Beaker]

I did keep my boots by the bed for a long time after that and pulled them on when I got up thru the night:)
Boots aren't even safe in the house that I used to live in. It was a small cottage on a lake, and in the winter, the wind used to whip across and make thing positively frigid. It didn't help that all we had to heat the place was a small wood stove that went out at night. One morning my step-dad went to put on his boots and he couldn't figure out why he couldn't get his foot all the way in. He thumped the boot on the ground, and out dropped this mouse, that Ran UP the INSIDE of his pant leg.
Well that caused him to jump around the house screaming like a woman, and he leaped into the bathroom to rip off his pants, which he promptly tossed outside. Luckily for all involved he was wearing underpants.

[Beaker]

I don't think the government should require you to wear one though.
I think it's perfectly ok to require by law if you're a minor. It's more of a safety thing than anything else, really. I've been in so many riding accidents that I personally won't ride one, but once your an adult it's up to you for it to be a matter of preference or not.

[Beaker]

Is the problem with you not being smooth, in the right postion or the horse not being smooth? and how to correct?
It's a combination of both really. I can't seem to ask for it the way that she wants me too. It involves me shifting my inside hip forward, and putting my inside heel farther down while asking with my outside leg. If done properly, the horse should step into it, but I get thrown so off balance that I kind of run him into it instead. It's all my fault, really, but hey. :-)

[FrogInABlender]

Thanks! It IS totally rediculous.

[FrogInABlender]

Thanks for the pictures Hair. I love the one with fall leaves. All our leaves just fell off without having much color. October was just too warm.

[tuffydoodle]

Thanks.

Those people on that thread ain't too bright. So what if Chris Reeve wasn't wearing one, that doesn't mean that they don't save lives every day.

I don't wear one but my children do. I should wear one, too.

[FrogInABlender]

Boy, that sounds complicated. Kinda like trying to rub your head and pat your stomach. I ride gaited so I don't worry about transitions too much, I don't think. Maybe I do and just don't know it. I've never had any formal riding instruction, but I always thought I'd enjoy learning a little jumping.

[tuffydoodle]

Sorry girls, that's not what I meant. So what if one didn't save Chris Reeve's life is what I meant.

And I said those other people weren't too bright!! duhhhhh

[CindyDawg]

I'm kind of in the middle on that one. I think owners/instructors should be able to make their own rules and if you ride there you accept these rules. However I believe it should be parents making educated decisions regarding their childrens safety and not the governments.

[CindyDawg]

You have more experience and you know when one needed for you or not I would imagine.

[FrogInABlender]

LOL!!! That reminds me of the Ray Stevens song about "The day the squirrel went berserk in the First Self Righteous Church". That man could sure right funny songs.

[CindyDawg]

Wasn't Chris Reeve attempting a very high jump?

[tuffydoodle]

I've been riding for 35 years without one but that doesn't mean I couldn't have a catastrophic accident at any time. I do try to minimize the risk as much as possible. I have gentle, well-mannered horses and I don't participate in risky activities, like cross country jumping or any kind of jumping, for that matter. I do ride bareback 99% of the time, without a helmet, probably not too smart. With my children, even if I'm just leading them around, they wear helmets. I don't think it should be a law that adults wear them.

[tuffydoodle]

It was probably 3 foot or better, a good sized jump for someone with limited riding experience. You should read his book, "Still Me". He seemed very unhappy and unfulfilled and was trying one risky sport after the other. It finally caught up with him.

[Beaker]

That reminds me of the Ray Stevens song about "The day the squirrel went berserk in the First Self Righteous Church".

I've never heard it, but I'll bet that it's good. My two favorite story songs are "Alice's Resturaunt" and "The Motorcycle Song" both by Arlo Guthrie. My dad ALWAYS listens to Alice's Resturaunt every thanksgiving. He'll play the radio until it comes on, and then we all have to be quiet and listen.

[CindyDawg]

Without using embryos, I think we are close to if not reversing, restoring some spinal cord motor control.