Conference noted::equitation

    ... I have a phone message from a Capt. Mark Phillips.  Naw, It
 	it couldn't be "him", could it?
    
    ... My dear old navicular 4th level dressage horse decides he feels
    soooooooo much better after surgery thet he bucks me off :>)
    
    ... I find DIGITAL's name under the new USCTA sustaining members!
    
    -maureen
    

    	(GREAT Topic Maureen!!!!!)
    
    ......when Jesse comes charging up to see me....and gives me hugs!
    	(she really does....she's such a doll!)
    
    ......all the new colts and fillies!!!!

    .....I drive up the driveway and Angel gallops to the
         end of the fence and whinnys a welcome!
         
    .....that the neighbors come to visit my horse, (not me!)
    
    .....My husband finally says "yes, you can have another 
         horse now!
    

    .....You call the dogs name right next to the horse, no response but
         you call the horses name and she perks up and looks at you with
         those huge eyes; saying yeah?
    
    .....The horses are grazing quietly on the lawn, and the four year old
         is searching for an excuse to spook and stir-up everything,
         success and then it's .........
         total mayhem.  They go across the neighbor's yard and into the
         next yard - games, games!!  You call them and they look at you and 
         laugh, while trotting in the other direction.  Since we live in an
         area of old farms, there is land everywhere.  Spoiled horses.
    
    Regards,
    Prudence_who_spoils_hers_rotten_with_grazing_permission

    ...When I call my horse and she comes running, instead of making me
       walk a quarter mile through the pasture to get her!
    
    Sandy and Summer and Shultz
    

    
    .......when Peanuts follows me from stall to stall when I'm mucking
    as if to make sure I do a good job!
    .......the way he nuzzles us when we're having a bad day.
    .......how he tries to act so big and tough, until we raise our
    voice, ever so slightly.
    
           
               Bob

    .... when his white stockings are still white.
    
    .... when his nickname of PIGPEN is not used more than once a week

    .... I don't take the jump before HE does.
    
    

    not having a husband to tell me that two horses are two too many!
    
    having a young horse that breaks all the myths about having a
    young horse.
    
    watching him gallop!

    he itches his head on me after I dismount... nearly knocking me over in
    the process!
    
    the way he always chooses one spot to poop in and never steps in it.
    
    those rare days when he doesn't roll.

    he lowers his head, pokes out his nose and closes his eyes when I brush
    the sides of his nose and under his chin.
    
    he lowers his head, opens his mouth and reaches for the bit when I
    bridle him.
    
    he curls his lip and stretches his neck up when I brush his tummy (when
    I got him last November he would threaten me when I touched his tummy
    and flanks, or hind end).
    
    he turns his hind end toward me so I can curry it better (instead of
    threatening to kick me like he used too!)
    
    and he always poops and pees in one spot!
    
    Mary

    ... I come out to the barn and find all 3 remaining critters
    sleeping  in the middle of may indoor arena  - and they trust
    me enough to not get up right away.   (my pasture doesn't have trees
    so I open the back door of the arena and use it as a shed).
    
    ... My Trakehner decides I'm "his" and takes a nip at every guy who
    even thinks of hugging me while he's nearby. Ok, so he's a little
    spoiled :>)
    
    

	... my youngster is napping before grain time, and I slide
	    his feed "dish" into his stall, and he eats out of it without
	    bothering to get up.

	... my 17 hand horse was playing 'tug of war' with a rabbit
	    over a piece of hay.

	... my horse is rolling and he lets out these incredible groans
	    and moans.

    
    	... he follows me right up on the trailer without even being	
            bribed with food!
    
    	... he really pays attention and listens to me.
    
    	... we can ride along a busy road and he doesn't turn a hair to 
            the motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, etc..
    
        ... he lets me put any type of rider up on him and he adjusts him-
            self to their ability.
    

    
    ...... He puts his head down so I can put his bridle/halter on
    		(Im 4'11" and hes 16hands)
    
    Louisa/Joey/Chipper

    ......when my two geldings pretend they are wild mustangs and roar from
          one end of the field to the other, playing tag or some other 
    	  important horse game.
    
    ......Mr. Zeus falls asleep standing with his nose in his feed
    	  bucket."Well you just never know when a meal could spontaneously
          appear!"
    
    ......when Neo and my dog Rocket have a nose to nose sniffy
          conversation.
    
    ......i get that rocking horse canter...Aaahhhhhh :-)

    
    
    
    ...when my mare gives me that nudge in the back, nearly knocking
       me down...then looks at me like '...who, me?'
    
    ...when she's let out in a snowy paddock, she bucks and squeals
       like a little kid, snow flying everywhere
    
    ...when she sticks her head under my arm looking for a hug
    
    ...when you find that itchy spot with the curry and she tilts
       her neck, and wiggles her nose in time with your scratching
    
    ...when she tries to 'point' to a horsefly that's chewing on 
       her when she's on crossties
    
    ...when she's 'going' so well, on the aids, what a treat, thanks
       Apple!
    
    Deb ;]

	...when I catch Skipper straight away withought chasing him
	   round an 11 acre paddock for 30 minutes, me being chased in
	   turn by 6 other horses who actually *want* to be caught and
	   think this is some kind of fun game.

	...when he gets a determined look in his eye and tows me across
	   the track so he can blow up the nose of the mare in the next
	   field.

	...when he's banged his foot against something and holds it up
	   in the air making pathetic little blowing sounds.

	...when I'm out riding in the forest and he has a complete nervous
	   breakdown because we've found another horse (shock!).

	...when he falls asleep while I'm grooming him.

        ...when Charger sees cows!  He is truly amazed each time.  He
           doesn't run or act fearful, but he is thoroughly intrigued
           by those funny looking animals!
    
        ...when he turns his head sideways to fit his muzzle through 
           the horizontal bars on the top half of his stall to "give
           kisses".
    
        ...when I call him and he comes to me as soon as he hears his name.
    
        ...when people, especially other "horse people", tell me how
           spectacular Charger is.  
                                    

    ...when Midnite rests his muzzle on my butt while I put hoof dressing
       his front hooves. (Gee, what a convenient shelf for my head, Mom.)
    
    ...when he picks up empty soda cans or his fly spray and holds them
       like a dog with a bone, until I pay attention and tell him to "drop
       it".
    
    ...when he shows his veteran show-going buddy how to walk on the
       trailer - no hesitating, no second looks - after just learning about
       trailers a few months ago.
    
    ...when he tries to figure out my husband's garbled aids to trot,
       decides to oblige, then thinks better of it and walks again when he
       feels the psuedo-posting going on up there... 
     

    ...when Algiers puts his head on my stomach
    
    ...when he takes his brushes one at a time out of his brush bucket and
    tosses them on the ground, or holds a brush, towel, or whatever
    he's managed to grab, until I look at him 
    
    ...when he grabs his lead shank and takes me for a walk
    
    ...when he turns a shy into a spectacular, suspended medium trot, and 
    keeps it for the rest of the ride
    
    ...when he practices levades on the cross-ties (soon, soon he'll be
    able to do them!)
    
    Mary

Your 4 month old foal gets off the lead rope and decides to go for a nice run.
What a time!  It was only the second day that she was separated from her mother.
We figured we would brush her down and start giving her the feel that we were
good things (she already knows this).  Well, she was feeling VERY frisky.  So,
I had her on the lead rope (long line).  During one of her bucks, somehow the
rope latch let go.  She didn't realize she was free for a second, but when she
did, did she run.  She ran from the front of the yard to the back and all around.
Thankfully she never left the yard (although this has to be the grace of God).
Finally, I was able to calm her down and slowly herded her into her stall.  We
then took a few minutes to calm down ourselves before we brought her back out
(using a different rope) and brushed her down some.

This weekend, we are putting a fence across the front of the house.  The rest
of the property is already fenced.  If this front fence had been in place, we
would not have cared as much that she got loose.  I thought we were ok when she
started right for the pasture, but once she figured out her mother was not there
then she decided she didn't want to go there.

Needless to say, it was an eventful evening.

Ed..

    ...When I come home and the two of them come galloping to
       greet me.
    
    ...When my QH hears my voice, and gives that little whinney
       to say hello.
    
    ...Watching the enjoyment they both show when, after being good
       boys when being ridden, they get that special treat they love
       so much...watermelon
       
    Lynne

    
    ...I start hooking up the trailer and E.C. starts running around her
    stall and squealing because she just KNOWS she gets to go somewhere.
    
    ...After hooking up the trailer and parking it in front of the barn, 
    E.C. DRAGS me to the trailer at a trot so she can hurry up and get in
    so we can go for a trailer ride.

    ......Every other horse in the barn whinnies to me except my own who is
    		sleeping in the corner.

    ...when I walk in the barn and hear Dusty snoring... sound asleep lying
    in his stall...

	I go out to catch my horse out of "the herd" to ride and realize that,
	for once, the mud encrusted one isn't mine.

    
    I get my truck and trailer ready to go, and when I walk out of the barn
    with my horse, the 30 year old retired event pony that grazes loose 
    on the property is standing halfway up the ramp looking at me hopefully... 
    

    ...When non-horsey friends come for a visit, and a carriage ride, and
       comment that if they were ever a horse, they'd want to be one of
       mine  (okay, so I'm very particular...)
    
    ...These same friends try to `help' with evening chores and realize how
       much work is involved......and start to understand why I love them 
       (the horses) so much...and why I need them so much....espicially in
       these recent, trying times.
    
    ...Watch non-horsey friends try to stay clean `helping' with chores.