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!

[AnAmericanMother]

LOL! I call that the "flying frog inverted" position . . . around here it's usually a ploy for some "Oh-what-a-cute-dog" and a belly rub or two . . . or three . . .

There is stuff in the works here -- I just wrote a high-up retriever trainer (Charles Jurney) who just HAPPENS to live less than 5 miles from the college my daughter is attending in the fall . . . might as well take the oldest and youngest daughter up there at the same time. Also, I wrote Mary Howley, the lady who bred Shelley's mother -- she's as high-up a breeder as Jurney is a trainer, actually higher, probably the best breeder of field trial dogs in the country. Her dogs won the national field title five years in a row -- one dog won it all THREE times, the only bitch ever to pull that feat off. I'm looking for a cousin of Shelley to start right this time . . . we won't be going field trial, but I'd like to take a pup to HRCH and maybe just for fun to the Grand.

I need to start quail hunting in S. GA. Then I can ride my horse and work the dog at the same time . . .

[HairOfTheDog]

A new pup eh? Well, won't that be fun :~D

[AnAmericanMother]

Oh, yeah. I'm counting on Shelley to help me out. She's very good and gentle with puppies -- but she may not be too happy about one STAYING in HER house . . . she's pretty good with the cats, though she will lift at lip at the blind kitty when said kitty walks right over her (probably with her claws out - she certainly has them out when she walks over ME.) When Finn was so sick, Shelley lay down by his side and laid her muzzle against his flank (though I'm sure he was thinking, "you presumptuous b***h, if I were feeling better I'd open up a can of whoop-@$$ on you . . .")

[HairOfTheDog]

You might find that she'll like a male better than another female.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Yes, Chop Shop. My daughter is opening her own hair salon in one of the smaller offices of our building. Hopefully it will be ready within the month, looks like it could open about the time I go to Wa:\

Becky

[AnAmericanMother]

I asked my vet about that (she runs her dogs in agility and belongs to the same club I do.) She said that she doesn't recommend a new boy where there's already a boy in the house, because of the testosterone issues . . . but that with an established girl it doesn't seem to make much difference.

I have a retriever club friend who has three Labs - all girls. One is the daughter of one of the others. They all get on fine, and the girl who's in active field work gets along fine with Shelley.

What's your experience with boys versus girls?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I just ran home to feed. I went down JUST to take pictures of the horses in the parade. There were none. They didn't allow anything but people walking. It was a pitiful parade this year. I didn't know it, but last fall a lady was killed in the homecoming parade. The story I heard today was, she jumped off the float/trailer she was riding on to push a kid standing on the street out of the way and she got caught, and it ran over her...I hadn't heard anything about it. Anyway, the lady's family is sueing, everyone I guess, the school, the city, the driver of the truck...So nothing much but walkers, 1 police car, and 1 firetruck.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

My experience really is that any dog with an average temper can be made to get along just fine with any addition of average temper, but that older females typically get along with a male (who will suck up to her) better than they would another female in the house. They'll be less competitive... less curled lips over preferred sleeping arrangements :~D.

Likewise, My male was pretty strong in the testosterone, but he was made to get along just fine with the other male lab I showed with, we spent too much time together to have it otherwise.

If you're going to spay/neuter it makes less difference, but much as intact males can be challenging for their attention, at least they're consistent.... I wouldn't try to compete in sport with an intact female for anything... they're too worthless when in heat :~).

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh that's a shame to make those kinds of decisions out of fear. I just hate the state of liability lawsuits.

[AnAmericanMother]

I think Shelley might really like the idea of a little guy sucking up to her . . .

And you're right about competing intact females . . . it's very rare to have one like Candlewoods Tanks-a-Lot, who went all the way to the top three times despite having litters right along . . . I would love to get a Lottie baby or grandbaby, although I probably don't need that much dog. I would be perfectly happy with a HRCH and maybe a Senior Hunter. If I could run him or her in agility on the side, that would be absolute perfection.

[Duchess47]

Becky,

I love the pictures of the Festival. It looks like everyone is having a great time. It reminds me some of when I lived in Alabama.

Horse show this morning with temperatures over 80 degrees at 7:00 am and predicted to be over 100 by noon. A friend who was supposed to go with us and show Tuffy had to cancel at the last minute literally so we were short one handler and things were really hectic. On top of that, the show started an hour late so we spend an hour killing time at the gate area. Not many pictures, to hot and dusty and rushed but we plan on taking some pictures tomorrow hopefully.

Bob shouldn't have even been going since he just had surgery on Wednesday, but even his doctor throwing a fit yesterday wouldn't stop him. He ended up getting knocked down, Tracey got kicked in the knee, and we all sweated off pounds but the horses did well.

Tuffy took second in his class even though he acted horrible. I thought at one point the judge would show him the gate. A friend took first with her black Arab stallion - who is only 18mos old. You can barely see him in one of the pictures.

Quest took 1st in his class, Prez took 1st in his class and Josey took 3rd in her class. Then Prez took 1st in color and Tuffy took 3rd in color. Prez took Grand Champion in Grand and Reserve. My great niece showed him and she was just walking on air - her first horse show and she got a first or grand each time she went through the gate :)

We did decide today though that this is our last year showing and come fall we are hauling to an auction to sell most of the horses. Anyway, the pictures I did take.

Tracey and Tuffy waiting - visiting with a friend of ours who trains and shows paints. Bob and Quest in the background.

My great niece and Prez. She's a nervous wreck worrying about the show.

Tuffy again and Quest in the background.

Tuffy in his class.

Tuffy's class lining up. You can see Lisa's black in the picture. Remember, he's only 18mos old. She will kick butt with him in any show. He is gorgeous and really pretty well behaved for a baby.

Tracey and Josey in the ring.

Tracey and Josey again. Josey did really well for her first time and her first time off the ranch and away from her sister.

[HairOfTheDog]

I've been impressed that Tuffy is growing up so stunning, he'll make a nice stud if you leave him intact...

But wow! Josey sure is pretty, haven't seen her in awhile! She's really a striking filly... I suppose her color will continue to lighten up, but she's really eye catching the shade she is now.

He ended up getting knocked down, Tracey got kicked in the knee, and we all sweated off pounds

Heh... but other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? :~D

The horses look great... thanks for sharing... Is Quest Appy? I don't remember her... was thinking maybe she's half Arab.

[Duchess47]

We did a good bit of talking today. If we can find a trainer to take on Tuffy and campaign him at Appy shows AND we can afford it, we'll do that and then stand him at stud. Otherwise, he's for sale.

Josey turned every head at the show :) She is so striking and looks so feminine and delicate. Her mom is Tracey's endurance mare, the half Arab so Josey is 1/4 Arab but really has the Arab looks. She's more sport horse than stock horse confirmation so she didn't place great today but them's the breaks. Some judges like the stock horse, some like lighter horses, and today, the judge liked the big bulky ones, loved Prez.

Quest is our two year old gelding. We bought his mom with him at her side as a two month old. He's full Appaloosa - no characteristics at all though. He's HYPP NH (neg.Positive) so he was gelded right away. He showed as a yearling and did well and is huge. Bob is 6'2" and Quest just turned two 5/23/06. He should make someone a really nice hunter or english horse.

[HairOfTheDog]

OK I think I had Quest confused with the Half Arab mom of Josey then. Would love to see more pictures of him. You have too many to keep straight :~)

[Duchess47]

Well, God willing and the creek don't rise :) I'll get some good pictures of all of them tomorrow. I need to get the web page updated - if I can get the guy that does it to acknowledge me :) and get sale ads out on just about everyone.

Yes, way too many to keep track of. Eighteen right now. It's an illness :)

[HairOfTheDog]

I know he never did the update from two threads ago :~)

I mentioned it, with his job ending soon, maybe he'll have time finally :~\ He said "Maybe I'll make it so everyone can load and update their own" :~) That'd be good.

[Duchess47]

Oh no - I wasn't talking about your guy. I was talking about the guy back east that hosts our web site for the ranch. He never updates.

I like the horses we have on the webpage here - and people are less likely to think I'm nuts if they can't see them all.

[Duchess47]

I was talking about a guy called Steve **** who designed and hosts my ranch webpages and never updates them. If I knew Frontpage I'd try to do it myself.

I like our who's who pages here.

[Beaker]

Morning everyone. Cruddy day here, we're getting pounded by rain again, have been since a couple days ago, and we're under flood warning. It just won't let up. Wish I could send some of this to the people that need it.

[Duchess47]

Good morning,

I'm sorry you're getting pounded again. This isn't normal weather for you is it?

We're in triple digits again today. The heat is about two months early for us - it has snowed here at Tahoe before on the fourth of July.