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!

[Duchess47]

I'll ask God to keep an eye on her for you - won't hurt :)

I don't think you can hold a little one too much.

[CindyDawg]

Thanks. Me either, but then I don't believe in spoilt babies. (Just well Loved:')

[CindyDawg]

I wanted to ask yall over here where I feel a little safer...Is it not a good idea to let them graze while you watch them with the lead rope on the ground? I do, I guess because everyone else does. Sarah Lee used to jump at ropes moving so I thought I was actually helping her and it did get her used to it. Occasionally they do step on them but stop and step off of it.

[HairOfTheDog]

There's a risk of them wrenching their neck if they step on the line at the same time they startle or jerk their head up, but really, it's a small one. Some horses panic about the line getting stepped on or tangled around feet more than others. If you're right there to correct things, I'd do what you think is safe.

[CindyDawg]

I'll have to think about this. Too bad about that horse though. You ever see that John Wayne movie, I can't think of the name of it but his daughter coming home from school and he and his wife spliting up. Anyway there was a scene kind of like what yall were describing.

[HairOfTheDog]

Too vague for me... ;~D what scene? :~D

[CindyDawg]

Sorry:') There was a rodeo and cowboys were trying to get on bucking horses and outride each other for a prize. John Wayne was reminding his lady that that was how he met her and she used to not turn up her nose up at rodeo stuff. I'm not much into westerns but I remembered caz I thought it was a cute scene at the time. I figured the horses were just trained to act that way.

[Duchess47]

Many many years ago :) I watched my dad train roping horses, not for rodeos, for ranch work. He'd tie a rope to their halter and turn them out to graze (not a bunch of horses at a time - just one). He said they taught themselves to never step on a rope - never had one get hurt either. He also taught them to ground tie by tying them to a large log on the ground. He didn't tie them up short, they had 12-15' of rope. He also used to stake them out to graze. None of this is something I've ever done, but old cowboys used to do it all the time.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well old westerns, before the AHA supervised, where VERY hard on horses. Lots had to be destroyed from injury in the old days, it's relatively good for them now.

[HairOfTheDog]

Bay can be staked out. He doesn't pitch a panic if he gets his legs around the line. I learned that about him when I first moved here and was doing fence repair to get the pasture open for him. I fashioned him into a pack horse and tied buckets on him to carry all the tools out there. I learned over time that he was pretty cool about just dragging the line. I've done it sometimes on trail, I always bring a line. This pic was at a lunch stop on trail... he's staked to me ;~D

A friend's horse, on the other hand, one who is cool in every other way, absolutely freaks out if she gets a leg over the line or gets otherwise hung up when tied. She'll pull till she breaks something.

[Duchess47]

It really is a very good thing for horses to learn. I've got a mare that stuck her foot through a wire fence (before we torn down all the wire and put up electric). She stood for we don't know how long, until Bob realized she was stuck and went and cut her loose.

Well, it wasn't more than a couple of hours but that's still a long time to stand and not fight.

[CindyDawg]

He's such a good boy.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Good morning

I think our trip to the arena this morning is rained out. It is not raining now, but rained all night and the arena in town has a tendency to become a lake when it just sprinkles. It's in a flood zone. Will problably just ride here.

Becky

[Beaker]

Good morning.
Have a good ride. It's been raining a lot here as well. Hopefully it won't rain tomorrowso that I can go and ride. I can't wait until classes end so I can put in more riding time.

[FrogInABlender]

...You think you'll ever do it again?

I'd love to sometime. Most of them are a pretty long haul from where I live and I didn't like driving all that way pulling an old trailer by myself. I think they have one out at the Owl Creek Horse Camp here in Bankhead National Forest, or at least they used to. I might try and do that one sometime if they still have it.

[FrogInABlender]

I used to hand graze mine in the yard all the time coz I didn't have any pasture where I used to live. It was mostly just a dirt lot. I'd sit out there on the ground and let them drag the lead in a circle around me. If they stepped on it, I'd give them the back-up signal (I use SHHHHHHH), and they learned to step off. It also taught them to back up when I wasn't on 'em.

[cowboyway]

Beautiful weather here in upstate SC. But my gelding has come up lame. And he's the one I need to be riding. Damnit. Started him on bute yesterday. If he don't clear up in a couple of days, I'll have to start thinking about an abscess in the hoof.

[MissTargets]

Hair,

In agreement with Becky and Duchess, you should be able to help your husband, with all he needs to know about basic horsemanship. Just like training a horse, he just need lots of wet saddle blankets. He has a very nice horse, that is not going to hurt him and he can build his confidence on. Just be easy on him...lol

[Beaker]

Is he especially sensative in the sole of his foot, or do you feel any soft spots or heat?

[Beaker]

bah. I meant sensitive