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.

[CindyDawg]

:'). I've seen some old ones for sell at auctions and exhibits that seemed reasonable. I don't know what kind of shape they were in though. Maybe you two could build one:')

[HairOfTheDog]

I am not sure where we'd go with it 'xcept round the pasture... got busy roads out here.

[CindyDawg]

That doesn't stop the Amish:') I know what you mean though. I dread putting a horse on the rode, even when I'm walking them. I trust the horses more than I do some people that drive. Most are responsible but it only takes one yahoo.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, at least in an area with a lot of Amish, car drivers get trained to expect a cart. ;~D

When I was young, I rode all over town.... through town. Most people are good, and the horses are more capable than we think. But now, I'd be a little nervous to cross our street or ride down it any distance. I'd like to get over that, particularly if it takes us awhile to get a trailer, because there might be a few trails to explore just a little ways down the road. I worry about big semi trucks with the Jake brakes. The cars I worry about less, most people slow way down.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I had an interesting customer yesterday, actually 2 ladies. While visiting with them they told me they were chiorprators. I asked them for humans or horses. They said they could work on either.

I told them about Belle. They said that it could be something out of alignment that caused her to do her thing. They said there was a place right in front of where the saddle sits, and that because of people always mounting from the same side it can get rotated from being pulled always to one side.

Turns out they actually live out here in my neighborhood, one road over. One of them in particular said she would be very interested in just seeing the horse, and when I bring her home in Feb. she'll come down to take a look.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

That is interesting! Wouldn't it be something if that turned out to be the fix.... :~)

[proud_2_B_texasgal]

Maybe you could go take a lesson

that's a good idea .. last year my youngest daughter took some english lessons and she loved it .. i might put her back in and just stand behind the camera and snap memories for her!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

When we were going to church here in Bixby, I use to ride my horse sometimes to there. It was about 7 miles. There was only one place where there wasn't much room to ride by the road.

One time, luckily I was on Rocky, a car load of boys went flying past yelling, and beating on the side of the car, right at that narrow spot. Rocky didn't care, but it pissed me off bad. I heard them coming from behind me and as they went by I leaned down and flipped them off, and hollered something not nice:). Guess that was really bad since I was on my way to church. Of course, they thought that was funny.

I generally don't have trouble when I ride on the roads, but you never know is the problem. I also worry about the horse slipping if you have to get on the asphalt like to cross a brige or cross a road.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yes, and no. Even if they told me she was fixed, I'd be afraid to climb on, but that would make it very tempting.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Yeah - I've scouted out the route to where I think there are trails to check out, and most of the way there is plenty of room, sometimes on the far side of the ditch and well off the road. It is the road crossings and times where they are on the asphalt that worry me too.

[HairOfTheDog]

I understand completely.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

19 degrees here this morning.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Good grief that's cold. It's super warm here.... a 'pineapple express' or something. 50 degrees, but pouring out.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yeah, very cold, but the sun is shining nice.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

One other time I was riding to church. There is one bridge that crosses a creek. I was on Rusty that time. He didn't want to step onto the bridge. It was cement and the road was asphalt so there was a change in color. I worked him for a while, then turned and backed him onto it. Backed him to about the middle. About that time a neighbor of mine who has horses and should know how horses can be came down the road. Rusty and I were sort of in the middle and he was dancing around and she drove her big dualie between us and the side of the bridge. I almost flipped her off too:). I would have thought she would have had the courtesy to wait till I was off the bridge. People.....

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Yep.... it's people that I worry more about than the horses doing something dumb.

I think about it as something ecurbh and I could do now, the area I am looking to check out is a power line right of way. Those ~can~ go on for miles and miles, if we don't run into gates. It's about half-mile down the road or less....

Or we could just hurry to buy that truck and trailer :~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Maybe for Christmas....:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Ooooh - maybe if I am ~very~ good. ;~D

[Beaker]

I taught a mini horse to ground drive, and that's where you want to start. I never did get to progress to a harness and cart. It was pretty easy with him, so I can't offer any advice if you run into trouble, as I really didn't have any. :-/

[Beaker]

One time, luckily I was on Rocky, a car load of boys went flying past yelling, and beating on the side of the car, right at that narrow spot.
I hate people like that. And I mean loathe. I was riding on the rode on my horse to get to a trail down the road. We got buzzed by a dirt bike, and it was then that I saw my life flash before my eyes as we bolted into the woods and I was nearly decapitated by a low branch. I found out that same day that he really didn't like big yellow school buses either. :-)