The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX

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
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!

[mommadooo3]

Yeah, SOME of the dogs would bite at the heels. And it used to make me MAD, cuz I thought they would cause serious hurtin' on the horses. LOL.

I guess I was wrong to think that a herding dog would SnF(step and fetch) horses. LOL...watched too many sheep-herding trials, I reckon.

If y'all can find the FReeper who's 'living/breathing' heelers, let me know.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Here's our old girl, Nikki:), she's probably about 13. She's the one whose had a broken leg, and half her face peeled off. She has hip problems now, so just stands outside the horse pens and barks at them. I think she knows she's too slow now to get away from them. She really went thru a grieving period when Josy was killed. I thought we were going to loose her too. She lost alot of weight and didn't do much for along time but lay around and sleep. She was older then Josy, and was a tiny bit more restrained then Josey. Josey was just a loon. My husband really missed her too. He loved playing with her.

Becky

[Beaker]

That trail ride looked like so much fun! Give me a crash suit and I'll ride pony with ya! ;-)

[Beaker]

No, she doesn't have beer down there, but if there was a way to, she would :~D
HA! They should make a beer caddy out of a riding helmet. You know, like those goofy hats you see with a beer on each side and a long straw going down to your mouth. It'll keep your hands free to steer... Or would you get pulled over for a DUI, I wonder... ;-)

[Beaker]

Would you think something could be bothering him if you knew when I turn him out with Harley he runs, bucks, kicks, rears up, and seems to have all the energy in the world???
Could be that he's being horsey. I'd say that before I'd actually say something is wrong with him, especially after some time off.

[Beaker]

What a cute pup! Congratulations.

[ljswisc]

It's been awhile since I've visited this thread but I really need someone else's opinioin here. This is the very first drawing I've done in YEARS that wasn't a commission which means it isn't meant to be a replica of my photo reference. (I am a portrait artist in my spare time) My plan for this one is probably to enjoy it on my wall for a little while and then sell it maybe.. I don't know. It's been so long since I've had the option! (Yeah I'm blowing off starting a commission just for the chance to do this one!)

So the reason I chose to draw this picure is because the rider had me so inspired. I took the photo of her at a dressage show I went to.. and while watching an intermediate class I was noticing how due to the hot weather so few people were wearing chadbellys, or hunt coats, and their horses were braided very simply without the white tape.. etc. I was about to leave when this rider came along. I said to my husband, "This woman is a diehard.. in all this heat she's going to do everything top notch." So we turned back to watch her go, and I turned on my camera. She was so amazing. I got a million pics. She rode as if she were in the olympics.

Her salute was just a prelude of her impeccable detail. You'd swear the president was in the judges box. It turned out to be my favorite photo. So I sketched it out.. and the only thing that I can't decide on is the position of the horse's back legs. That seemed to be the only flaw. His back legs were not perfectly square. At first I liked that idea.. after all this was not a grand prix class... it was intermediate... So I would leave the horses legs as is and name the piece.. "Intermediate".

Now I'm wondering if I should square them up. I'm literally losing sleep over this! Should I honor the perfection this rider sought by perfecting the horse in this portrait? Or should I leave his legs as they appeared in the photo? Does anyone have any opinions.. from an art standpoint.. as well as a marketability standpoint? Would this picture be undesireable with the flaw? For once I have the option to do it however I want! Except that I don't know what I want!!!

Here's what I've got so far...

[MissTargets]

That is very nice, I would leave the legs as they were. He looks like he's ready to perform.

[MissTargets]

I think he has just gotten lazy. Been off too long.

Could be, they do have their moods.

[MissTargets]

I am going on vacation tomorrow morning....see you all in a week....

[HairOfTheDog]

Heh.... tough call... It's art either way.... But I might also have wanted to square him up.... Show us what you decide to do when it is all done, please!

[HairOfTheDog]

Have a great vacation!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Good morning.

BEcky

[Beaker]

I'd square him up. The horse and rider team look so elegant, and impeccible that you probably should, but it's your call. :-) What dressage show did you go to?

[Beaker]

*psst* we're pictureholics on this thread. Would you be so kind as to post some pictures from the show? I for one would love to see a few, especially of this rider.

[mommadooo3]

Hmmmm. I suppose it depends on what you want the picture to 'represent'.

Do you want to 'capture the moment'? Or to have it represent 'the spirit' of the horse/rider.

Does that make any sense?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

My horses are eating right now. As soon as they're done, I'm out to ride before it gets hot. I did ride Harley and Rusty last night. A neighbor showed up to ride too, so it was kind of hard to get the work out I wanted to do on Harley. My arena is great for one person or just playing in with a few, but more then one, makes it hard to do what I was wanting to do, so I'll do that today. Rusty seemed about the same as Sat. I'm just not sure what he is doing but something is off. I'm calling the farrier this morning and have his shoes pulled and his feet trimmed. For the next month I plan on doing mostly arena work and he can be barefoot for that. It still seems to me it's laziness, and not paying attention. He never locked up once, which was good.

Belle goes to the vet today for a culture. I'll have the results tomorrow.

Hair, you and ecurbh riding by yourselves today, or with someone?

Frog, how did your friend do on Blade?

Becky

[Rose of Sharn]

LOL! You can buy whistles! : D
There is a really great book out there, especially for training blue heelers etc. I won't mention the author again as he has the same name as a famous porn star! Very good book though and easy to follow. : )
Sally, our Australian shelpherd, herds the 3 basset hounds we have when they are running lose! She also herds the chickens and the children! LOL

[Rose of Sharn]

Sally and our (late) blue heeler Sparky, never bothered with the horses, they would chase them up and down the fence line but were too intelligent to get in there with them, and when the horses are out, they both stay(ed) well away. All the horses are used to the dogs, cats and chickens being around them every day.
Sally loves the horse feed and will be with the chickens cleaning up the feed that is dropped!

[Rose of Sharn]

I have been in the commercial business with drawings etc and my opinion is to leave alone, if you try and square up it may not have that natural flow anymore. I am impressed with what you have done so far! : )