The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread NINE

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 MissTargets will now be pinging everyone most mornings. Let MissTargets 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
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SEVEN
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread EIGHT

New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!

[AnAmericanMother]

That's the world talking. That always happens.

Easier to mock the modest and moral, because the mockers know they won't slug 'em (or declare jihad and cut their heads off.)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Celia is the friend of mine who comes and rides with me a lot. I had told her the details of what was going on at the ride. I guess she got on the thread yesterday and "scanned" some of the comments and came on the thread and said "I know what she's talking about, Becky told me....." and proceeded to give enough details altho she didn't name names, for the wife of the guy to figure out why I was asking my questions:)

It's actually kind of funny, especially since after her last private e-mail to me when she explained why her husband was slugging the horse, I returned an answer to her telling her that if she went back and read my posts I had not accused anyone of anything, I was seeking info on the rules. I said, I hoped this did not have to get ugly between us, that I had planned on dropping the subject, till Celia made her post, and I was sorry for that, but it wasn't me that said it.

I just got an other message from her that said "I don't know what ride or what abuse your talking about"....ROFLOL...what a moron:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I think you're right that it wasn't effective, given that he did it for several miles, and both days, and not even knowledgeable observers could tell what he was trying to accomplish. It's the 'repeated' thing. If a swift correction doesn't fix it and you have to keep thumping on the horse, it's not only abuse, but poor horsemanship to continue.

Was the private response from the wife? Why didn't she want to explain on the forum?

There's a new reply from "alice" there that really speaks to the issue.

"I remember watching an experienced competitor correct her horse once and thinking "wow, that's severe" but what she did worked. Evidently, it was something that had "discussed" before and the horse knew better. It did change my idea of what was abuse or not since the person involved is not someone would "abuse" a horse on a regular basis. And the correction was fair and the horse began to behave.

Likewise, there have been other times I've been witness to something I didn't think was fair, and I never knew what to do, if anything. What is even more maddening is when you see an incident on the trail==horse and rider having a difficult time-- who manage to pull it together to have good scores in front of the judge and have stellar scores.

And that's the issue really isn't it?... What do you do when you see it out on trail and no one else does, and then they score very well?

[tuffydoodle]

"I just got an other message from her that said "I don't know what ride or what abuse your talking about"....ROFLOL...what a moron:)"

LOL, when caught, plead ignorance.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

The funny thing about this person is she rides an Arab/Quarter horse:)

I know her fairly well and have ridden with her some at rides, and she has told me numerous times, that when Quarter half of her horse shows up they do very well, but every once in a while the Arab half shows up and she has trouble....ROFLOL....I swear:), people are nuts.

She told me she knew a lady who ruined 2 Quarter horses trying this sport and now is riding an Arab:)

Becky

[tuffydoodle]

"She told me she knew a lady who ruined 2 Quarter horses trying this sport"

She's full of crap.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yeah, that's partly the issue, but from grapevine gossip:), the officials WERE told about it, and told the reporter to not worry about.....

I don't know that the man/horse should have been DQed. But I think there should have been some looking into it since a report was made. When I heard it had been reported and ignored, that is when I was wondering how the rules were worded.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

You know, every sport has it's problems, especially with one that is so subjective. And too...horse people are about the most opininated people on earth:). I know I am, as far as breeds are concerned, I do my best to keep my opinion on that private, but some people just don't know when to shut up:)

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

What do you do when you see it out on trail and no one else does, and then they score very well?

That was the main reason I knew it would be futile to complain. I realize the judges can't see everything. I was just disturbed that a report was made and ignored. Politics....THAT gets under my skin. BUT, I'm realistic enough to know there is NOTHING I can do about it, and since I like the sport, I just have to deal with it. But when I see it happen I may just have to point it out:) Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, then it's even more appropriate as a post.

You know of two incidents of questionable horse/rider behavior, one was in front of the judge, and the other was evidently reported to the judges, and yet these teams scored better than other horses and riders who did NOT display any behaviors requiring severe or repeated 'correction'. So that's why it's a puzzle. What's bad behavior, what's abuse, and exactly when would it count against you?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Thank you so much for understanding:)

You have such a way with words:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

:~D Garsh!

At least 'they' now know people are watching .

[ShakeNJake]

I agree Tuffy! Never disclose your personal information on a public group on Yahoo. I am a very experienced Yahoo groupie myself and have been on lots of these groups for several years.

There is only one of them on which I exchange personal information. It is a private, invitation only group that isn't listed publicly on Yahoo. We all know each other (have actually met each other) and trust that anything we disclose or say STAYS within our group. That is our Prime Directive.

[ShakeNJake]

It sounds like this guy's horsemanship skills are very lacking. I am certainly NOT one of those namby-pamby touchy-feely sorts but I also think that "beating" a horse on any part of its body means one has no other skills or abilities to draw on. This guy's problems with his horse began long before he got on its back and headed off on a CTR.

I am no Parelli fan either (too touchy feely for me) but nothing I have ever seen, heard or read about Parelli methods includes beating a horse.

[CindyDawg]

Well today, I need to get some stuff ready for my CPA, clean house and do some homework for my job. I'm not going to though. I am not working today. I'm going to go get my hair done, buy a new outfit, and spend the afternoon with my horses. It's going to be a rare "me" day.

[ShakeNJake]

Any of the methods you list would have helped. What this guy did only made the situation worse. The horse did NOT understand what the beating was about whether it was within 3 seconds or not.

One rein stop, circling in tight circles, etc., all are effective if used in the right manner. In classical dressage, we have a similar exercise called "milling". Your tight circles is basically the same thing. Mill one direction until the horse begins to soften, walk a few steps and mill the other direction. Also, instead of walking a few steps, you can sidepass and change direction to mill the other way. There are quite a few variations on this exercise that help.

Beating a horse does not qualify as correction. The only situation I can think of that might justify "beating" is if a stallion has attacked you and you need to defend yourself because you can't get away.

[ShakeNJake]

LOL!! That is what I love about you! I also agree with you BTW. Any horse can do this if properly conditioned.

Jake would be good at this since he thinks he is an Arab mare in a QH gelding's body.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I pretty much agree. I would add tho, that a horse that kicks, or bites a person needs an immediate (If the victim is able:), good thump. If you watch a mare with her foal, that's the punishment the foal gets from mom for such behavior. I had a mare bite me one time in the back, probably needless to say, I was unable to respond back, as I was on my knees in pain:)

Hitting one like this guy was doing about the head is only going to make the horse very head shy.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well the thing is, some lady may have ruined two Quarter horses doing this sport. But it was NOT because they were Quarter horses. There most definitely something else going on.

Becky

[ShakeNJake]

I quite agree with you. Using punishment that one horse uses with another as discipline is immediately understood by the horse. I have "thumped" mine before when needed.

I do think we all agree here that punching a horse about the head, whether mounted or in hand, is abuse. And, yes, it will make them extremely head shy. I'll bet that guy also curses his horse because it won't let him touch its ears and shies away with its head when he raises his arms near it.