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.

[Momto2]

Sorry her eyes are closed -

[CindyDawg]

Yall teach her or has she taken classes? I'm trying to get my youngest son to go to ferrier school in Oklahoma.

[Inge_CAV]

Ah, more coffee for you. : )

[Inge_CAV]

Congratulations! she is a good looking horse.

Don't worry to much about the grocerys right now. My filly was thin for a long time, she was to active to gain weight. When she finally started gaining she didn't quit until she had dimples on her butt. : )

[N. Beaujon]

Hair, this seems like a truly lovely mare. Even with the obvious "malnutrition" she still has a very shiny coat, bright eyes and real nice demeanor (or so it seems). She also looks like she has a really lovely gait.

I see a few confirmation issues but unless you plan to show her I wouldnt be worried about that. They could balance out when she puts on some weight. I see a lot of morgan in the head/neck and the fine boned, lovely Arabian legs. I think she's a real keeper. Best of luck with this really sweet looking horse. I think she has a LOT going for her. Plus she carries three different riders of various sizes and, I'm sure, styles/abilities and it doesnt seem to affect her gait, temperment or focus at all. I say, she's a real find.

Best of luck with this sweet looking mare. Let us know how it works out.

Anne

[cowboyway]

Good morning. I spent yesterday as a volunteer putting blue tarps on roofs of hurricane damaged homes in the Lake Okeechobee area. It's cattle and horse country out that way.

Good pics from momto2. I like that bay horse. Quarter horse?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Good morning.

Lots of pictures posted last night.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Great kid and horse pics! Good morning!

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks Ann!

We're excited to get to know her.... I love and trust mine, I want ecurbh to love and trust his.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Good morning. Is today your last day on the job?

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Good morning all - I couldn't get to sleep last night! Thinking about stuff we have to do!

Gotta get another stall built inside in the next couple weeks for TheNewHorse.... Gotta get her a feed pan today, gotta figure out what kind of bit to get for her, I don't like that big ole curb bit she had in her mouth, and she didn't need that much bit, seemed very light and sensitive in the mouth.

I am thinking of starting she and ecurbh out in a mechanical Hackamore. They're good for control, and yet good for trail all day too.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yep - last day!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I hate trying to figure out bits. That can be very confusing.

I basically have two that I use mostly, an Argentine snaffle and the correction bit. I do use a full check snaffle once in awhile when getting them use to turning, but don't like it for trails.

Well you'll have lots of time then next week to do things with her.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

Good morning. Sounds like a fun busy:') I want to ride a bunch this weekend. I didn't get to do much this week. This weekend and next weekend a retreat going on at the island. This week for non -nursing but my husband still has to be there. He asked me what I would like to do and I told him "ride horses on the beach". He kind of rolled his eyes and then said they do have a stable out there don't they":') Sounds romantic, doesn't it?:')

[HairOfTheDog]

She was gonna bring that bit she's sued to. I told her I didn't have anything like it and could I borrow it. So I'll show it to you... it's a medium to high port curb. She's used to fairly slack rein and neck reining.... which ecurbh as never done, so at first he was trying to ride on contact two handed and direct rein her. She tossed her head some at that because the bit is a contact avoidance bit and not good for constant contact. Ecurbh had to be shown how to neck rein and found it foriegn. I would get her into a snaffle if I was going to school her, but I think for ecurbh's purposes, he doesn't care about collection and she just wants to go along without someone in her face with a harsh bit. But I want him to have control. I think Hackamores are real good for that.

The Argentine bit is a snaffle with a shank on it of varying length and a chain, right?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yeah, it has shanks and a curb chain, but it's very light, and works two handed. I use it alot on trails. Personally, I like to have a some curb on trail in case of a spook. The argentine snaffle is alot like a tom thumb, but I think you get more flex from the argentine. A tom thumb seems stiffer to me.

I've never been particularly fond of hackamores. I used one on a mare I had before. Once again it's the "feel" of it. They seem stiff to me. You don't get as much bend from one. But that could just be me.

Since bits are so expensive, I wish you could try them on a trail basis.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

This is the one I like and use alot. It's actually an english bit. It can take two sets of reins. It's got just enough curb action that a horse with a good whoa will feel the curb if you really "have" to use it. But light for turns and two handed use.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

That's a pretty popular bit. Might be a good way to go! We can always try her in Bay's snaffle and get a better feel for how much WOAH she needs before shopping.

[CindyDawg]

It would be nice if the previous owner would send all of her tack with her for the next 7 days.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yeah, I think it's a good all around bit for a horse that's lite mouthed but that you still want some curb. I switch them back and forth alot with the correction one. I think switching, keeps them more at attention, especially if the horse is young and doesn't have a lot of miles on them. They can get use to one if you never change and get where they don't pay attention some, again on a young one especially, or one that tends to have a mind of it's own sometime:)

Becky