FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread 12

[HairOfTheDog]

The FreeRepublic Saddle Club - (very out of date) Who's Who *pics*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, usually about our horses, sometimes about our dogs, gardens and other stuff we do. :~)

I have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and MissTargets will ping everyone most mornings. Let MissTargets and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list.

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.

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
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread TEN
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread 11

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

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I’ve come home for a shower, and to go thru the mail, pay a few bills.

Mack is doing well this morning...he ate breakfast, and was eating some lunch when I left.

I think they do want to keep him for a bit longer, to make sure he is going to continue to be able to eat solid, real food, which is OK by me. I don’t want to get him home then have to take him back. As far as tests and procedures, tho I think he’s done for a while. We may have to repeat this chemo embolization in 6-8 weeks depending on how it works for him. They are also sending in a physical therapist to show us how to get him moving again.

But it is just good to see him feeling better, altho gets tired very quick.

I’m going to go now and take a long shower:), I’m afraid I really need it:). I want to stop in town and see some folks and maybe even eat something myself that is not hospital food...

Thanks again so much for all the thoughts and prayers. I can’t even begin to tell everyone how much it means to me...the first thing I do when I do get home is check my messages, as they really lift my spirits.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Glad he’s good this morning. Enjoy your hot shower, and I think treating yourself to one of those burgers at Scott’s would be good!

[FrogInABlender]

It’s good to hear from you and hear that Mack is on the mend. We’ve been missing you! I’m glad they’re starting PT on him too. It doesn’t take long to get totally deconditioned when you’re flat of your back in a hospital bed. I feel sure that he’ll be back on his feet in no time. Have a good time in town and if you see Jo-Ann, be sure to say “Hi” from me and thanks again for responding to my e-mail.

[soozla]

"So have y’all changed jobs to move into the area or are you retiring or what?"

Well..............actually, we had an auto repair shop for many, many years here, west of Chicago and we basically got an offer for our place (business & property) that we couldn't refuse. It was my husband's one and only job, we tease him and tell him he's like the janitor that "bought the building", working his way up since he was 16 - (40 years!!!) On the day we packed up our last box and closed on the property, I made him a little "pocket-watch" out of aluminum foil. But we're really too young to "retire" - 55 and he'll be 57, so I told him if we ended up in NC, by the trails, I would be a greeter at Wal Mart, waitress, do books again - I did all the book work for the shop for him -whatever it took to keep the show on the road, keep up our health ins (or maybe actually get some coverage as benefits someplace, after all these years of being self-employed - man, those insurance premiums just sucked!!!). Absolutely anything just to be able to have my horses at home again!!

.............and he fell for it - haha, just kidding, there are PLENTY of "gear heads" down here and one of our good customers retired in Mooresville, NC, on a lake where, supposedly, alot of the NASCAR big shots live. Hubby likes NASCAR but he actually is into NHRA, drag racing and he builds street rods, kinda as a hobby.........but the area has something for both of us - no "horses" though for him, just "horsepower", but he's a good "helper"..........hahaha

[FrogInABlender]

Your husband sounds a lot like mine as far as horses go. I always tell everybody that mine likes his horses under the hood instead of on 4 legs. So good luck with the new life. I’ll bet it’ll be a refreshing change from being tied to a business.

You’ll have to post some pictures of your new place, barn and trails when you get settled in down there. We have another Saddle Club member, Estrogen, who packed up and moved from up north to down south. She ended up in an equestrian community in Aiken, SC and really loves it down there. I’d love to move to a more horse-friendly area myself!

[soozla]

"Welcome to the saddle club thread..."

Thank you so much.................I've lurked here for a while.......eeewwwwww I hate that description, though, don't a-wads go to jail for that???????? hahaha.....

I have gotten many, many useful tips and links from you all, as I told Frog, my horse came straight off the track - T-Bred - and there were some "issues" that came up, a hidden abscess, which had been left untreated, strained suspensory, which I had shock waved and seemed to have helped...............BUT, after not having horses for about 25 years (just random, "good will" rides with friends, on vacation, etc) and being baptised by FIRE, by getting one off the track, I had to wait a little while for my "horse sense" to kick in after I got him home and started messing with him. But I do have to give myself credit, a good horse is a good horse, and he's turning into that. He'll always be a work in progress, though, the OTTB's are kind of like Greyhounds - they have no clue what it is to be a "normal" horse and you have to have the patience to teach them and allow them to be that. He's not for a beginner, that's for sure, but that was always one of my assets and my flaws when it came to horses, was that I never was "scared", really. My dad always MADE us get right back on. We knew we had to, he'd tell us "We can't have these horses hanging around doing nothing and if you're too gun shy from a fall to ride, well then, we'll have to sell them..........." So needless to say, we never even let him finish the sentence, we got back on, cleaned the barn extra-good, cleaned tack without being told...........STUPID, maybe but never scared. And even folks that pay $100,000 for horses (not me!!!!) can have them go lame, so when I got him, I was prepared to suck it up and work through any stuff that came up and he's turning out OK. It just takes time, consistency, decent care, etc. AND it sure helps to hear others give up some good ideas, too!! When I grew up with my horses at home, if you had your horses teeth floated once a year and had a bottle of the purple stuff with the cotton ball on the wire handy (for wounds and it stained really, really bad)- gentian??- man you were really "doctoring". Now, HOLY jeez, the Dover catalog sometimes is 5 lbs!!! Times have changed, that's for sure...........but, as we all know, blind, crippled or crazy, this horse stuff just doesn't wash out of your system, even with "old age" - hahaha..................

[FrogInABlender]

...this horse stuff just doesn't wash out of your system, even with "old age"...

Nope, it doesn't, no matter how hard our spouses wish otherwise. ;o)

[soozla]

"You’ll have to post some pictures of your new place, barn and trails when you get settled in down there. We have another Saddle Club member, Estrogen, who packed up and moved from up north to down south. She ended up in an equestrian community in Aiken, SC and really loves it down there. I’d love to move to a more horse-friendly area myself!"

I do have some "in progress" photos, as a matter of fact!! Our little grandson is coming over, and it is going to take me a little bit to post the photos, but later today or tomorrow, I'll take off the "idiot mittens" and figure out how to get them on here.

Aiken SC is "grand central horse activity" and lovely, that's for sure!! In fact, the farrier from the barn here in IL where I boarded has property which he wants to retire on there. Alot of the polo guys winter in Aiken and one of the trainers at my old barn knows some of the higher level XC trainers in Aiken, to which she has sent her horse out for training. And there is alot of carriage driving too. I liked W NC, though, because of the mtns and the climate - a bit more temperate - not quite as hot. AND, if you ever want to come and take a look around, let me get down there first and get the "stickers" scraped off of the windows - haha - you're more than welcome to come stay with us and investigate the area. You know, we ARE having a "manly garage" built too, color co-ordinated with the house and barn, tall enough for an old fart to put a lift in so he won't have to fix his own cars on a "creeper" as he ages, so who knows, you MAY be able to convince hubby to head a little "east"!!! hahaha..........with guys, a garage is an alluring thing.

Matter of fact, there is a realtor who we had been in contact with last year, year before, who continues to send us dribs and drabs of listings via email - this was all BEFORE we decided to go ahead and build - and he just emailed me a few days ago with a listing, in Polk County, that he is about to do for a friend of his. She is divorcing, he thought of us looking for "Horse property" awhile back, and wondered if we were still looking. I wrote back and told him what we ended up doing, but to send the listing when he gets it and I may know someone who could at least take a peek. It sounds like it can be had for the "taking" but that's about all I know right now. I have to check his email again, but I think he said 10 acres near Columbus, NC (which is in Polk County and you'd have access to the FETA system)OR it might even be ON the trail system, which, in that case would mean you would ride out your gate and onto the 100 mile network of trails. THAT is the "jackpot" type of property down there, where you don't have to haul to the trails, you can just ride out. I have absolutely NO CLUE as to price and he didn't mention it yet, but if he sends the MLS, I'll know...........and I'll send along an email or the MLS # or something. From time to time, some really primo "turn key" horse properties become available at very affordable prices. But there are alot of $1M+ places, too. If you have ever been to Lexington, it is very reminiscent of there. We are building on the "other" side of the tracks, but hey, it works for us and it's OURS!!!! hahaha

[FrogInABlender]

...You know, we ARE having a "manly garage" built too... tall enough for an old fart to put a lift in so he won't have to fix his own cars on a "creeper" as he ages...with guys, a garage is an alluring thing.

Ooooo, that was a slick move there...hooked him with a garage! I'll have to keep that one in mind.

...so who knows, you MAY be able to convince hubby to head a little "east"!!!...

Nah, probably not, at least not for a while. We can't even manage to get off our procrastinating butts enough to build a house on the acreage we already OWN, hence the name "Flying Pig Farm"! ;o)

But I'd love to look at any listings you come across. A girl can always dream.

[FrogInABlender]

...but I think he said 10 acres near Columbus, NC (which is in Polk County and you'd have access to the FETA system)OR it might even be ON the trail system, which, in that case would mean you would ride out your gate and onto the 100 mile network of trails. THAT is the "jackpot" type of property down there...

Yeah, I gathered that when I checked out the FETA website. It was in the "Buyer Beware" section and was saying that potential buyers had better do their due-dilligence when buying property in the area and make sure that they had written confirmation that their property had true, protected access to the trail system because a lot of property was being marketed that way that really didn't. It went on to say that properties that did would be priced accordingly because of the value of the access, but that just because a property was high priced didn't mean it REALLY had access. So I took from all that that land that was actually "on" the trail system was pretty darned expensive.

[AnAmericanMother]

Hey, my daughter goes to college at Davidson, right near Mooresville, and YES Lake Norman is CRAWLING with NASCAR folks. I bet there are some NHRA people around, once you start looking.

There are also lots of horse people and dog people too. If you need a good retriever trainer there is one right in Mooresville. Very nice guy.

[AnAmericanMother]

Hey, my father in law built a six-car garage JUST TO KEEP HIS JUNK IN! He did work on antique cars, and he had his own lift, his own air compressor, all that fun stuff.

My husband can't wait for us to sell this big house as soon as the last kid finishes school . . . so we can move to the country and have a little house AND A GREAT BIG GARAGE.

[AnAmericanMother]

Wow, it's great to hear from you. Glad that Mack is feeling better, especially that he's eating well. That is bound to help.

Hope that hot shower felt good!!!!!

[Beaker]

Good evening everyone!

Becky, it's great to hear from you. I'm so glad that Mack is doing better.

Soozla, welcome to the thread. I hope that you stick around! It's interesting that you're moving down to NC. Very recently, I gave serious consideration to moving down there to find a job in Chapel Hill at the Research Triangle Park. In fact, I'm still considering it, but right now I have way too many family obligations that are keeping me tied to where I am now. But someday I really want to make that change.

[soozla]

Ha!! There is NO DOUBT that your FIL and your hubby must be distant relatives of my hubby!!!! Car guys stick together..........they must take their cue from “horse folks”!! hahaha

[tuffydoodle]

Awesome news that Mack is feeling better and is eating. I’ll keep y’all in my prayers.

[soozla]

"Very recently, I gave serious consideration to moving down there to find a job in Chapel Hill at the Research Triangle Park."

Thanks Beaker. I told Hair, I have "lurked" for a long while, picking up on everyone's info and opinions re: all things equine, to kick start my knowledge base.......I guess you could say I'm a "born again" equestrian.......had horses since I was 6, sold them when I married, in my 20's, raised 2 kids, youngest finished college about 3 years ago, and I purchased/was persuaded to take/really wanted - three different versions of the "story" - an lovely 3 yr old OTTB who had a pulled suspensory, far as I could tell and wouldn't/didn't win.......got relegated to the trash heap of OTTB's................oh and I forgot to mention to everyone earlier, someone had paid alot for this handsome fella, they HOPED to get a few bucks behind him so they could stud him out, but that never happened...........so on top of all the other strikes against him, he wasn't gelded until he was almost 4, right before I got him. Since they usually geld much younger, he has retained his "masculine physique", but he acts like an a-wad, alot of the time!! haha.......his new assignment is "pleasure horse".

I've heard that Chapel Hill/ Winston/ Salem/Raleigh is THE hot medical R & D area of the country! Is that your area of employment??

[Duchess47]

I’m so glad to hear this :)

It always takes Bob a while to bounce back when he’s been in the hospital. Mack’s had a major assault on his body on top of having no exercise for a bit so just make sure he takes it slow. Tell him we’re still praying, expect him to be whole and well shortly.

[estrogen]

I was reading your explanation of how you decided to move and was struck at how similar our situations were.

My husband had an auto repair shop for the past 35 yrs. and sold the building and business three years ago.....I was going to come down here to Aiken and work, but my line of work is mortgages....and you know that story !! So I took early retirement and moved to Aiken , built a house, and got another horse.......

I do love it down here, we have six acres and the 30 miles of trails are right out my backdoor. My husband is even liking it, there are a lot of hunters here and that’s his bag.

I think you’ll find people really friendly..at least in our area they are because everyone is new to the area too. I’ve made many friends here and just can’t tell you how happy I am...
I am going to try to post some pictures but I’m having a hard time figuring out how.

[soozla]

"If you need a good retriever trainer there is one right in Mooresville. Very nice guy."

Thank you!! We do have dogs, 2 pound puppies (they are 4 yrs. now ) that are bro and sis from the same litter. Lab and Border Collie, maybe beagle, the Heinz 57 variety. These are the only dogs that I have ever owned that have absolutely NO CLUE what it means to "retrieve" anything. Tennis balls, sticks, knotted ropes, they look at you like "you 've got to be kidding, what did you throw that thing there for"!!

I tried to work with them when they were little, but no luck. What they WILL do, is play together for HOURS, with those larger rubber balls that have the knotted rope going through them. One grabs the end and trots it over to the other one, waits for him/her to take the other end and they run around and around the yard, sometimes they do a tug of war. They each adjust their speed so they stay abreast and that is their big entertainment. It is very diplomatic, polite courteous - and hilarious to watch their quirky play habits. I think they play like that probably because they have been together since birth and they really relate only to us and to each other. They try to like other dogs and they'll play a little bit with familiar ones, but they really are just in their own little world together.

They are very laid back, lovable, well trained and healthy (now) but for being part Border and Lab, they are about as "un-LL Bean" as they come. The male probably was the first born and was the largest in the litter of four and his sister is the runt. We had orginally intended to just take the female, but when we started to leave, he raised such an unholy fuss that I said, "aw heck, we can't leave her big brother/protector behind"......soooooo, my daughter and I suffered the "wrath" of my husband for about a day (for bringing home TWO instead of the "approved" ONE) and by noon the next day, hubby and Perry, the boy, were joined at the hip. So now, 4 years later, when I really want to "stick it in and twist it" I tell husband (Bob) that "the shelter called and we're going to have to return the male dog that you didn't want" and he's like "over my dead body..........."

Somewhere at that shelter in MI, my picture is on the wall with a big STAR next to my name......haha!! AND, we went back the following weekend for my sister to adopt a female Lab/Beagle/something/everything who was/is a little older and had been adopted out but ended up coming being returned to the shelter for some reason, like "digging holes in the back yard" - duhhhhh........my family really cleaned house at the shelter that month, whoooooweeeeee!

I don't know, we've got 15 acres at the new place in NC...........am I in danger of being the next "house of squalor on the local news" once we get down there???