The "Totally Off Topic" Thread

[SewingDeb]

Hi all - I'm packed! Finishing a few bits at home; even found my old winter coat, LOL!! Have fun - thanks for those couple farewell pms :blowkiss:

You're all wonderful - been great friends! Def going to buy some mince pies, Floh!! Seeya soon... Polk

Have a safe trip, PSA. We will miss you so you need to hurry back.

Your recipes sound wonderful. I've never done lamb before but may give it a try.

 

[close_enough]

VERY O/T .... but something to do when you're really waiting & bored....you can't use your mouse...you use your arrow keys..

http://www.banditos.info/speles/sobersanta2.swf

 

[raisincharlie]

:laugh: :laugh:

VERY O/T .... but something to do when you're really waiting & bored....you can't use your mouse...you use your arrow keys..

http://www.banditos.info/speles/sobersanta2.swf

 

[jilly]

OMG! LOL :laugh: CLOSE! That is sooooo funny!!

 

[Samiya]

VERY O/T .... but something to do when you're really waiting & bored....you can't use your mouse...you use your arrow keys..

http://www.banditos.info/speles/sobersanta2.swf

lmao...omg I killed Santa. But I manged to get 700. So funny

Now to spam all my friends with it

 

[raisincharlie]

For you horse people - the magic of the horse expressed:

http://www.wftv.com/video/10527037/detail.html

hopefully this will load the video about the young girl and her horse but if not look to the left and scroll through the videos to the one about the girl dreams to ride again. Some of you might need a hanky.

 

[Taximom]

For you horse people - the magic of the horse expressed:

http://www.wftv.com/video/10527037/detail.html

hopefully this will load the video about the young girl and her horse but if not look to the left and scroll through the videos to the one about the girl dreams to ride again. Some of you might need a hanky.

I hope Brandy can ride again and keeps her horse.

Omgosh, thanks for the hanky alert.

 

[raisincharlie]

I hope Brandy can ride again and keeps her horse.

Omgosh, thanks for the hanky alert.

Don't worry Taximom - I have no doubt she will ride again. On Thursdays (today) we have some very special friends, mostly disabled either physically or mentally to some degree, who come to ride. It is the most amazing thing. We do have a young lady who is paralyzed, she rides quite well despite her disabilty. She smiles the whole time.

Here, this will cheer you up:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=632595930703926528&q=dressage

 

[BarnGoddess]

Don't worry Taximom - I have no doubt she will ride again. On Thursdays (today) we have some very special friends, mostly disabled either physically or mentally to some degree, who come to ride. It is the most amazing thing. We do have a young lady who is paralyzed, she rides quite well despite her disabilty. She smiles the whole time.

Here, this will cheer you up:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=632595930703926528&q=dressage

Oh Raisin, that's great !!! We have been participating in a project here every summer. Volunteers work with handicapped children and adults in our county. I can't help out as the classes are during the day when I have to work, but we donate 2 horses for the duration. Our older, all around whatever he is horse is fantastic with the kids. My Apaloosa mare, Dancer, just thrives on this activity. We're proud to be able to help with this project.

BTW, speaking of my Ap, Dancer......I wish I had my camera fired up and ready the other day. I went out early and didn't spot her in the pen. She's sharing one with five heiffers and a little bull calf right now. As I got closer, I spotted her lying down in the middle of them. They were all lying there, just resting. She is our best cow horse. As the cowboys say, "that horse has cow". That she does.

 

[Taximom]

Don't worry Taximom - I have no doubt she will ride again. On Thursdays (today) we have some very special friends, mostly disabled either physically or mentally to some degree, who come to ride. It is the most amazing thing. We do have a young lady who is paralyzed, she rides quite well despite her disabilty. She smiles the whole time.

Here, this will cheer you up:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=632595930703926528&q=dressage

You must have missed my comment waaaaay earlier about my youngest riding horses every summer for her therapy. It's a beautiful thing and almost makes me cry happy tears when she's up there. I was originally afraid my dd would make the horse nervous, but these have the most kind and gentle spirit.... That's a good thing you do, raisincharlie. (edited to add "you too, barngoddess!")

Now, off to watch the "feelgood" video!

 

[Taximom]

That was a nice video, raisincharlie. I watched the "dressage monthly-srs" video as well. Goosebumps!

 

[raisincharlie]

Oh Raisin, that's great !!! We have been participating in a project here every summer. Volunteers work with handicapped children and adults in our county. I can't help out as the classes are during the day when I have to work, but we donate 2 horses for the duration. Our older, all around whatever he is horse is fantastic with the kids. My Apaloosa mare, Dancer, just thrives on this activity. We're proud to be able to help with this project.

BTW, speaking of my Ap, Dancer......I wish I had my camera fired up and ready the other day. I went out early and didn't spot her in the pen. She's sharing one with five heiffers and a little bull calf right now. As I got closer, I spotted her lying down in the middle of them. They were all lying there, just resting. She is our best cow horse. As the cowboys say, "that horse has cow". That she does.

Working with these kids was really hard at first, only because I felt sorry for them. I learned quite quickly however - that is not something they want in any way, shape, or form. They amaze me and humble me every time they come out. It is good of you to donate your horses for such a cause - the horses do enjoy it, they know what is what. And there are many smiles and sometimes dreams made on those horses - so keep doing it. Wish you could go - it is incredible.

Cow horse - funny, laying out with the calves ! I fear none of the horses here would be so kind. When I hack out in the mornings I always head to the north pasture and woods - the family next to us has Charlois cattle - let me tell you - these prissy horses are none too fond of white cows! Can't imagine them wanting anything to do with a cow. Can you say spooked - big time.:crazy:

 

[raisincharlie]

You must have missed my comment waaaaay earlier about my youngest riding horses every summer for her therapy. It's a beautiful thing and almost makes me cry happy tears when she's up there. I was originally afraid my dd would make the horse nervous, but these have the most kind and gentle spirit.... That's a good thing you do, raisincharlie. (edited to add "you too, barngoddess!")

Now, off to watch the "feelgood" video!

Taximom,

I am ashamed to say that yes I missed the post you referenced. Do not worry, she will not make the horses nervous - they are unconditional. I am glad you let her go and experience this. I find most kids really enjoy it once they get past the initial fear - there is a freedom within it that works for them.

So I commend you highly for taking her. There is a stable not far from here and that is all they do - riding therapy. I wish we could do more but I don't think our clients would appreciate it much as they are banned from the barn during this time period.

Here is a video of Anky Van Grunsven and Salinero - they are the tops in grand prix dressage and this video is her record breaking perfomance at Aachen. All of the kurs are done to music - it is awesome and let me tell you the boys from the Spanish Riding School have nothing on Anky and her Hanoverian Salinero. Enjoy!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7140584390550418424&q=anky

 

[Taximom]

I'm just waving hi to PSA and all the others that haven't posted in a while.

They say "no news is good news" but it sure is hard waiting for justice....

 

[BarnGoddess]

Charlie, we were able to go once at the end for the award ceremony. I was amazed at the confidence and the thrill they exhibited. It seems their worries go away when they're up on a horse. Makes a world of difference. One particular boy is severely autistic. I believe he's gained the most from the experience.

Charlois cattle aren't the nicest and calmest breed. They're a handful. After they sell lots of steers, calves, etc., they sell old cows at the sale barn. Those mamas come out fighting sometimes, especially Charlois. One trait a good cow horse has is the instinct to get behind them and if necessary bite them on the butt. Dancer did that without any training on her third day at the sale barn. That's when we knew she was going to be a good ranch horse.

Oh, yes, she gives our grandniece the best of care. She's 5 years old and tiny but loves riding Dancer. We don't have a tiny tot saddle so I either rig my English saddle or she rides bareback. Her dad wants to cling and hold her on, but she likes to go by herself. I put the Parelli rope hackamore on her and stand in front of her motioning directions to her. I have trained her by using hand gestures and body language. The look in her eye tells me she knows exactly who is on her back and how she is supposed to act. It thrills the grandniece as she thinks she's doing it all by herself. She's able now to start and stop her on her own. The hackamore is perfect as she can't get rough with her mouth and Dancer is sensative enough to react to even the slightest touch.

Horse therapy is absolutely the greatest. Find and read "Chicken Soup for the Horselover's Soul" if you can. It's full of stories like that.

Speaking of the Spanish Riding School, we drove 3 1/2 hours to the Budweiser Events Center to see the Lippizanners (sp?) and back the same night. What a beautiful show. Of course we bought the DVD's and the Disney movie made a while back about their rescue at the end of WWII.

 

[raisincharlie]

<snip>
Speaking of the Spanish Riding School, we drove 3 1/2 hours to the Budweiser Events Center to see the Lippizanners (sp?) and back the same night. What a beautiful show. Of course we bought the DVD's and the Disney movie made a while back about their rescue at the end of WWII.

BarnGodess,

I myself have no experience with the Appys but I have watched them at some of the local arenas where they are used for cutting, roping, and steer wrestling primarily. From what I've seen, they seem to know what a cow is going to do before the cow knows it. A fellow down the road has one and he is on it everyday checking his cattle and he just won't have anything else - he says they are very cowie. All I know is they are beautiful, with wonderful heads and eyes.

I have never seen any of the Pat Parelli training but I have been to a seminar that his wife put on, ashamed to say I cannot remember her name. But she also used a great deal of hand signals as well. Very nicely done I might add. As for taking care of the grand niece - you are lucky, not all horses are so kind and gentle, but IMO that has more to do with the owner/trainer than the horse alone actually. Very dependent on the bond they have with their owner.

Most people are scared to jeepers by Raisin, she is full of fire, high strung, and is always puffed up - put a kid on her and she is a totally different creature however. I do not use her with the therapy kids, she is simply too tall, so she gets to roam around and visit with them and pilfer the apples and carrots. She has linked up with one young man who has Downs, where ever he is, that is where she is - funny to watch them together as he is very short, she is 17-2. Most comical.

Thank God for General Patton aye ?

 

[BarnGoddess]

That's beautiful about your Raisin. Special horses know and feel an affinity for special humans. I think it's the lack of guile and fear some special people are able communicate to a horse.

It's Linda Parelli. Did she have her Hanovarian there? It's part of the learning process to be able to communicate with your hose by feel. Example. to turn left we learn to apply pressure with our right leg and turn our upper body toward the direction we want the horse to go. If you can grasp another concept it is to stop, you just quit riding. Relax your body. That's the hardest for me. During one lesson we had to go through an obstacle course of tires. Dancer didn't want to go, and my instructor told me to look up and think up and raise my upper body up. By gum it worked. She took one step and kept on going. Try it sometime. You'll be amazed.

You are right about training and attitudes. I will not allow a horse to be hit, kicked or whipped on our place. That means your own horse if it's on our property. People and horses are partners. Even Parelli calls his courses "Partnership Training". I can't stand it when my stepdaughter tells me a horse "needs to be shown who's boss". She's slowly learning differently now.

Leaving work, checking in at the Sale Barn to see how long the BarnGod's going to be there tonight, taking one tired cow dog home probably. I just with this case had more coming out, but then again, it's nice to meet and post with such nice people as WSers.

I will also check the videos at home. My computer here is dying and I can't see properly.

 

[raisincharlie]

Samiya,


I think I have identified our favorite LE person:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5411197320579650450&q=mad+tv

appears very near the end where they are entering the peanut plant...

 

[raisincharlie]

Well the FBI has come to visit Springfield, MO. Seems the terror alert level will be ramped up here due to the illness of Shiek Rahman (the guy who designed the first attack on the World Trade Center). Rahman has been held here in Springfield at the Federal Medical Center for federal prisoners off an on for several years and is currently in Springfield. Checking with some buds, they are somewhat worried, Rahman is not expected to survive ( liver cancer).

http://www.ky3.com/news/4921001.html?autovid=Y

 

[Samiya]

Samiya,


I think I have identified our favorite LE person:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5411197320579650450&q=mad+tv

appears very near the end where they are entering the peanut plant...

LMAO! I had to run to the toilet. That was so funny.

Which one was it? The 'cop' or the 'nut'?

**giggles**

bed time for me since it's 05:13 hours!