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.

[HairOfTheDog]

Eh.... we're all opinionated... It's FreeRepublic. Don't apologize for havin' yours! :~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

LOL...and I didn't mean to insinuate that you were applying a blanket statement.

Becky

[mommadooo3]

Hoookay...here I go again...

[HairOfTheDog]

That is a cute shot!

If you've always got pics, you'll fit right in here.

[mommadooo3]

Phew...thought I'd stepped on toes! Thanks.

[HairOfTheDog]

If my toes get stepped on.... I make more noise and poke you in the ribs... ;~D

[HairOfTheDog]

So will a vet be out today to do a necropsy on the friend's horse or will he just be buried? My heart goes out to the girl, losing her horse right at Christmas. Had the horse been ill at all? What was the age of the horse?

[mommadooo3]

Got boxes of pics. And a full-up 'puter with 'em. LOL.

That horse isn't ours.(don't tell HIM that tho') He's in the field where ours 'vacation'. His name is Tom and he's built like a brick-s**t house. He was the WV State pulling champ a couple of years ago. He just adores Kasee and truly looks sad when she's not with us when we go there.

A great horse...only has one teensy-weensy fault. If ya take him out riding and stop to rest a piece, DO NOT TIE HIM UP! ROFLMBO...he'll think it's time to 'go to work'. Funnier than all get out.

[mommadooo3]

They talked with the vet and was still willing to come out. But he said the ONLY way to find out for SURE what happened was send the horse to Ohio State for the necropsy. I don't think that's an option for them. (hard times at Christmas time all over, here) Hubby is planning on using his work's backhoe to dig the grave. I just hope the rain holds off till then.

[mommadooo3]

I'm sorry forgot to answer your other questions.

The horse hadn't been sick. She was kept UTD on shots/wormings/etc.

She was @ 5 y.o.

I never walked their field, but maybe they had jimson weed or that hemlock growing. Both are common around here. My kids hated me in warm weather.....I'd make them walk our land 'inch by inch' with me looking for jimson weed.

[HairOfTheDog]

Wow... that's young, and if they have other horses, I hope they are looking for something in the pasture. We don't have a lot of quick killers here.... bracken fern all over, we are constantly pulling that, which causes stiffness at least and paralysis in huge quantities, but it takes a lot of that to kill them, and it's effects are not permanent if you can get rid of it.

And Tansy... I've only had to pull a couple of those, the horses won't eat it unless there is nothing left.

[mommadooo3]

Here's the other pic I wanted to post. It's the oldest with her last horse. She won a photo contest I entered her in. Called the pic 'Summer Love'. (horse's name was Chase Manhattan...the money bank) (lol)

Gotta run...kids are naggin' to make more cookies.

[HairOfTheDog]

Great pic. Talk to you later!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Okay, I'm going to have to post some pictures later:) Been awhile.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Indeed! Go get some snow shots ;~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

The snow we have is just barely dusting the ground. Nothing but a nusiance. The wind is just horrible.

I have to run to town now....buy groceries for Christmas dinner, get feed. BBL, and will post some pictures.

Becky

[FrogInABlender]

Thanks for the links. I'd looked at the Natural Balance site before and printed it all out and gave it to my farrier the last time he shoed for me. I don't know if he read it or not, I haven't had him back out yet, but he didn't seem all that inclined. I'm tempted to go to one of their clinics on how to trim your own barefoot horses. I only have one horse shod right now. The rest are broodmares or youngsters, with one old retired veteran. The section on neurectomies was especially interesting. I've got a friend who just went through this with her 8yo gelding. She was referred to a high-dollar vet near Nashville, which is at least a 2hr drive from here, and they put him on the big "high-heeled" shoes with a rocker toe and all that first. I'd never seen anything like it. She's driven hundreds of miles and spent thousands of dollars on all of this and it sounds like it may all be for naught in the long run. I sure hope not. The problem we all have is that we just do what our vets recommend, trusting them to know what is best. Plus there is not much alternative around here as far as farrier work is concerned. Most of them are self taught, shade-tree type farriers who shoe the way they've always shoed and don't want to listen to suggestions that there may be a better way, especially from some "WOMAN" who doesn't know beans about shoeing. It gets aggravating.

[Duchess47]

Good morning everyone,

I have to jump in on the shoe discussion. I have a couple of geldings that stay shod. They are ridden alot and we have a lot of rocks here. Both would be ouchy and become unsound without the shoes. One mare requires shoes on the front all the time. She is lame without them. Our stud is presently barefoot and does fine that way. His feet are very good, but he will probably be shod come spring. He is being campaigned in endurance and shoes are required.

One of the mares is still in the process of getting her feet back in shape, they were very long and cracked. She seems fine barefoot now but hasn't had any heavy riding.

The rest of the mares are fine barefoot but not being ridden at present, they're all pregnant.

I've found that with our terrain, lots of rocks and hills, most horses feet aren't strong enough to stand up to it without shoes when they are ridden. Some horses (the stud and a mustang that we had) have rock hard hooves and do great. Others have hooves that crack or chip easily in the rocks and need shoes to protect them. We had a mare with navicular that needed shoes and pads to stay sound.

I think it depends on the horse and the way that horse is used as to whether or not shoes are necessary. Adhering to one school of thought only, either shoes or barefoot, can be detrimental to the horse I think.

[Duchess47]

I love that picture :)

[Duchess47]

Another great one :)