The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE

See our who's who page! ^

[HairOfTheDog]

*New* The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - Who's Who *pics*

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.

Previous threads:

The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR

New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

The ride is the last weekend of May. It's been 2 years now since I've gotten to compete so I'm really looking forward to it.

I for got to add I got my trailer pulled into the arena today too. Harley ate his afternoon feed from a bucket hooked to it. I'm going to let him eat there a few days, before tying him to it. I still think it odd that he will stand tied to a tree or hitching post all day with no problem but doesn't like being tied to a trailer. He approached his feed bucket very cousiously. I really think he must have had a bad experience with trailers. And it worries me him flinging around tied to it, so many things to get cut by.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I'd never leave them unattended tied to the trailer, I've seen them get cut, get their line caught (usually because it was too long) and more often than not in a bad scene, I've seen them break the welds on the trailer and bend things. Because it's risky, I am a little surprised it is your only option.

If I had to leave Bay tied to a trailer all night, I'd be sleeping right by him. I wouldn't want to be out of sight.

[HairOfTheDog]

Feeding him on it is a good solution for now... I agree... hang his water bucket there too?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels that way.

Another interesting thing about today:), Celia brought a new horse to ride in the arena. She just got him back from a "trainer" She doesn't think the guy is a true trainer, he just got on the horse and rode it.

It's really a nice looking horse, 4 year old gelding, good breeding, but he's going to be pretty tall. She was pretty nervous, but the horse did great. This is the horse I talked about that got joint ill because Celia didn't spray his cord after he was born. So far it looks like there is not going to be any lasting effects.

Jenny and I are going to haul our horses down to the arena in town in the morning. Celia is going to bring this young one down there too.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I was very uncomfortable doing it when I first started competeing. I sleep in the trailer so I would feel any thing the horse did. But the hardest thing to get use to was they wanted you to tie them long enough so the horse could lay down at night. The snap on the lead rope is suppose to just touch the ground.

I will practice this alot before the ride too.

But in 5 years of competing I never saw a horse get in trouble doing this.

BEcky

[HairOfTheDog]

Jenny and I are going to haul our horses down to the arena in town in the morning.

When ecurbh and I have daydreamed about having a trailer, one of the things we've thought we'll do is go to the big arena facilities once in awhile, especially on some rainy day when there's no other way to ride, and ride there, for the experience. I think we should find some regular arena riding lessons for ecurbh... don't you think that would be good? He's really doing great as a rider... no sign of trouble, but he won't necessarily learn everything he needs to know walking on trail, and it isn't always good to take instructions from a spouse. And, I might add... I'm no pro for a teacher.

[HairOfTheDog]

I'll highline them that long, and they do lay down, there an elasticity to a highline where they can be tied so that they can reach the ground and the line stays sortof taught, without a loop in the line they can get a foot over.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'm just wanting to haul Harley too as many different places as I can to get him use to going.

I have mixed feelings about taking riding lessons. That might be because I never took any:) The only way to ride is to get on and ride, but there are cues, that unless someone tells you about it you might not know to do them. I think it all depends on the person, and how techniqual they want to be and how fast they want to learn. Most of that stuff you would pick up on your own, just hanging around horse people and paying attention, and trial and error.

ecurbh seems pretty comfortable, and doesn't seem to need the security of a trainer for a confidence builder. For him I would say it would depend on how techniqual he wants to be.

But I could be wrong, you know him better then I do:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

He is doing good, and his confidence is really high. I just want him to have kindof a gradual learning curve, without any serious mishaps! :~D

We'll see if he's interested. I don't think it'd be worthwhile for him to go to a western pleasure equitation type class where all the teacher talks about is keeping his heels down. But I think there is a teacher in town that does real good natural horsemanship stuff that other trail riding men I know have benefitted from. Since they're all older guys and quiet riders, it's probably the only time they've ever cantered their horses ;~D

[ecurbh]

Hey, y'all talkin bout me? My ears were burning. ;~D

[Duchess47]

You know I think there are a lot of *trainers* out there who don't really know much at all and just put 30 days of 30-60 minutes a day of saddle time on a horse, but never teach them anything except go and stop.

Bob hauls out to somewhere or other whenever he can so the horses get used to all kinds of different stuff and trailering becomes old hat to them.

[FrogInABlender]

Boy, Harley sounds like he's gonna be a super CTR horse. I hope you come in first! I hope you can get some pictures of the obstacles, but I'm sure you'll be too busy doing them to be taking pictures. It's been a long time since I've done any CTR, but I sure enjoyed it. The camaraderie in camp was great.

[FrogInABlender]

LOL!!! Poor guy! I can just hear him, "You just want me for my body, LEAVE ME ALONE!". ;o)

[FrogInABlender]

...And it worries me him flinging around tied to it, so many things to get cut by.

I can't remember the rules, but will they let you wrap his legs in camp? I know they won't out on the trail, but I thought if you could put shipping boots on him, at least for the first night until you're sure he's gonna stand tied ok.

[FrogInABlender]

...I am a little surprised it is your only option.

You are being judged in camp too and your camp setup and horse's camp manners are part of it. They want everone's horse's stabling conditions to be the same and they know that everyone at least has a trailer and a lead.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I didn't know you had done them before:) That's great.

You think you'll ever do it again?

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I don't think you can use any leg protection even in camp. But it might be something I could do here getting him use to it.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

Thanks again yall; Yep. She has hair. Dark hair. Most of our little ones red fuzz babies. She looks a lot like my husband and even has his chin dimple. She's got my eyes though. Hazel must be dominate over brown because all 4 of my grandkids have the same color eyes:')

[Duchess47]

Have to say it again, she is just precious :)

[CindyDawg]

Yeah. She seems fine but she is a little jaundiced . She was late getting home because the cardiologist had to look at her. I wish I had been there. The kids said he told them she has two valves that haven't completely closed yet and has a murmur but thinks it will close on it's on. My husband and I checking nails and watching her color when she crys. She goes back in 3 weeks. She's such a sweetheart. No startling at all. She is very alert and likes to be held and look around.