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Posted on 07/14/2005 3:23:55 PM 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
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
Well I am out of here for the day, I forgot to buy a car charger for this and I am down to only a few mins left. I'll be popsting tommorow sometme with pics.
Hope your bruises heal fast! : )
Nice pictures and good job:)
Becky
Nice seeing the both of you and thank so much for your tips the first time I went riding.
I would have been lost without them!
Looks like fun was had!
Your story reminds me of my first trail ride on Cyn, when we got to the first water crossing and she decided that rather than walk through, to take a flyin' leap across and scramble up the far bank. I have no idea how I stayed on, but I did.
To some degree, those things happen between horses, if a rider isn't watching it develop, or doesn't know to watch for it, you can find yourself in the middle of a dispute over pecking order. Sometimes the riders unknowingly bring it on by doing things that send the wrong message to the other horse. Your place in line might violate some equine pecking order idea they have in their head.
My advice to all people all the time is leave a lot of distance between you and other horses, even if the horses know each other well. Don't let your horse tailgate, and warn other riders that are tailgating you. You'll learn to recognize, from ears and tail swishing, when another horse is too close for your horse's comfort. If you go to pass, hold the outside rein to keep them from being able to interact with the other horse, and if you stop.... don't let them sniff noses. Horses will sniff noses then strike if they feel threatened... and the restriction they feel with a rider on and reins tight can be the only thing that makes them feel threatened.
It seems all the horses are being ridden in an egg-butt snaffle, which is about the mildest bit there is. When they want to 'go' do you feel like you have enough 'whoah' or to you have to pull pretty hard?
Hey - I'm curious if there are any water crossings along your ride, or if you'd avoid crossing creeks because of alligators.
Whoops sorry, I didn't see your story before I posted my questions. You did a good job! :-)
The clean horses are grazing in the yard... the dirty horse is in the paddock ;~D
We noticed yesterday our pony is looking a little fat :~\
We're going trail riding tomorrow, early before it gets too hot.
Becky, how are yours doing?
Rocky's moving around more, so he must be getting better, altho I never doctored him at all. When I went out to catch him to doctor him, he took off for the back so I just said, OK.
Harley is doing great, I actually think I will be able to ride him again soon, maybe as early as Mon. I put this stuff called Green Jelly Cook Pak on his leg and wrapped it with a brown paper bag and polo wrap. It stayed wrapped (according to directions) for 24 hours. When I took the wrap off the swelling was all gone and the cut looked real good. He has never limped, or really acted sore, other then one bite on his back. I put some of the stuff on that one bite (it was swollen too), the swelling is gone and when I press ont he bite he doesn't react at all.
I rode Rusty this morning for a little over an hour on the creek hills, and he did fine.
So I would say everyone is on the road to recovery.
Becky
We noticed yesterday our pony is looking a little fat :~\
You just noticed:)? Hey, pony's are suppose to be fat, what makes them so cute. But it can be their downfall:(
Becky
Very good. They are resiliant!
Any news on the friend that's thinking about Rusty?
That looks like a cool gadget. I hose them down alot.... when it's hot I look for any excuse to play with the hose!
I hose them down after every ride, but I hardly ever actually use shampoo.
So what are you telling me, you've known my pony was fat for some time? :~D
No, I told her it would probably be Mon. before I ride again. I'm not too hopeful anymore.
Becky
That ezall stuff was pretty cool They demonstrated it on a paint horse. I really got alot of the dirt and stains off. I think if you use it on a real regular basis it really keeps them clean. You just spray it on, let it soak for 5 minutes then rinse it off. No scrubbing.
When you said you bathe your horses, I thought you meant the full shampoo job. I hose mine off after riding too when it's really hot.
LOL...I was looking at that picture you posted of Pony on that other thread. She looked very healthy:).
Becky
I think too much shampooing, you dry them out and they look duller. with brown horses, I can get the dirt off by spraying them good.
I like to hose them down before rides too, they usually dry by the time we get somewhere in the trailer, and when it's hot, they probably stay cooler on the trip.
I just don't like mud dripping out under the pad on the ride... looks unkempt :~D
Well, yeah. with anything common sense has to be used.
Becky
I do feel that I have some degree of control over the horse, but let's face it - I am an inexperienced rider and these horses have been on this trail so many times that what I say or do means almost nothing to them.
I got tough when I needed to by pulling Foyt's head towards my knee when he wasn't paying attention to what I was saying and trying to do his own thing.
It irritated him, but he respected the fact that I was trying to lead - albeit not perfectly.
BlackJack is an intimidating horse any way you slice it. He wanted to go after Foyt and he eventually did. Once that happened, there was little I could do besides hold on and try to calm Foyt down enough to slow him down.
I just said "Easy, easy, he's gone." over and over while pulling back on the reins with constant pressure. That didn't work, so I was forced to pull his head toward my right knee and hope he'd get the hint.
All this while I clung to his back like a tick! LOL!!
He did, to my relief. He could have just as easily thrown his head forward and taken me with them.
Oh! And no water crossings on the trail besides over bridges and next to canals.
We stay as far from the canal banks as we can though because of gators and the possibilty of a horse spooking and diving into the water.
It's 11 feet deep in some places. No good for horse or rider.
Thanks Beaker!
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