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.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Welcome to the horse thread:)

I have a morning ping list, to keep you current. If you would like ping every day to here let me know.

I have 4 horses. 2 geldings, 1 stud, 1 brood mare (who is hopefully expecting:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I think your pasture is really cool looking... looks very shady in summer. Here, it wouldn't be open in the understory, it'd be thick brush..... Is the clear understory natural?

The rocks are something.... but so is Harley who looks like he's going to step in the fire :~D

[Beaker]

if we all stop wearing leather, drinking milk, and eating beef, what happens to all the cows?
They'd call all their relatives over from India? Just a guess. :-)

What happens to all the chickens when we stop eating eggs and chicken?
The chickens would start pondering the great philsophical matter of which came first, the chicken, or the egg?. Then they would tell the cows what they found. Then the chickens and the cows would probably start to have great debates, and open up their own thread on FR. It would be chaos.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'm not sure what you ean by understory?

Harley did get real close sniff at the smoke. He never did act like it scared him, or that he felt the heat.

Becky

[Duchess47]

Ouch. Lots of hard work there.

[CindyDawg]

He just needs a horn. He looks mystical:')

[CindyDawg]

Or wings

[HairOfTheDog]

The undergrowth under the trees, is it naturally clear under the trees or have you had to cut brush out to be able to see through it like that? It's just a completely different kind of woods than we have, where it's thick and you can't see past the first tree, unless it's thinned out.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Hard work:

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

In the first picture we have taken no trees out or done any clearing, so that's natural. But the leaves on the ground are probably 10 inches deep.

The side Harley and Rusty are on we cleared all that out. But learned not to do that anymore. Every tree stump grew about 10 sapplings at once every year. I had to cut them off every summer for years. I used one of those weed eaters with a sawblade. The trees were as thick there as in the first picture.

So yes it is natural, unless you thin them out, THEN they thicken up:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Around here, people buy rocks like that to build walls out of. Usually grey rocks... the red might make them even more interesting! We could make a deal ;~D

[Duchess47]

Definately. You could build a barn out of that and still have rocks left over. Parts of our area are extremely rocky but we're very fortunate that where we are is not.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Oh, and by the way, here's my dirty horses up close:

Oh, I have a question too. Notice how Rusty's mane falls on one side at the top, and the other at the bottom. Any one have any clue how to train it all to go one way? I tried banding it, but maybe I didn't leave it long enough.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

You can have all you want. I'll even load it in your truck for you:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Banding it longer is all I can think of.... Bay's does that too.

[HairOfTheDog]

The shipping costs will kill us huh... ? ;~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

No, I'd say the "unloading" is what will kill you:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, if it was easy, everyone would be sellin' them red rocks in Washington. ;~D

[Duchess47]

If he'll leave it on, put a mane tamer on him. Or braid it all to one side. The problem there is getting that caught and ripping out a hand full of mane.

[Duchess47]

The models I use -