The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!

[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?

This is a horse chat thread where we 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 previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.

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 previous threads, 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]

Well, our best riding here is in state managed forest too. We don't have many of those 'off-limits' wilderness areas, yet, but I fear them coming. Not so much to eliminate riders, as to eliminate meth labs and those who drive up into the woods to dump their garbage. That is why the private forests close. They have no interest in public access and the trouble they bring.

So far the state land is all working forest, and the natural forest was long ago replaced with douglas fir. I don't know that horses are necessarily ~banned~ off trail, but cutting across somewhere and making new trail is frowned upon by the trail riding proponent groups. It's harsh to make a bunch of rules, but it'd be bad if everyone cut across their own way. That's what the off road motor-bikers do.

So... knowing that it's a working forest and not a preserve, I don't mourn the clearcuts, they're temporary and create open areas where berries for bear and browsables for deer grows. It doesn't look a lot different, ecologically speaking than the natural old growth, fire and rebirth cycle that would happen if we werent' there. Within a few years it's growing up again.

[Beaker]

. I got so burned out on horse shows.
Me too. When I went it was always me, the trainer, then a bunch of younger kids, who I'd end up grooming for as well as having to take care of myself and my horse. Then in the flat classes there were just too many horses, and it really freaked me out. Cantering in a mob is just no fun, and no matter how hard you try to find your own spot on the rail, someone always ends up riding up your butt or cutting you off. I would like to try dressage shows though, because I'd be the only one in the arena when I ride my test. I think it'll be a while before I do that though. I have a lot to work on.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

You'd be the only one in the arena if you ran barrels:)

Becky

[Beaker]

I would love to run barrels if I was less of a wuss. :-D I don't know how I would keep from falling off on those tight turns!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Lot's of practice at the slow speeds, then slowly build to faster. Oh, and remember, you've got all that western saddle to help hold you in which means nothing too it:)

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

It's actually warming up here. The ground is thawing, and the hose thawed. This cold snap caught me unprepared. I've been having to haul water from the house. I try to have the troughs full before it freezes then I just have to break and shovel the ice off. My troughs are big enough to get me thru a cold spell here IF their full.

Becky

[Beaker]

It's getting colder here. It'll be down to 8 degrees tonight with a high of 19 degrees tomorrow. It'll be in the 20s all week, but next week it's supposed to get up to 37. Thank goodness!

[Beaker]

Oh, and remember, you've got all that western saddle to help hold you in which means nothing too it:)
You say that now.... but when I end up on my butt, I'll know who to blame. ;-) I've wanted to do western things for a while, but all I can find are barns that do western equitation, and nothing fun. I've done polls and barrels a little bit, for fun, but nothing too fast. Nothing breakneck, leaning into the turns fast.

[Beaker]

erm... poles even! :-D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I don't think the western show stuff is truly "western". I wonder all the time how it got to be considered western..??? Looks stupid to me, and no real "cowboy" would be caught dead mincing around like that I would think.

Anyway, like I've said before, for any one who takes the time to run barrels in the most efficent way, you'll find alot of the "dressage" techniques are used. Speed is not necessarily the best indicator of how well a horse will do at it. So in actuality the saddle has little to do with how well you keep your seat.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

My troughs are big enough to get me thru a cold spell here IF their full.

Indeed, if they are full... I hate packing water out from the house.

Mine are full, overflowing faster than the horses can drink them, it is raining so hard.

[Beaker]

Looks stupid to me, and no real "cowboy" would be caught dead mincing around like that I would think.
Mincing. That's an excellent way of putting it! :-) Barrels would definately take some getting used to. :-)

[Inge_CAV]

Thanks for the Ping. Great pictures, I remember those places and all the fun times we had there. It was sunny and nice outside on Saturday, still sunny on Sunday but the wind was cold. Glad I put out plenty of extra hay on Saturday. That should be enough until the middle of the week.

[MissTargets]

It's a shame that they will not let volunteers in the forests to do some clearing. But, like you said, most are not too horse friendly. We have V.I.P (volunteers in the park). These can be any individual or group. With all the States in some financial trouble, I would hate to see if we did not have this program.

The Ohio Horseman's Council has chapters in almost all the 88 counties. If not for them, I doubt we would have the trails we do.

I live in the NE section, by Mosquito Lake State Park. There is only 10 miles of trail there. The most beautiful riding is in Southern Ohio. Hills, waterfalls, and beautiful scenery.

State Parks in Ohio with bridle trails.

[MissTargets]

What clinched it for me, was at an Appaloosa show. I was showing a yearling in the halter class. As I walked to the judge, he was looking at me, like "do I know you". Judges are trainers and trainers are judges. I could not see hiring someone, to show my horses.

[HairOfTheDog]

Most of the Backcountry Horseman's chapters around here adopt trails for maintenance too. The good benefit of that is you can ride year 'round on trail maintenance, even when they are closed for winter. Just have to bring some tools with you and be prepared to cut. ;~D

[MissTargets]

Just have to bring some tools with you and be prepared to cut.

And hot dogs, or a big pot of chili, to entice more workers..lol
The work parties can be a lot of fun, along with the work. Too bad, it's always the same bunch who do all the work.

[MissTargets]

I noticed in one of your pictures, that in the background, there seemed to be a lot of homes. Do you have any problems with complaints about flies or manure? What do you do with your manure? This may seem funny to some, but it can be a problem in some areas.

[HairOfTheDog]

There's one home with a lot of other sheds and barns and buildings on one side of us that you've probably seen in the pictures, on the other side of us is a convenience store.

I don't have a bad fly problem. We spread poo in the paddock and pasture nearly daily during the fly season. But there are no more flies here than anywhere if we've been good. I leave the door wide open in summer.

If we lapse in poo management we notice!

[Beaker]

This is a bit off topic, but animal related nonetheless. My 15 year old cocker spaniel who lives with my dad, was just diagnoses with Lyme Disease. Is it curable in dogs? This seems like a silly question, but was wondering what his prognosis was. I've had him since I was 6, so he's something kinda special to me. :-)