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Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 04/26/2004 12:06:41 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can 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. We may not ~always~ have a lot of activity, but when we do, it will be fun. I will put 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 will also develop a ping list for horse threads that are of interest. 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.
I am hoping this thread will be a 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.
I'm riding this evening. I won't get another opportunity til Thur. I have to go to an inservice around Austin Wed.
All saddled. Just waiting to see if CS shows up at 9:00.
Hope she comes. If she does we'll go down to the Beaver Creek. It's too far and too remote for me to there by myself. It's kind of a very narrow wooded valley between two steep hills. Very pretty area. But lots of activity down there even tho it is not accessible by car. There is a deep place in the creek where there is a fire ring on the bank and a tree with a rope hanging from it to swing into the creek. There's always signs that people have been there. Lots of beer cans laying around:(
Funny thing. I'd like to know the history of the area. Like I said both sides of the creek are very steep rocky hills with thick woods. But there are two places where old broken up cement roads have been laid across the creek. On either side they just end in nothing. Really strange. There is no sign that electricity or water has ever been run down there. There are also places were there is old fence line. I've only crossed to the other side once. Followed a trail for awhile but ran into an old painted"no trespassing" sign nailed to a tree. Just out in the middle of no where.
I always go down there when I'm riding with others. Nice trails and the climb out going one direction is a very good work out for the horses. I'd like to see how Reba does now. She's been down it but not up. I think she is up too it now.
Becky
Hope you are having a nice ride! HOpe you brought the camera!
It was a very nice ride. CS did not make it:(, so I didn't take the camera. I figured you all were tired of scenery pictures.
Shoer comes tomorrow. Very mixed emotions about that. Sorry that I am going to have to stay with shoeing, but glad that I'm not going to have to worry about sore feet, or loosing boots.
Becky
Well, unlike some of the things we do that aren't necessary, I think shoes just ~are~ necessary for working horses.
Rats about no pictures!
I mean.... I am glad you tried it without shoes, because now even I know more about it... and that it wouldn't be easy to make work.
I did run into a man and his daughter coming out of a driveway where I have to get out on the road for a ways.
He asked me if I lived around here and I said yes. And he started telling me how his family was getting ready to build a house there and that they had their horse barn already built. I asked if they had a horse yet and he said yes, bought a palamino 2 wks ago. I asked him if he needed another one and he said yes. I said I had one for sale:)
Anyway in the course of the conversation he told me that he had done some riding as a kid but his children did not have alot of experience. The horse they bought is a 5 yr old mare, halter horse that is flighty now, so it will have to go to a trainer.....
So they are going to put their young children who have no experience, the girl looked to be 10-12, on a green broke flightly horse. Go figure:)
He then asked me what I wanted for Harley, I told him and he gasped and said we only gave $1200 for our palamino and she has two sets of papers. I said well mine does too and you can ride mine:) Harley doesn't have to go to a trainer. I was thinking to myself too, even sending your mare to a trainer is no guarantee that your children will be able to ride her when she gets back. She could still be flighty, and probably will be if she is just getting broke at 5yrs.
Probably won't make that sale:)
Becky
People are stupid though, and I can't figure it.
I was the trainer an idiot sent their 3 year old unbroke stud pony to when I was a teenager. "Train him for our kids". They wanted me to have him 30-60 days, I kept him 90.
I broke and trained the pony, and then told them to sell him or geld him, or both. I don't know if they did either one.
Can you get the training job out of the deal?
Well, I'm glad I tried it.
CS's husband rides a mustang that is not shoed, has never been shoed. I'm trying to get them to come ride with me everyday for about 5 days to see how she would hold up. I've always been told by people with mustangs that they don't need shoes. But once again, I've never seen one ridden over rocks like the ones out here, consistently for several days in a row.
Also, when I finally get a baby out of Belle that will be mine I am not ever going to shoe it till I can put it thru the 5 day test. It seems also, that once you shoe one, then they always seem to need it. I've seen several like Bob's that have never been shoed and do pretty good on occasional trail rides. The question is can they do it more then occasionally??
Becky
No, I'm not going to ride one that has never been broke, unless it's a baby I've raised. I'd like to try that, but not anything like what he was talking about. I'm too old and don't have that kind of expertise.
Becky
Oh - I didn't realize she was totally unbroke.... yeah - that's a job for the young. ;~D
I thought it might be a finishing and miles job.
Right.... if you start them that way, and they have grown up barefoot, that may change everything.
Mustangs ought to have the best feet out there for it, I know a guy whose mules are barefoot.... says they have donkey feet and they don't bruise "unless there's something wrong with them". But my other mule friend shoes his... I shod my mustange.... Never occured to me not to. To me, it's a protective measure... Without shoes, their feet are probably always their weak link.
Unless I misunderstood him. He said she was a halter horse so she is hyper, so she'll have to go to a trainer. How would you take that??? I take it she's not been broke to ride.
Becky
Do you know yet whether Belle's breeding took?
Okie doing good without his shoes. I know I'll have to put them back on later but not right now. He was stepping lightly on the gravel road at first but seems ok now. I try to stay on the grass or dirt though.
Bay has been laying down (napping) all morning, and now he layed down and got back up three times in the last five minutes and he's down now.... vet on his way.
I just went out to Bay and talked to him and he didn't get up till I had a halter on and tugged on him.... I let him into the yard now and he is just standing there, not pacing to get back to the pony like he usually would. He's sick, I am afraid.
No, thanks for reminding me. I was going to call the vet today and make an appointment to take her to be checked.
Becky
You're kidding??? Keep him walking or at least not rolling.
When I called the vet that came out here Fri. to go get Rusty's antibiotics she was on her way to a colic. Is it something in the air?
Becky
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