The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread TEN

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
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread NINE

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

[BladeRider]

The guy that is working on Tuffy's feet has done an awesome job but if he's not the most unreliable person on the planet, I don't know who is. In the 2 times he's been to my house, he's rescheduled SIX times

I think we have finally gotten a farrier (father and son team) that shows up when they are scheduled. The wife/mother handles their scheduling and they show up pretty close to the scheduled time. I have used them in the past when I could not get my neighbor farrier to come and they were pretty good. Since my neighbor does not have time for us anymore we will probably use them. Going to do one more NB shoeing with Frogs farrier and then see if these guys can take over.

[BladeRider]

I don't think I'd ever post a question over there though.

Maybe a question like "Hey do any of you guys ever show up when you are supposed to?" or "If you are spending so much time here cat fighting who is taking care of your clients?" Wonder what kind of a response that would get ;-)

[BladeRider]

ecurbh, though, found the line management issue somewhat daunting. :~)

I'm with ecurbh, I think I would have a problem with line management also. I am a visual person and really need to see something like that in action. It looks promising though. Could a person do more damage to a horse if they do not know what they are doing though?

[BladeRider]

They look like they'd be a real help, but I'll bet I'll have the same trouble as ecurbh with the lines. I ain't exactly the most coordinated person in the world. You make it look so easy!

Hmm, sounds like we all need a training session in Oct 2007 ;-)

[FrogInABlender]

...Wonder what kind of a response that would get...

[FrogInABlender]

sounds like we all need a training session in Oct 2007

Hey yeah. Hair could give a demo using Harley for a subject. We'd have to get a surcingle and lines from somewhere though.

[HairOfTheDog]

You'd probably want to start in a small space and at slow speed, so they can't get away from you. Yes, you can get them tangled, and some horses can panic from that, so you'd want to desensitize them to getting lines mixed up and around legs or around their butt, if they are the type to freak out about that possibility. The best move is to show them that, if they get tangled or confused or scared, just stop. That's what Cyn did in the picture... she turned around to face him, and he was a mess of lines, but she just stood there. They can get confused if you're still trying to figure it out yourself, but, like with anything else with horses, you can usually work through it, if you're patient with them and them with you. They aren't screwed up forever when we screw up, if everyone can just stay calm ;~D

[BladeRider]

You'd probably want to start in a small space and at slow speed, so they can't get away from you.

I could start out in the round pen, but from what Frog says Blade has already had a circingle on him cause he was trained by her guy. I don't think he would be the kind to panic. I know Jake wouldn't, he has been in many a situation where panic would hit many horses and he just stands there waiting for us to help.

[HairOfTheDog]

Hey yeah. Hair could give a demo using Harley for a subject. We'd have to get a surcingle and lines from somewhere though.

Sounds fun to me :~) And even more fun for you watching without the ego-saving benefit of good training video ~editing~ :~)

[HairOfTheDog]

It's always good to have a level headed horse... I've seen some that will fight till they're free if they hit a panic. Bay's good, Cyn's excellent... the pony... you just have to let go :~D

[FrogInABlender]

...some horses can panic from that, so you'd want to desensitize them to getting lines mixed up and around legs or around their butt, if they are the type to freak out about that possibility..

Blade ain't one of those horses. He's more the type to just stop, like Cyn. I've had us both hung up in the awfullest mess of vines you've ever seen and he didn't even try to hang me.

He does tend to over-react to the whip though. I think that came from the trainer who got on him pretty hard with the buggy whip for being lazy in the harness when he was breaking him to the wagon.

[HairOfTheDog]

He does tend to over-react to the whip though.

Bay does too, and I don't know for sure where it came from. He won't slow down lunging if I have it in my hand. Luckily, he'll move without it. Cyn won't. She knows when I can't reach her. :~)

[FrogInABlender]

Becky, here's your chance to talk to the NATRC president. I got this from the NATRC4 website...

Well, it looks like we will finally get to go to other regions... we plan to go to Robbers Route in Wilberton, OK on Sept. 9-10 in Region 4...We look forward to meeting and talking to all the members in all the regions. Ray Brezina, President NATRC

[FrogInABlender]

...Blade has already had a circingle on him cause he was trained by her guy...

He was lunged on a single line in a round pen but I don't think he ever used a surcingle and double reins. After the round pen he put him in the breaking rig that I showed you pictures of, then he broke him to a wagon, then he broke him to saddle.

[BladeRider]

IT'S RAINING!!!!! And raining hard!

[HairOfTheDog]

Heh... any horse that doesn't panic in that breaking rig will forgive a few tangled lines long reining. :~D

I'm out... to mow for a few hours, or till I run out of gas, whichever comes first. :~)

[BladeRider]

Blade ain't one of those horses. He's more the type to just stop, like Cyn. I've had us both hung up in the awfullest mess of vines you've ever seen and he didn't even try to hang me.

Jake has gotten his shoe stuck in the fence numerous times because he gets impatient at dinnertime and paws. He just stands there waiting for us to rescue him. He went a$$ over teaketle in KY last year and could not get up cause he was wedged between the saddle horn and his neck. He did not panic, just waited for us to rescue him. I have not been in any panicky situations with Blade yet.

[FrogInABlender]

WOO HOO! It rained in town when I went out for lunch but was dry as a bone back at the plant. You just never know where it's gonna rain or for how long here lately.

[BladeRider]

WOO HOO! It rained in town when I went out for lunch but was dry as a bone back at the plant. You just never know where it's gonna rain or for how long here lately.

Well it is raining big time here at work and by the looks of the weather channel all of Blount County is getting it. Maybe my pasture and lawn will be spared!

[FrogInABlender]

... I have not been in any panicky situations with Blade yet.

You take him past a pig and you'll see one. LOL! The best racking he's ever done in his life was right after I made him go past a pig at Elkmont. His feet were barely touching the ground.