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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.
Today looks like the last nice day we are going to have for awhile. Forcast says light snow the next few days and highs in the 20's. :(
Becky
Good morning,
Aren't people funny about horses? Let's grab a couple of unbroke horses cheap and ride them! Yeee hawww
Yesterday morning, I was letting my horses out after they got their feet done and I noticed my next door neighbor was out walking around in the middle of some of her horses, about 5 or 6 of them. Next thing I hear is a loud grunt and I look over to see what it was. That poor girl was down on the ground and not getting up. (I say next door but they are a good ways away, with a couple of fences between us) I watched for a minute to see if she was gonna get up and I was wishing she would, since those horses were still milling around. She finally did and went into the barn. She must have gotten kicked. This was about 9:00 in the morning and all I could think was, what a way to start the day.
Tuffy:)...hello. I was thinking of you yesterday. Hadn't seen you post since you told us you were going to the doctor. I was starting to worry.
The funny thing about this girl with the unbroke horses is, she was taking lessons from somewhere, her and her young daughter. The place that she was taking lessons from "told" her to buy these two. That's what I don't get. They knew better, or should have. But they owned the horses. They also told her (so I've been told) that they would help her with them. Supposedly she got some advise from someone about what to do with them, told the person at the stable and the stable person got mad that she was getting help somewhere else and now won't help.
IMO, even with help, beginners do not need to undertake breaking a horse. IMO, this girl got screwed.
Becky
Oh, did you ever talk to your neighbor and find out what happened and how she is?
~knock on wood~ That's one thing that has never happened to me, getting kicked.
Becky
They fall down, that's why. Horse needs to brace his front legs apart to kick with the back, even one back foot. I guess you might run across a real mean one or one who had learned to cow kick without tipping over, but I've never seen one. They're most worried about remaining upright when they're hobbled.
Well, aren't you sweet! I'm sorry I didn't post after saying I was going to the doctor, that was thoughtless. False alarm, everything is ok.
Yep, that girl got major screwed. That story sounds so typical: sell them an unsuitable horse by promising to help then figuring out a way to get out of it since they KNOW the horse was unsuitable and don't want to be around when someone gets hurt. Those people should cut their losses, get rid of the POA's and get an old, broke horse to learn on.
OHHHH. Well I guess it wouldn't take many times for one to figure out that if he kicks he's going down.
Once they get a reputation with the local judge, he'll take 'em to the cleaners. There's a barn here that's been in the court reports . . . now EVERYbody knows the owner is a crook.
If these folks are dirty enough to sell a couple of unbroke horses to somebody they know is a beginner, then they've been down that road before.
No, I haven't even seen them out after this incident. I don't really know those people and their place is gated up so I'm hesitant to climb fences and go over there. I met them once a couple of years ago when their stud jumped the fence and came over to visit with my horses. Bet he was disappointed to find all geldings.
Twitches aren't a big deal, everybody uses one at some point but not all horses respond the way you hope. I only have one horse that responds to a twitch and it's like magic with him. You could set him on fire with that twitch on and he wouldn't move a muscle.
The stable owner has some cows also. Her neighbors prize bull got out one day. She got a bunch of "free" babies that spring:')
Once they're immobilized you can sack them out and handle whatever freaks them out. It's a sort of desensitization overload. I wouldn't try it on my own without experience though. It can get pretty exciting.
It's a very old technique, popularized by the famous horse trainer Mr. Rarey back in the 19th century. He was able to gentle even confirmed killers and performed before Queen Victoria.
No kidding. If enough of these crooks get sued people in the horse selling business will start being a little more honest.
- Kipling, the Ballad of the King's Shipwrights
I think everybody knows there's a certain amount of sharp practice in dealing horses - and always has been. But selling unbroke horses to greenhorns crosses over some sort of line. Like George Washington Plunkett of Tammany Hall used to talk about the distinction between "honest graft" and "dishonest graft".
Two problems for Mrs. Fixit!
Funny thing is it was the same situation, new owners with an unbroke POA, that messed my knee up in high school!
The first situation, the girl with the jiggy horse that is at least broke, sounds like the one that is more fixable...
I'd recommend the other family sell their two, or pay to have them backed professionally and trained at least 90 days. Then they could at least sell them for the amount spent on training when they find they are still too green.
Well said.
One of Mr. Rarey's horse taming system principles;
That a horse is not conscious of his own strength until he has resisted and conquered a man, and even in cases where he has temporarily triumphed he may yet be subdued ; - that by taking advantage of man's reasoning powers a horse can be handled in such a manner that he shall not find out his strength.
I agree, and am interested to find out the name of the stable that sold them these horses. The two are actually a momma and her yearling.
I was told is what she is going to want me to teach her is how to lunge the mare. I'll go take a look if she does call, but I'm not sure this horse is even ready to learn lunging. I do plan on telling her it would be my reccommendation for her to sell the two, and then if the horse isn't ready to lunge and I tell her that she may not want my help:) I know she has been told by several that buying them was not a good idea, but she "loves" them so won't sell, at least not yet. The really sad thing is the horses were supposedly bought for the young daughter, 5-6. Mom was going to break it for daughter:(
The jigging horse people probably won't like what I tell them either. They want this girl "running" barrels by spring. I don't work that way, and won't. So once I see the horse and tell them my plan of action I probably won't have to deal with it:)
Becky
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