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.

[Beaker]

I have a Rocky Mountain gelding (head up when racking) and lately she is setting her head like a QH.......should I try to correct it at a walk or should I keep her head up,

Hmm... I don't know much about gaited horse head carriage. But if I were you, I'd certainly correct it, since he should know that it's not ok to do when he's working. Stretching his neck, if that's what he's doing (Carrying it long and low) is ok in warm up and cool down, at least in my opinion. :-) I've never known a horse that doesn't do that. But going around the ring dragging his head along during a workout is not a kosher thing to do. :-)

[wildehunt]

No no.. his sire was just retired, McErril. Gizmo carries on that legacy..I'll have to clarify that in the intro.

His temperament is true connemara, an Irish Gent w/ a sense of humor..

He's the horse who fell out of the sky.

He had been kept stall bound for years by a fearful backyard breeder. When she sold her farm she was unable to get him in a trailer so she gave him to me. We started in the round pen and took him from ground work and sacking out, to the show arena in three years. It's a long story, it was a lot of work, but today he's on his way up. I'll be posting the whole tale soon, as the site is still under construction.

Thanks for the compliment, but that's me..LOL you made my day..Heck, you made my week, and it's only Tuesday.

[HairOfTheDog]

I thought when you said you were a proud parent, you were speaking of the rider, not the horse! :~D

Great job rehabilitating a great animal that didn't deserve a lousy start. I'd love to hear the story.

[Beaker]

Theresa needs to get her hair out of her face. It drives me nuts.

[Beaker]

You have a gorgeous pony! I'd certainly like to hear more of his story when you have the time.

[Momto2]

Beautiful - Thanks for sharing.... Let us know when you post the story - I love sweet endings :)

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, I hope he's right again soon. It'd be a lot easier if they could explain to us what's wrong, where it hurts, and when it's better. As it is, they may try to work through pain, and we only notice it when they stop giving their all. It's punishing to be stoic.

[HairOfTheDog]

Here it is this morning. You can see that the scrape is actually pretty flat. The swelling has gone down in that and it's now dry.

But there are two puffy areas in front of it. What do you think? I wouldn't have thought to use Bute for an injury like this, but we certainly can if you think it will help.

On the harmonious family relations front... Cyn and the pony are sharing a haypile this morning and getting along well.

And after one whack with a crop this morning, Miss Cyn backed off a little and was a little more lady-like at breakfast.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

What do you think?

Its too far from her heart to kill her, put the saddle on and "woop and ride"

YEHAWWWWWWWWWW.

:)

BigMack

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks for your input, BigMack ;~)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Thanks for your input, BigMack ;~)

That was a nice way of putting it.

Becky usually just tells me to shut the hell up. :)

BigMack

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'm thinking that it might be bruised. I know when a horse bit me once I had a heck of a bruise. The bute would take the soreness out, I would think.

I'd just want to get the sorness out as fast as I could so I could ride her before your trail period is up.

The other places look to me like he got her a couple of times, before the bad one.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Is it foggy there?

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'm back from Jenny's, going to drink some coffee then ride Trash. Depending on how I feel, I will either ride another, or just stay here and get my house cleaned up. I've got dishes on the cabinet from Sat. Driving me crazy.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks...

I think Bay did connect with her on three occasions that we witnessed. We'll bute her today then, and see. And also I think, try the saddle on her... Not to ride, but just to check if we have the right cinch. Bruce can lunge her and work with her that way today. He's looking forward to it, he got his own lunge line yesterday ;~D

We were socked in with fog the last two days. It was so thick last night I couldn't see 30 feet. It's gonna lift today though. Sun is peeking through now.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I love riding in the fog, in the woods, kind of creepy:)

We don't get alot of fog here, just occasionally, and usually not that thick.

At the ranch Jenny and I use to work at they had this really neat trail that was like atunnel of trees, and one time on halloween we were riding and it was foggy. We told ghost stories. The fog made things real quiet, we felt we were the only ones left in the world.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well just a couple of times buteing here won't hurt anything. I'd just be anxious since you're on a time frame to get to try her. I'm sure, as I'm sure you are too that she is going to fine, but I'd still want to be able to at least get one ride in.

I just called the vet he's with another horse but is going to call back. Hope it's not too long, I really need to get out there and get that horse rode. That's driving me crazy too. Too many things to do.... Been years since I had so much to do.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

This morning when I first got up it was socked in, I could hear hoofbeats running in from the pasture, but I couldn't see them.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Howdy to you too:) Finally getting around to answering some posts.

The weather here has been wonderful. For my morning patrol around the perimiter I have to have a coat, but by 10, it's warm and sunny, highs in the 70. Yesterday I went to the fair and it was perfect fair weather. Evenings are about like mornings, but I don't mind having to put on a coat if it actually keeps you warm:). Real winter weather, nothing helps.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

That would be cool:)

Becky