The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SEVEN

See our "who's who" page! ^

[HairOfTheDog]

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
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!

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, we're off to go catch and hose down horses to go... With dinner afterward, by your time zones I'm sure we'll be back very late, I wouldn't expect to roll in much before dark, our time.

Have a nice day everyone! Have cameras!

[Beaker]

Have fun!

[RMDupree]

Have fun, Hair!

Hello everyone!

Rebecca and I went on our third trail ride today. It was by far the best ride I've been on so far. :-D

I rode Foyt again, with specific instructions that I didn't want BlackJack on trail with us or I'd want a different horse. Luckily, BlackJack was not invited today.

Foyt was wonderful ~except~ he had lost a shoe so they had a boot on his front left foot. :-(

It did keep him from getting too spirited with me on board though. His gait was definitely off compared to the last time I rode him, but the ride was wonderful. We both just enjoyed the trip. *grin*

One bad thing did happen today, which served as a very valuable lesson to Rebecca. There was a couple riding together on 2 horses that did not particularly care for each other. Yet, the couple insisted on riding close together side by side.

Well, the inevitable happened and the guy's horse kicked at her horse...with her ankle in the middle. OUCH!

She had a big scrape along the bone and I'm certain it's gonna be bruised. But she whined so much about it that I did lose my sympathy.

"Well, I won't walk for three weeks, but I guess that's OK." type statements...continously the whole way back. *rolls eyes*

What this taught Rebecca is that we are not riding bicycles, but animals. Proud animals with a very distinct sense of pecking order and rank amongst them.

IMHO, they were asking for trouble by insisting that those horses ride together when it was apparent from the body language that it wasn't a comfortable situation for the horses.

It happened really fast and the trail leader was wonderful at taking immediate control of the situation. Needless to say, the horses stayed far apart after that.

Sorry this post is so lengthy!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I haven't ridden him since Thurs. I don't ride on Fri, as it's my day with the grandkids:), and today mack took the day off, his first in 3 weeks. We've been in town all day just messing around. Guess what we did do?

We went to Pet Smart for me to look at English Saddles!!!!. I sat in several, and like a "Windtec" the best. Mack is going to search for it on the computer later. Buying it from Pet Smart will be around $500....is that about right? I think it was close to the one you have. Once again I can't remember exactly what yours is called, and I can't find where I wrote it down.

I'm having those suspiciousions again that my saddle is not working on him:(. It hasn't rubbed a bare spot again yet, but when I pull it off, he tosses his head around and pins his ears, and that spot is dry.

I'm going to try Jenny's this next week and see what he does. If it works I won't have to rush to buy one. I'd really like to find and English saddle similar/like this type and try it first, but that might not be an option. I just don't know anyone who rides English. I'd also like to try an Abetta.

If it's not raining in the morning (it is now), Mack will have to work so I plan on riding him then. If not tomorrow, then Monday for sure we will get started seriously. Hoping Jenny's saddle works, I don't want t have to buy something in a rush, but I need him to be able to wear one for 6+ hours. And I'm going to this ride in a month.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well, beings as this is dude string type riding, the wranglers should be more responsible about making sure the right horses are together. But in reality, any horse should be able to ride together with anyother horses, and it's the riders responsiblity to control them.

My stud horse can be a real brat riding by a gelding. It doesn't mean I don't ride with geldings there's no getting away from it if I ride him, but I have to be aware all times at how he is acting. He'll lunge at one and bite if I let him.

But the situation you are riding in I'd say the responsibilty lies with the stable people, not so much the riders.

But I'm glad you and REbecca had a good time.

Becky

[RMDupree]

We had a terrific time. It would have been better if it wasn't so HOT! Whew!

We (horses and humans) got a lovely hose-down at the watering station. It felt marvelous!

Maybe the heat makes the horses unusually ill-tempered??

I know what you're saying re: responsibility, but with at least a dozen horses mounted with beginner-to-moderate riders out at the same time in close quarters, isn't an accident eventual anyway?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yes and no:). what I understand of the situation you are telling tho, two people wanted to ride together on two horses that were known not to get along??? If that's the case the hands increased the chance of a situation developing and put others besides those two in a possible situation they couldn't handle well.

But you probably had to be there to really know who was at fault. But if the person whining insisted on riding that horse next to the other, well, then she should have been paying better attention and not whined after the incident.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

This is the saddle I was looking at and liked the best.Wintec 500 AP

Is this close to yours? By the time I add the stirrups, stirrup straps, and girth It be around $500.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Oh, and I'm sorry to keep asking all these questions over and over:), but we may not have talked about this:).

I was looking at a site on the internet at Wintecs. The have seveal models, and one was a Wintec Wide. It looks just like the 500, only it's made to fit wider horses. Would you think Harley would need that, or how do I measure him??

Becky

[RMDupree]

I learned a lesson today from what I saw. And I'm very grateful that it didn't happen to me for the lesson to be taught.

I do feel terrible for her. I'm sure she had visions of a romantic ride with her husband and it ended up a whole lot different.

Foyt running off with me last time was scary, but I wasn't hurt by it. Other than a bruised behind, that is. :-D

I don't think this ranch takes all of the precautions they should about horses, but maybe the limitations placed by riders' experience or lack thereof forces them to put certain horses together in the group that maybe they shouldn't be in. *shrugs*

The crash course lesson they give before the ride is very thorough and they cover horse behavior and the importance of keeping control of your horse before something like that happens.

I've only ridden there 3 times, but I have learned that letting your horse do whatever what it wants will not be pleasant for the rider or other riders around you.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

've only ridden there 3 times, but I have learned that letting your horse do whatever what it wants will not be pleasant for the rider or other riders around you.

It seems one of the hardest things to get across to people, is that the very second you put a halter/saddle/bridle on a horse it is THIER work time, and your enjoyment time. Sounds like you've already caught on to that:). There is nothing wrong with making a horse behave. I'm not saying that you shouldn't make the ride as enjoyable/comfortable, etc. for the horse, but their enjoyment and comfort does not come before the riders, or at the expense of the rider or riders around.If there is something they don't want to do, but the rider does, then it's tuff patooties for the horse, or if they have to ride next to a horse they don't like, tuff. But:),,,I'm rather fanatical on that issue, but it's because when I first started riding I made every mistake you can make, and wanted my horses to "like" everything:).

Becky

[RMDupree]

The horse isn't paying the $38 for me to ride it either. LOL!

But yeah, I'd guess my biggest pet peeve right now is riders that don't even ~attempt~ to control their horse. I think they believe they are on a theme park ride or sumthin'. :-/

Even my first time out, I tried to control my horse, albeit timidly. I was worried about the type of bit and how strong a hand was needed to get results.

Once Hair pointed out that the bits were the gentlest out there, I took a more aggressive stance with the reins.

The good/bad thing about these horses is that they have ridden the trail a gazillion times and are bored to tears. Which is great in one way since you don't worry about encoutering something the horse may find unfamiliar.

But the bad is that with boredom comes an increased propensity for mischief. Kinda like my girls. :-D

Mischief = accidents when riders on board.

[RMDupree]

A question if you all would indulge me please...

How are leg cues used?

When I want the horse to turn right, for example, I turn my torso in the direction I want and apply pressure with my calf on the right side of the horse with my toes pointed up towards the right.

Is that incorrect?

I ask because I don't want to be sending mixed messages to the horse by using body language one way and legs another.

I'd like to use my legs a bit more in guiding the horse instead of the reins if the turn is a gradual one to get around fallen logs, rocks, etc.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

This is what I do.

When making a turn I do not turn my body at all. I only use my upper body for stops by shifting my weight back.

To make a turn to the right, I press with my right calf to get the horse to flex, and I bump with my left heel if he isn't turning enough. I also would pull my to my hip pocket with the right rein, leaving slack in the left rein.

Your heels should stay down and toes forward. If the horse doesn't turn with light bumping with your left heel you can move it forward towards his shoulder, helps bring them around more.

That's the way I do it:), Depending on how well the horse is cooperating each day:), sometimes they will just turn with no bumping with the outside leg, just a light press with the calf and slight pressure on the inside rein.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I was looking at a site on the internet at Wintecs. The have seveal models, and one was a Wintec Wide. It looks just like the 500, only it's made to fit wider horses. Would you think Harley would need that, or how do I measure him??

I think the one you pictured is identical to mine. Price seems right. I don't know how to measure whether Harley should have the 'wide' model. He may be wide, but English saddles are often designed for big hurky warmbloods that are even wider. That one ~should~, if it's the same as mine, have the exchangeable front gullet so you can get the correct width at the wither. With an English saddle, that's 90% of the fit.

Can you take him in and try each of them? Is there anyone at Petsmart who's knowledgeable? - Or are you dealing with min wage teenagers who don't know a saddle from a dog bed there?

[tuffydoodle]

Wow, where is everybody tonight? Tuffy is still sore and if he's not better by Monday I may have to call the vet. I really do think he's just cut too short but I'm starting to get a little worried. Tuffy has the crappiest feet in the world and it's darn near impossible to keep him sound but this is too much.

Sharn, cat still missing. I think that one's a goner.

Becky, I think trying out an english saddle would be lots of fun for you. I've never used a wintec but I haven't heard anything bad about them. Go for an "all purpose" type or a dressage type. You probably don't want a "close contact" unless you plan to jump.

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh - and we're back! Will look through the pics in a bit. The ride was fairly hard, very hot, but Bay (and of course Cyn) did excellent. Lots of climbing, lots of steep down hills with narrow trails, lots of rocks and lots of logs across the trail. Bay had good energy though. I think we each lost half our body weight in sweat, but he really rose to the occasion.

We didn't stay for dinner. If there would have been a lick of shade or a breeze where our trailer was, we might have, but the sun was just beating down, the horses seemed OK but wouldn't drink, and we just wanted to get home and out of the sun.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Hello, your back earlier then I expeceted. I figured I woudn't hear from you till tomorrow.

You can't try them at Pet Smart, and I have never talked to anyone there, so I'm not sure how knowledgeable they would be.

This saddle does have the adjustable gullet. I just wondered about him, because of the trouble I'm having with my saddle. I'm wondering if he has a funny wither, and how much that could effect the fit of an English.

How's Bay? How did the ride go? Andy cinch rubs?

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I kinda figured Petsmart might not be the kind of place you could try them.


No new cinch rubs and the cinch stayed clear of the old one. Heh... Rode with it pretty loose.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Sorry about tuffy:(. This just hasn't been a good month for horses here.

This saddle I'm looking at is an All Purpose. I like it because it has a nice deep seat, and it seems wider, more saddle under you then some of the others I sat in. One of them felt like I was setting on a 2 inch pipe:),, probably just because of my butt:)

Becky