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Posted on 06/01/2005 7:34:38 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
It's fine to discharge firearms... it's an area where many people recreationally shoot in the gravel pits left over from road building. It's also an open public hunting area, and the only issue people might occasionally have with Game Dept if they are walking through the woods with a gun, is whether it's simply defense or if they are hunting out of season ;~D You can usually tell the difference. Since no one actually hunts bear with handguns, there'd be few questions asked.
However, I am not sure you ever want to fire a warning shot at a momma bear, or any bear for that matter. If they are feeling aggressive, better to leave like we did, before she got worried about us, and better to shoot to kill than to agitate. I know Tiff's husband who got a bear last year said the bear came right at him after his first shot, and luckily dropped on the second one.
They just had a spring hunt up here, bears do a lot of damage to trees, debarking them, and will kill whole stands of trees. They usually don't do spring hunts because of the cubs, it was a special circumstance because there are so many bears up there. This one didn't seem like she'd been pursued or shot at this year, she was pretty casual.
I don't know if it's a sign of the times or not, that we saw her and that she behaved this way. Several years ago now, against the recommendation of Game Dept and knowledgeable woodsmen, some do-gooders convinced the people through ~voter initiative~ that use of hounds and bait for hunting bear and cougar was cruel, and achieved a ban on the use of bait or hounds to hunt cougar and bear. They are very very hard to get without bait or hounds, being shy creatures most of the time, especially when they have a lot of esperience with being pursued. Hound hunters kept them very wary of us. Now they may be getting bolder.
Glad your gun's gonna work for the shoot.
I do know riders that leave the saddle on till the horses are cool. Bay's former owner did that to prevent Bay from getting a pressure blister because Dick's saddle didn't fit him. That was a whole 'nother issue.
Thanks. We really like the runs set up the way they are. The babies hit the fence once or twice when they first go in, then know it's hot so don't hit it again. They are 140' long and 40' wide so they can all run and play next to each other, but the mares don't have to deal with each other :).
Thanks, I love my mountains but a lot of people do get that same feeling here. I guess the high desert is pretty intimidating at times. I'll try to get some pictures of scenery the end of the month when Bob and DIL do an endurance ride.
Watching the foals is such a trip. The fillies are all so athletic and buck and kick and run, then fall fast asleep :)
Foals have two speeds, all the way on and all the way off ;~D
The new one, whose name is now TE Ghostwind :), per Bob is doing great. Bob is feeding him three times a day to try to get some weight on him, and working him every day. On Thursday, Bob and DIL saddled him and DIL mounted him. Bucked with the saddle of course, but okay with being backed. It will be awhile before he learns anything serious but accepting saddle and rider is great.
Anyway, very rocky trail, poorly marked (obviously, since they got lost) and brought two horses home with sore feet. Bob decided to wait for the one the end of the month, the trail should be less rocky on this one. We hope - Fancy, the mare Bob rode was sore and ouchy for three days.
boy, that's the truth. There is no in between with these fillies - the colt seems a lot more laid back.
Sounds like some opportunities for good pictures was missed here ;~D
Show us rides, we love to see, you know :~D
Oh, that's too bad, but it happens. I take it they did not mean to go that far, but got lost?
It's heating up fast here. Rusty is massaged, stretched and saddled, so I better get out there. I even groomed him better then I normally do, it's been awhile, since I combed out his mane and tail, and he has a beautiful mane and tail. Since I got the ShowSheen last week it made it easy. I'll take some pictures.
Becky
I remember reading about that. People do not understand the situation, with hunting and why it is done.
Yes, you are right, it was just better to leave the area, not knowing what the momma bear was going to do.
I had to take a break here. Trying to get laundry done, clean house and pack. It was time for a cup of coffee.
It's a good example of why I am generally not a fan of voter's initiatives for issues the average suburban voter just isn't qualified to know.
The level of populations and management needs should dictate the size and types of hunting allowed, and should be fully adjustable and exandable by the game dept as needed. The Dept of Game, and the Forest Service were both opposed to this initiative, it was passed by urban and suburban liberal voters in Seattle.
Thing is, they now need to call in hound men to track problem animals, and there are very few people still keeping trained and ready hounds.
On that note, we are out of here for ride two - new place, will bring back pictures!
We always loosen the cinch after a ride for a short time. Just enough to keep saddle from slipping off, but enough to relieve the pressure. That gives time for the blood to recirculate to the back. When the saddle and pad came off, you could tell if they had a hot spot, because it would be dry. Good idea to leave pad on for awhile too.
Have fun riding. I hope Rusty does well, with no "hitches".
Rusty is making me crazy:). Only one "maybe" hitch today. I'm not sure if he was kicking a fly off his leg or hitching.
But he has gotten soooooooooooo lazy. I had to stop and come get my spurs back on my boots. He drags his toes, and swings his head like a snake, chews on the bit, a whole varity of things to show he really doesn't want to be doing this. 10 minutes on him and I hurt all over. My problem is I don't really know if it's that he is being lazy, or if this is something to do with some problem. He just didn't use to move like this. I'm so frustrated with this horse I could just sit down and scream or cry:)... But I've made up my mind I will work with him for about a month 4-5 X's a week, and if I see no improvement, I'll run him to the vet. All this could just be he is out of shape.
Becky
They definately didn't mean to go that far, started out that they were just going to ride the last 5miles of the trail that was laid out, so the horses would recognize it (heading home :) and they pick up the pace and relax) but it was marked very poorly and they got on the 75mile loop, called me at about 40 miles and took another 10 miles to get out of the mountains to a road that I could take a trailer on.
Oh, my. How do they mark the trail? At CTR, they are marked with parachute ribbion. Most of the rides I've been on, you can see the next ribbon as you pass one. In Ark they were not as frequent, but there was no mistaking the trail, no turns off.
Becky
The trails are marked with the plastic engineers tape, generally bright pink for limited distance. This time apparently the 50 and 75 milers were also marked with the same color. Probably at the ride meeting there would have been directions as to where to turn off, depending on the mileage. Either that or arrows put on the trail.
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