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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.
The Bitless Bridle by Dr. Robert Cook, FRCVS, Ph.D.
I like that the reins do have a leverage tightening mechanism that goes under the cheek and apparently puts pressure on the poll, but I am not sure I would say it had enough leverage to give children or inexperienced adults the strength to control a horse that is spooked or has run away.
It's nice to have good horses, and most horses are pretty good at taking care of children when they are in good humor. But I look at it this way. An adult cannot outmuscle a horse. Bridles are a means of increasing our strength to match theirs. Children need to have a strong enough control device to give them a fighting chance at controlling such a large animal, without giving them something that causes pain. I am not sure you have a safe child bridle. Let me ask you this. If, while riding, the horse bends down to graze grass, do your kids have the strength to pull her head back up?
Just going with what I am familiar with, I'd recommend a mechanical hackamore that looks like my first example pic, over this bridle.
looking back it was quite frightning. It was my first time on a horse and they were told i was totally inexperienced. (which way does the saddle go round type of thing!)
I am glad it didnt put me off though.
Well, I think I have to get past the "Eddies!" My trainer called my horses trainer and they already worked out a plan before I was brought in. I have my own opinions here too though so a compromise in order I think:') Oh, man. I really have to get out of here. I have no more excuses to not get going:')
That really was a bad experience on your first ride. I don't know if I would have been able to get back on:') Shame on the experienced riders for putting you on that type of horse and then laughing at you. I would have taken a crop whip to um:')
please read 6683 and get off my case.
I should have shouldnt I!~ LOL
Well its been nice chatting with you Cindydawg, but from having to repeat and repeat to some others,and the jibe about me not having the right stuff for my children, well............ i am getting a headache, I'll come back on here later when things are jollier maybe.
have a great day.
Sharn
try 6691 and yes i am offended. My children mean everything to me and i would never put them in danger. They are all I have from 14 years with my first (late) husband. The kids are inexperienced and only get lead rope rides with james and Tim at the moment. Using the bit.
Please read 6691.
I just asked if you thought they had the strength to pull the horse's head up if he grazed... as a test of whether it was a strong enough bridle... I am not assuming you don't care about that... I am assuming you would care.
I am trying to learn from you more about how it's working for you... it's impossible for us to envision your animals and your bridles without all these questions!
Sorry if the questions sounded pointed... Text is a cold way to communicate, I didn't sense that you were getting offended and I didn't mean anything derogatory by it.
if you had read my previous you would know that
"I am not sure you have a safe child bridle" would be wrong.
I enjoy all the help i am getting, i am not that experienced by I am very sensitive about the kids. Maybe overley so?
Truce?
help? James has just called me from the field. We bought some wheat straw for bedding for them and Misty is eating it. Will it hurt her? she has already been fed,a dn has coastal hay............
Understand. Of course I know you wouldn't do anything intentionally unsafe. I stand by my observation "I am not sure you have a safe child bridle". That isn't an indictment in ANY way of your motives... but about the bridle. It is because you said you are inexperienced, that I want to offer my experience to make sure you are safe. It sounds like you are just doing pony rides with the kids, and I thought they were riding on their own. So sometimes it's what you don't know that will get ya.
Again, sorry you gathered I was faulting your motives. I am certainly not.
ok
HUH???. When it comes right down to it, we all have to filter info and make our own decisions and do what works best. I mean this with kindness and don't mean to offend you but listen and learn from the experienced riders aound here on this thread,esp Hair and Becky . They know what they are talking about. They have been where you and I are now. It was very frustrating for me to feel like I was always doing everything wrong and I unfortunately behaved accordingly. You have a lot of stress in your life right now and anyone that tells you that learning to ride not another stress is lieing to you:')
help? James has just called me from the field. We bought some wheat straw for bedding for them and Misty is eating it. Will it hurt her? she has already been fed,a dn has coastal hay............
Some horses will nibble at straw. It won't hurt her to do that, but it is really not very nutritious and will go right through her into more poop. She's just doing it for something to do. She probably thinks it's a meal time, not bedding. You might be able to distract her by reminding her of her hay or giving her some more. Straw is best for the actual birthing, because it doesn't stick to baby like shavings would. After birth is over, you can switch to shavings.
I know. It all started with that simple question of asking does everyone use a bit? it wasnt meant to offend or to ask for a lecture, we use both! I was just asking! LOL
I dont know why my friends dont, they probably have plods of horses! LOL
Sharn I don't know much about the different grasses. It was something I was going to read up on this week after getting a post from Duchess about fuequa???. The others can probably help you here if you ask. I have to get out of here now. Enjoy your horses today:') Bye.
thanks for your "experienced" advice! It is welcomed! LOL
i just never knew that a harmless question miles back would create such a stir! LOL Guess i learned something!
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