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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.
"Cause we never seem to be happy unless we're improving on nature I guess. Same as making western pleasure horses carry their head in such an unnatural position. Turning quarter horses into muscle bound overweight beauty contestants. :(
Now that's a much happier looking pair. I don't understand why the unnaturalness wins in the show ring. If I were a judge, I'd look for a natural high stepping gait. None of the weights and chains business. If I tried to do what those poor horses were doing, I'd pop myself out of joint!
Now that's not fair. I won't tolerate that sexist crap on this thread. /some sarcasm
The picture that you posted is, obviously, quite a bit older that the example Frog posted. What these two pictures actually illustrate is the evolution that occurs in almost all judged events.
If that woman was riding in the Celebration today, her horse and riding posture would look just like the man in Frog's post. I know. I've been to a few of these shows.
I think they have to ride that way to stay on. The angle of horses back to ground is quite severe.
Built up front shoes, chains, liniment, broken tails, tail sets, standing in a stall for up to 8 weeks while the tail heals, etc. It might be showing, but it sure ain't horsemanship, IMHO.
Good morning.
Becky
morning
Like field and trial Irish Setters, the TWHs have split up into show and "plantation Walkers". The "big lick" stuff, the soring and the shoes and the chains, are awful.
The riders wind up sitting like that with their chins stuck out because of trying to remain upright on that long motion while still staying behind the center of gravity to accentuate the front action. It DOES look dumb.
Since I come from the practical side of horsemanship - sort of like a field trial dog as opposed to a conformation or show dog - I can't see any point to this stuff at all.
A flat shod "plantation" TWH is a joy to ride. They still have a high action in front and step way up behind, but it's smooth as silk.
There is now an association and registry for plantation Walkers that forbids any built up shoes, chains, etc. The horses look much nicer (to me anyway).
Sounds like the TWH purists have gone the same way as the Foundation Quarter folks. Glad to hear it.
Sorry .. I couldn't remember what they used to say .. I thought it was a "lick and a something" .. it IS "hitting a lick"
anyway, I didn't mean to offend.
The saying was "give it a lick and a promise". I'm not sure of the significance of it. I've read it in regards to doing house work fast.
Becky
Well, I guess we should give credit to man for figuring out we can't improve on God's work:)
Becky
Yeah, but there is always some fool who's going to try . . .
Boy, that first picture is a good one. The one of the sorrel with the flax mane and tail. The lady's posture leaves alot to be desired, but that's a nice moving horse!
But even this horse has a really heavy "plantation" shoe on. It's probably at least an inch wide, from inside rim to outside rim, about a half inch thick from top to bottom and probably weighs a pound or two. But at least it's on a normal hoof, with no bands or chains. The high step is caused only by the change in break over point and the extra weight. But you couldn't really trail ride this horse with these shoes on. Well, you could, I've seen people do it, but it's really tiring for the horse. It'd be like trying to run a marathon in lead sneakers, plus it's rough on the hooves with all that weight pulling on the nails. But I'd much rather see this than the pads.
It does look like the toes are kept long. But that sure beats all that built up platform shoe nonsense. . . . looks like they just postponed shoeing for a couple of weeks . . . not that I've ever done that . . . < g >
Nope, they're not trail horses, but they were the only contrasting pics I could find in a hurry.
The TWH I rode was a horse that was used on a hunting plantation in S. GA to ride out for quail etc.
Hi Hair!
Great minds think alike! ;o)
I looked up 'plantation shoes' to see... there are ranges of heavy shoes, but it doesn't say what they weigh... which is strange. If I were trying to decide between a "heavy shoe" and an "extra heavy shoe" wouldn't I want to know the relative weights?
Now THOSE suckers can GO! Field trialing horses are AWSOME. They're like the Energizer Bunny, they just keep going and going and going, all day, at that groung-eating running walk, through mud and briars. They can be shot off of, have a dog tied to their breast collar, but still ground tie when you drop the reins and get off to retrieve your bird, AND you can drink a hot cup of coffee without getting scalded while you're doing it.
I didn't see anything like that on the feet of the horse I rode - looked just like an ordinary keg shoe.
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