The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread NINE

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[CindyDawg]

Beautiful country.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

No there was not to many pictures. I was just very tired and very full (we ate out, steak and ribs, and a few beers:), and was just ready to go to bed. I looked at all of them this morning. The river is just beautiful, I like the one from above where the road runs along side it, and the ones in this post....I love looking at the snow in the pictures, glad it's there and not here:)

I read the posts on the farrier forum. Pretty much the conclusion I've come to. I called and left a message for Chris last week that I wanted Harley shod next time with the NB shoes.

I picked up the kimberwick bit last night I'm going to give it a short try today. Celia's coming tomorrow. The argentine snaffle I have has a very thin mouth piece, that could make it a bit harsher. I finally found a small site that gave some descriptions of bits, and this kimberwick was on it. From a scale of 1-25 on harshness, 1 being easy, this it is a 3. It does help to keep their noses down. I tried the long shank snaffle I have yesterday, and altho it was better then the correction bit, I still don't think he liked it. I did loosen the curb chain after awhile and that helped his response to it, but it also defeated the purpose of the bit. With the shorter shanks on the kimberwick and the bigger mouth piece and the low wide port for tongue room, this one "should" make him very happy, but keep him responsive, or so I hope:)

I think with all these adjustments, saddle, bit, shoes, this horse "OUGHT" to be happy, LOL, if horses can be said to be happy.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Oh, my. I'm sorry you're having a rough time...What sort of procedure did you have to have?

I know how you feel about not getting to ride. Other then the short one I took on Rocky (that was actually horrible:), I hadn't rode in 5 weeks. I'm trying not to overdue on him. I don't want him getting sore from to much work. I won't know if it's the saddle or the work. I've done a couple of hours 2 days in a row now, and will basically give him today off except for one quick loop to test the bit before tomorrows ride with Celia which will be a good long one. If I test the bit today, and get a feel for it and I don't like it I can take it back and try another.

Well, hoping things calm down for you.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Oh, I wanted to post a link to this website. I thought of you when I was reading it. In case you're not happy with the hackamore. I don't know anything about this but thought it interesting.

http://www.bitlessbridle.com/

Ever hear of it? I'd like to hear what someone that has used it thought???

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Good morning :~D

We're rumbling to a start here this morning, slept in!

I haven't used the bitless bridles... Rose of Sharn and Deaconjim used one on that stallion they had. I think it looks OK for a horse that needs only a light hand, but they don't strike me as having a lot of leverage. It'd be interesting to see.

[MissTargets]

The pictures were geogerous! The layers of snow are pretty cool. What beauitful country to live in, or a short drive away. Very nice indeed, thanks for sharing.

[CindyDawg]

I haven't found a place in America more beautiful than another. All are unique from the plains to the desert, to the coasts to the mountains. I would love to be able to really travel someday (getting off the interstates and staying awhile)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Cindy my son showed me something yesterday that made me think of you. You know awhile back you were asking about those screws that hold the bit to the headstall, and what to do to keep them from coming unscrewed. The head stall I've been using tied with leather strips that were always coming untied. Charlie told me to tie them with with plastic zip ties. He folded the end of the bridle so that the short end is on the outside, (they come with it folded to the inside, but that's a lot of bulk pressing the horses face) I know the kind with screws only have one set of holes but you could still use a zip tie as long as you make sure the lock end of the zip tie wasn't pressing into the horses face. Works great!

Question for all of you. The new bit seemed to work really well. I didn't ride much because I'll be riding alot tomorrow. I just wanted a short test run today. Anyway, when I bought the bit it came in two sizes in the width of the mouth part. I got the biggest. But wondered how you know what size you need. Does this look like too much hanging out the side of his mouth. I couldn't get a good picture of boths sides at the same time. This is the amount hanging on both sides.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I got this in an e-mail today:)

1. Men are like ...Laxatives...They irritate the crap out of you.
2. Men are like .Bananas...The older they get, the less firm they are.
3. Men are like .Weather... Nothing can be done to change them.
4. Men are like Blenders... You need one, but you're not quite sure why.
5. Men are like .Chocolate Bars.. Sweet, smooth, & they usually head right for your hips.
6. Men are like .Commercials... You can't believe all they say.
7. Men are like Department Stores.. Their clothes are always 1/2 off.
8. Men are like .Government Bonds.. They take soooooooo long to mature.
9. Men are like .Mascara... They usually run at the first sign of emotion.
10. Men are like .Lava Lamps... Fun to look at, but not very bright.
11. Men are like .Parking Spots... All the g ood ones are taken, the rest are handicapped.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

LOL

[HairOfTheDog]

The zip ties would work great in lieu of the leather ties. :~D

We tried locktite on the Chicago screws on ecurbh's new one... hopefully it'll hold.

I think that bit looks just fine... and if in doubt, better too wide than too narrow.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Mack got a new recliner today and it came wrapped in heavy plastic. I zip tied it to Harley's panels.

Once he got use to it he was having fun playing with it. Pawing it, rubbing his nose on it, letting it blow over him.

Question:), do you think I should take them down, could he suffocate???

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I think if he really got it stuck to him he'd be able to fight it off...

But it reminds me of when our kittens play with the empty plastic bags after we go to the grocery store ;~D I say "You know, ~good~ parents don't let their children play with plastic bags" ;~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

and if in doubt, better too wide than too narrow.

Ok, thanks, That's what I thought too.

I liked the way he worked in it for the short time I rode. He kept his head in a better postion. I'm trying to get by riding with no tiedown or martingale. I think this is going to work very well on him.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

Well, he looks like he's de-sensitized:'). I would take it away. I'm going to be working with Sarah Lee with a shredded black bag this week.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

That's pretty much what I thought too:). More likely to jerk a shoe off if he keeps pawing. I'm hoping once the new wears off he won't do that:\

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I think I'm going to re-hook it to the bottom rung, so it's blowing on the ground. That seems to be where he is most leary of it. I still want to get a tarp to have him trot over while lungeing, but this plastic on the ground should help.

Good luck with SL, have someone take pictures while you do it:)

Becky

[Beaker]

I agree with Hair. I think that the bit looks fine.

[Inge_CAV]

"Oh my gosh. Do you have any idea how much I hate snakes? I'll have to think about this:')"

Ssssssssssssssssssss!!!

[CindyDawg]

Can you imagine me forgeting where I put one. I would have headless, plastic snakes all over the place. I was talking to my husband about this. He just shook his head.