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Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 09/18/2004 6:56:23 AM PDT by 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.
I had heard stories about this but I didn't know about the reins.
Cantering is fun, as long as you don't get scared doing it. I'm very stiff so it makes transitioning up into it hard for me. Have you cantered before? Is your trainer going to start you out on a lunge line?
I only cantered once maybe 25-50 feet unexpectedly :'). It took forever for me to let go (not literally) and trot. Got that now. The trainer doesn't use lunge lines. It will be in the arena.
That had to have been extremely frightening, following so close on his. It seems to me it would take an incredible amount of courage to go over jumps. The only times I ever jump is over ditches, etc. when they are on the trails I ride.
I had a female red dobie for 10yrs (that's where the duchess comes from). The most wonderful dog I have ever owned. My min pin is a rescue and a trial and a real pain but I wouldn't trade her for the world. She's unique in her own way.
Good for you on your ride:). I hope you understand I wasn't asking all the questions about transitions to make you feel bad. I just never knew exactly what they were. I have trouble going from a long trot to a canter, never know if I should keep posting till they canter. or sit the trot till they canter.
Becky
I just got home from taking Heather home. We had a good ride, no rain. In fact they have took rain out of the forecast, suppose to be pretty nice the next two days.
I did get a few pictures. Not alot because we didn't go anywhere you all haven't seen. But I did get a good one of Harley and Heather going down a short incline. I'll post them later when Mack is off the computer:)
I can sure tell I'm out of shape. Tired and sore. I don't know if I will ever get back to where I can do 5-6 hours at competition speeds.
Becky
Speaking of lunging.
I was surprised to find out that Heather, after years of lessons, has never learned to lunge a horse. She has gotten the opprotunity to work with a horse that has supposedly been broke to ride, but hasn't been rode in years.
She has told me that the horse doesn't even lead well now. I showed her some thing about leading. And told her after the horse got better at that to lunge it before she climbs on. That's when she said she had never learned it. There is an art to it, especially when the horse doesn't know how. So we worked with Harley for a bit. Funny thing, he did good going to the right, but really acted up to the left. I finally had to do it instead of her. But it gave her an idea on how to proceed with this mare she is working with. I'm afraid she's just going to climb on tho, which from what she has told me might not be to smart. When she has tried to get the horse to lead by tapping her rump she starts bucking and rearing:(. I told her not to climb on till the horse acted well with her on the ground. Hope she listened.
Becky
We can all hope they'll listen! At least lunge her till she's a little tired...
I'd lunge her for a couple weeks, but then that's one of the precautions I take instead of wearing a helmet ;~D
LOL...
I told her to make sure the horse was lunging good before climbing on, but to ease minds...Heather wears a helmet:)
I always make sure a horse responds well lunging before getting on one. I don't necessarily lunge one till they are tired, but if thats what it takes I do. I just want them responding to voice commands, stay at the sped I set, and stay calm. If they do all that right off the bat, I stop and get on.
Becky
I agree, if it's a strange horse, you learn alot about their movement and their mind from being able to lunge them.
Long periods of lunging isn't good for them, but it can take the edge off if they're full of it.
Yep:)
Becky
This horse belongs to someone at her church, who came by the horse accidently, doesn't really know much about them. She'll only get to work with her maybe once a week. Doesn't sound like a good situation to me, so I'm kind of worried about it. I told her, if she needed some help to let me know.
Becky
It's an art alright and horses just know if you aren't skilled :')
That's right. A person just beginning to learn lunging with a horse that knows is hard enough, let alone with a horse that doesn't know. Add on top of that a horse with an attitude....
Crossing fingers that she listened:)
Becky
Heh... I am reminded of a funny thing that happened here this last spring. It was sunny but a little cool, and yet, I was eager to give Bay his first bath after the long winter.
So I bathed him real quick (poor guy was cold) and took him out in the sun and started lunging him to warm him up. Bay was cold and cranky and it made him frisky, he was trotting a couple feet off the ground ;~D
Well, this old codger on a bicycle stopped and watched, and then approached the fence, when he got up to the fence I recognized him as one of the old retired veterinarians in town. He lives across the street.
He says "You know it isn't good for a young horse to lunge very much, it's hard on their legs." I said "I know that, but he isn't young, he's 22". I was a little proud that Bay was mistaken for 'too young' for anything ;~D
He said "Oh - I see... I thought he was the baby you had last year, you had a mare and foal in here." I said... "I have this gelding and a pony" now feeling a little bad for the guy's pride.
He said "How come you are working him so hard?" Now speaking of how wet Bay was, thinking it was head to toe sweat. I said, I am not working him that hard, and I wouldn't. He's wet from a bath, and I am trying to lunge him to warm him back up. It's a little early for baths yet". "OOOOOOH - I see"....
I'll grant him the sweat comment, I guess it's hard to tell the difference, but I was a little glad the guy wasn't practicing any more.... mistaking a 22 year old for s 2 year old, mistaking a gelding and a pony for a mom and babe.... I think he was really embarrassed. He only meant to look out for a critter he thought was being abused.
Good story:)
I'd never guess Bay was that old from the pictures I've seen.
Becky
Thanks... 'xcept for the tell-tale sway back when he's standing there resting a leg, he does still look pretty good when he kicks it up.
I think alot of how well a horse ages, is the care given to them.
Becky
I do too. :~D
He is standing out there dejected in the rain at the moment... looking pretty pathetic. Almost time to put them in.
And we didn't clean stalls this morning so it still needs done. Drat.
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