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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!
Will do. I should have internet access here at work even if I don't at home. They've got 2 power feeds here at the plant, one from the city and one direct from TVA with a UPS switching between to keep the computers running.
I made dog tags with the horse's phone number on it , and I braided it into their mane. This was when I first had the horses here, and was gone all day working. I feared they'd get out and I wouldn't know for hours.
I don't keep them on them as much any more, I lost the pony's and haven't kept Bay's on.... I'm less nervous about them now that I've had them here a few years and the fence has improved.
I had another Arab around that time. The first parade I rode in I rode him and carried a flag:). Ignorance is bliss. I had no clue that would be a spooky think for a horse. He did fine with the flag, but put a halt to the whole parade when it came time to cross a set of white lines for a cross walk:).
I came home and had Mack paint white lines all down the driveway. They didn't last long because it was on dirt, but he got use to them, altho I never came across lines like those in other parades. I learned quick that parades could be very hairy. Tha'ts one reason I like to watch the big parades during the holidays. It amazes me how calm alot of the horses go, altho this past New Years at the Rose bowl parade there were alot more acting up then I'd seen in the past.
I have always wondered how you train a horse to be parade safe, other then to just go to them....it's just such a unique situation, that would be hard to reproduce for practice.
Becky
Yep, unless you're on him and he's about to come unglued. ;o)
Borium shoes are the answer to slick pavement. I wouldn't ride a parade without them anymore. I've been flat on the pavement with a horse on my leg and it ain't fun. If you know anybody that can weld, you can make your own, but you can order them from some catalogs too.
I don't think you can really practice it. You can practice some of the individual elements, but not the whole hype of the actual experience.
I'd rather be on Cyn... she doesn't mind if flags flap her in the face. Bay would barely touch the ground the whole way.
Yeah, I've heard of them, and the ranch I use to work on had some made for their carriage horse. Now that I'm more "knowledgeable" about horses, you couldn't pay me to ride in a parade:). Especially the little town one's around here. Too many "cowboys" in the crowd.
Becky
I'd probably try those rubber boots too.
I rode a few other horses in parades before I gave it up. Roping horses are usually the best about flapping stuff around them.
Becky
I can't see myself riding in a parade now....
That's a good idea too. I've meant to get some made. They've got those little machines at Wal-Mart where you can make your own little metal tag for a buck or two. I don't like leaving halters on my horses coz they can get hung on things, but in the case of a loose horse, it's probably better that they have one on so that somebody can get a hand on them. You can use pretty much anything for a lead rope, but it's hard to make a decent halter out of material that may or may not be at hand.
I wonder how many people would call if they found a horse with a tag tho?
I had a stray horse come up on my property one time. You could tell it was a very nice mare. I was surprised at the amount of people that suggested I hide the horse for awhile so I could keep it:\
Becky
Well, time for me to get the horse saddled. The weather here is very pleasant, so I didn't have to rush this morning. I've let Harley graze awhile. But it's time....don't know why I've feeling so lazy about getting started, must be the weather:)
Becky
I think most anyone would call if they found a horse.... Not many are prepared to take and hide a horse.... dog, maybe.
Yeah, I've had stray horses come up before and I always put them up where they were safe then went asking around the neighborhood to see if anybody was missing them. I think most horse people would, and non horse people probably wouldn't know what to do with them and would want them gone as soon as possible.
It was all the people that lived around here that have horses that told me to hide her. I was very surprised by the reaction. I asked them how they'd feel if it was their horse...pretty much shut them up.
I put up signs and reported her to the police. Surpriseingly it was thru the police report the owner found me. This horse had come from pretty far away. The guy was about in tears from relief when he came and picked her up. He said he was surprised I had reported it...I didn't know if I should be insulted or complimented by that:)
Becky
That's not very encouraging, to hear so many that would consider ~not~ calling.
When we had the loose horse running down the road here, it was mostly non-horse people trying to catch her, which is why it took so long, they were just running after her, chasing her.
I showed up with a bucket of grain and a halter/lead rope, and she came right to me. She was scared to death, and thrilled to find someone she could understand!
We didn't know where she came from. The others in the 'posse' that had been chasing her thought she belonged to me, because it was a bay horse. "She lives next to the store" - "Um, no she doesn't, those are my bay horses, and I'm not missing any!" She was just a yearling, and her feet got all tore up running on the road. I thought I was going to end up with her in my pasture till we figured it out. Turned out she lived almost directly across the road from me, in a place where the horses aren't real visible, so I didn't recognize her.
I moved it and rebraided it every couple weeks when the braid started looking ratty.
Ruthy has checked back in over at the HH.... she's got power back on now.
Cool! I definately need to get some of those. For now, I'm gonna just use some long strips of doubled masking tape and a Sharpie.
That will work.... or maybe luggage tags.
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