Our Debut at 3rd-aka what happens when horse flies help

[neVar]

Aka what happens when horse flies 'help'

http://neVar.sasktelwebsite.net/badtexasweb.jpg


Saddly we had an AMAZING warm up.... gorgeous- had several people comment how great he looks.... and then we entered ring and VOILA (btw this is about 4 changes in in our attempt at half pass, it wen thalfpass CHANGE half pass KICK AT FLY half pass LEAP and kick at FLy and CHange NOOOOO Bugger Change back counter canter CHANGE while leaping at fly"

Our center line at start was a "halt salute, Slap huge horse fly that was biting his neck the whole way"


We came out with a great submission score of 2 :) one of those rides wehre i could do nothing bug laugh because it was just SO sureal he was never kicking at ME, my leg etc- evertime it was when i'd see a horse fly come dive bombing in at us.....

[keana]

Wow he must of thought you where moving on to airs above ground:lol:

Great picture!

[Ambrey]

Hey, what did you score for that move? Did they give you bonus points?

Or that classic comment "airs above the ground are not part of the 3rd level test :)"

(just as an aside, lookit how your butt is stuck in that saddle! You should have gotten extra points, or at least an ice cream cone, for that!)

[Phyxius]

Ahh, I'm sorry the test didn't go well, but GREAT job of riding through it!

[BaroquePony]

That's hilarious. You are riding it with style and grace, though :yes: It looks like you asked for the movement :yes:

Of course the serious side of me says that your horse should not have given in to the implulse and you should quietly, with your aids, not have allowed such a thing :no:

I do love it though and thanks for sharing it :yes:

[Ajierene]

Well...you know what they say about first impressions....

[ridgeback]

Of course the serious side of me says that your horse should not have given in to the implulse and you should quietly, with your aids, not have allowed such a thing :no:

I do love it though and thanks for sharing it :yes:

GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gucci Cowgirl]

no kidding.

I want to see BaroquePony's riding photos. Time to walk the walk

[ridgeback]

no kidding.

I want to see BaroquePony's riding photos. Time to walk the walk

Amen!! It would be the same pic if Anky or Isabelle were on board..No aids are going to prevent a horse from bucking when there are huge horse flies attacking. Maybe she's never seen one of those big bombers...lol

[vanillabean]

Actually, I think Nevar should have communed with the horse fly and fly-whispered it into submission...

[ridgeback]

Actually, I think Nevar should have communed with the horse fly and fly-whispered it into submission...

Oh yes lets consult Clinton on that one...Just kidding..hee hee

[neVar]

LOL ummm this was my horse resisting his REAL urge.... trust me.

Considering this horse 90% of the time i'm not sure how well the ability to get ON him will work (friday and saturday of that show both days i never sucessfully got on). he was a bit tired (bit too much warm up) and when i say horse flies helping i mean we had SEVERAL on him at all times biting (through UBBER fly spray too!) they didn't feel NEARLY that big under saddle...... at least not for THIS horse..... so i was like ok that sucked- he's completely ticked off but oy carry on (I do have video too by the way) and anytime my leg would touch him he'd hyper react and was just TWITCHING away the whole time in the show ring WHOLE time... by the time i got off him he was starting to shake and just TWITCH but i walk out of the ring and everyone is like OMG THOSE WERE HUGE!!! and i'm like... no really they werent....... not small but not BIGGGGGGGGGG...... i mean compared to what we were doing a few weeks ago when trying to NOT do changes.... now those were big... those ones i almost came off *L*

But i will say this- my aids WERE preventing it from being bigger- there were MANY MANY MANY more bucks and kick outs in there- we got SEVERAL 6's and 7's on the test.... (final score 42% MUWAHAHAHAH my new record lowest god we had 3 horses this show aiming for the 'lowest score award' ) when i get amoment i'll put the test on line- it was entertaining and being that this horse will never eer eer ver be for sale i have no issue showing it what so ever. If he wasn't such a good soul and didn't loff me i have no thought that i'd be on the ground if it had been a different horse- he was in no way trying to get me off- just purely trying to kick the bloody fly off while doing what mom is asking him to do
I'm not a good rider it's PURELY the saddle :P

[JRG]

I am suprised the judge didn't excuse you for the "external help"...aka the horse flies.

Chock it up to just bad timing, go get em next time!

[neVar]

ooh and i'll add the comments SUCKED i was SURE we'd have a great one liner in there but alas noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :( just normal "horse did not show his best today" type comment.... i had commented asi walked out "thank you but i'll pass on the horse flies next time" when i exited so i was SURe there would be a great comment as judge has a great sense of humour

[slc2]

well ridden! i wanna see the video, LOL.

clearly the horse is a 'shoe-in' for the Chestnut Wing of the Spanish Riding School.

[reefy!]

I'm not a good rider it's PURELY the saddle :P

And WHAT kind of saddle would that be?!?!?
I get movements like this some times, without the horse flies ;)
Would love to stick like that!

I really like that picture, as it's comforting to know I am not alone in owning a naughty horse! :lol:

[Ambrey]

Um, yeah. If that's "little" for texas, I think I'll keep Smokey :)

Bummer that he was such a stinker at the show, though :( He is such a nice horse when he is behaving!

(and I'm sure BaroquePony was being sarcastic!).

[neVar]

it's a bates innova. regular block


Well the one nice thing of this *L* was that all them people who kept going "you know i hear storiesabout this horse and then i see him and he's just "Such a gem" at the horse shows i just don't believe you that he's all that hard to ride or is naughty sometimes!'

I had 5 come up after this and go "ok we believe you" and me and coach are going "huh? that was just a normal 'i'm not happy day' but he never ever ever ever wants you coming onff. EVER that's scary *L* he likes me to 'stay up there" . . . ..

*sits tapping her fingers waiting for youtube* the video is pitiful the trot work ssucks- he 's bobbing his head away- why? because he kept trying to bite his chest every stride and rub his nose on his legs *L*

[Ambrey]

At least you know it isn't breed bias :winkgrin:

[Dressage Art]

no kidding.

I want to see BaroquePony's riding photos. Time to walk the walk
I second the "Amen to that" ;)

Congratulations NeVar for your 3rd level outing! I know exactly what you mean by great warm up and yet it doesn't transfer to the test ... 3rd level can be quite exiting test for horses that do it for the first time! All those flying changes just get their blood flowing ;) On my last 3rd level test we had such a good flying changes on the warm up and yet bucking changes during the test, also waaaay before I even gave an aid for them...my mare just decided to do a bucking changes ASAP!!!!! ... so at times it doesn't matter how quiet you sit in the saddle, if a horse decided to do it - some of them really GO for it ;) And as I was taught: rider should NEVER punish her horse for unwanted or not perfect flying changes.

PS: next time drench your horse in fly spray... but then probably the wind will pick up and plastic chairs will start flying... there is no way out of the "elements"...

[ridgeback]

Um, yeah. If that's "little" for texas, I think I'll keep Smokey :)

Bummer that he was such a stinker at the show, though :( He is such a nice horse when he is behaving!

(and I'm sure BaroquePony was being sarcastic!).

You clearly haven't seen some of BaroquePony other posts...I don't think she was being sarcastic..

[slc2]

It's just one class at one show. Doesn't matter overall. Everyone has something like that happen sometime. it happens, that's how horse shows are. you rode well, so it doesn't matter. the only thing that really matters is that you carried on and did it, so well done!

OR...you COULD bring THIS to your next horse show!!!!!

http://www.nzitrap.com/

Imagine setting it up away from the riding areas (WELL AWAY, LOL), and being completely horse fly free for the entire show. Everyone else will thank you, you'll thank you, your horse will thank you. You will be swimming in wine coolers the entire show, provided by your grateful competitors.

Seriously, this seems to be a really bad year for these flies. Some show grounds might even put up fly traps.

[BaroquePony]

ridgeback, Gucci Cowgirl and Dressage Art,

If you have a specific problem with me I suggest you take it to another thread.

[slc2]

pm

[FriesianX]

Yeehaw... Kudos for staying ON!!!

OK, we are nowhere near each other geographically, but the flies HERE seem to be at an all time bad this year too. AND - I douse my horses in fly spray before I ride - and this year, the flies seem to be DRINKING the darn stuff. I've tried several brands now, and am hearing the same thing from others. Could it be a horrible possibility that flies have evolved and are now immune from common fly sprays?

I'm guessing Nevar DID use plenty of fly spray - and obviously the flies weren't repelled by it :no:

Next ride will have to be better Nevar!

[BaroquePony]

The flies have been horrible this year. And they have been attacking my horse in hords. They seem to ignore the fly spray.

[Ibex]

Methinks Baroque Pony has never seen a Canadian dive bombing horse fly. (he should have listened to your aids?? seriously??) :lol:

Way to go staying on!

[ChelseaR]

Poor Pony - trying to work when he was getting eaten alive ;)

Was it one of those huge deer flys? Those things take out chunks when they bite!! No wonder he was upset. Don't you sometimes wish you could call a timeout?

Nice seat though!

[TropicalStorm]

Haha, I think you look very elegant and graceful :lol: exactly what dressage should be! :D


good for you for keeping such an upbeat attitude, still patting your horse and chalking it up to experience

[Moll]

If anyone's found a fly repellent that works for those huge suckers, let me know. Perhaps just put so much coat sheen on that they just SLIDE off would work.

Good job, OP, I don't envy you at all :D

If you're doing a kür to music, can I suggest Kanye West?

*that-tha-that-that don't kill me
can only make me stronger***

[tollertwins]

Tooooooo funny!!!

Good for you for staying on in the rodeo!!

too bad the judge didn't have a sense of humor, though....

[neVar]

yes the evil big huge 'deer' horse flies..... yoiu know the ones as big as your thumb who from 5' away you can see their eyes who look like they are made out of the same material as a stealth bomber and hurt more then a bee sting when they get you. YUP it was THOSE ONES>


We'ver never had them at this property before we tend to get oodles of mousquitos and no see ums. He is very good at working through those- we ride outside no matter WHAT The weather (i like to pretend we don't have an indoor ring) unless it's actually pouring rain.. (can't dare wreck the footing!). We've also had ticks in this area for the first in like FOREVER.

Freestyle music is the "Good bad and ugly" :P

[Ambrey]

Me wants to see the video :)

I wish they'd print that photo in the Arthur Kottas column in DT! Can you imagine? "Turnout is impeccable. Your seat is lovely, but your horse is a little heavy on the forehand..."

[slc2]

We are using citronella fly spray this year because we purchased fly predators, and I am guessing that it works for about 4 hours-6hrs and then needs to be re-applied, and i am not sure the citronella is reliable against the big biters. We've released one round the predators, so are limited in what we can use as far as sprays.

Predators do seem to work very well, but take at least a month to take effect, and represent some logistics problems, ie, large biting flies like deer flies are not affected by the predators. if i could, i'd like to find a species of predator that affects the big biters, but i think a species specific trap is more likely, the web site i linked to has directions for making inexpensive biting fly traps.

I'm doing research to see if I can build a trap that will work for the deer fly types, yet not catch the 'beneficials' (predators). that would be ideal.

it is a TERRIBLE year. terrible. we've had nothing but rain and it's very, very bad. with the warming climate it is a serious issue.

[Hazelnut]

Nice photograph. NeVar never compromised her good position! :lol::lol::lol: Seat is plugged in! Man! NeVar is looking correct to me.

I think her horse is thinking OUCH! :confused: OUCH!, DAMN, you fly! :mad: OUCH! I'll show you, you @**&^$% fly! :mad: OUCH!!! With a little body language thrown in.

[Ambrey]

My big guy is stomping his feet to smithereens from flies, and we don't even have those big ones (we used to in Central California, but not down here). I like Wipe best for actually keeping them off for an extended time, but it's a pain to actually have to wipe it on!

[allpurpose]

yes the evil big huge 'deer' horse flies..... yoiu know the ones as big as your thumb who from 5' away you can see their eyes who look like they are made out of the same material as a stealth bomber and hurt more then a bee sting when they get you. YUP it was THOSE ONES>


We'ver never had them at this property before we tend to get oodles of mousquitos and no see ums. He is very good at working through those- we ride outside no matter WHAT The weather (i like to pretend we don't have an indoor ring) unless it's actually pouring rain.. (can't dare wreck the footing!). We've also had ticks in this area for the first in like FOREVER.

Freestyle music is the "Good bad and ugly" :P

We call 'em B-52s around here. The worst is the drone that you hear BEFORE they attack! It's such a low-pitched, nasty thing that gets the hairs on the back of your neck standing straight up.

Then it stops..."Where is it? Has it landed on horsie? Is it on me?" Wait for buck, airs above the ground, spin and bolt move from horsie, or paralyzing sting on your human back. Then, you spot it, swat it HARD, and watch it fall. It's writhing, pitiful, legs waving in the air. Then...it rolls over and FLIES AWAY INTACT, DRONING MERRILY TO ITSELF! :eek:

I hate those things!

Freestyle music suggestion: Anything by the B-52s!!! :lol::lol::lol:

[atr]

We've even had a population explosion of the damned things here. And I always reckon the big plus of living in high desert is lack of bugs. (Has to be some plus to snow on the ground for 7 months and baking hot for the other 5.)

Good job sticking it and you and your horse look fabulous.

[Dressage Art]

ridgeback, Gucci Cowgirl and Dressage Art,
If you have a specific problem with me I suggest you take it to another thread.
Nice try,... but the point is that it's you who should start another thread where you "walk your talk" ;) the "specific problem" might be is that you are so overly harsh with your critique about everybody on every of your posts... makes us wonder how perfect you are yourself?

we are just trying to protect some COTH posters who do come forward with their videos/photos from harsh keyboard trainers and unfortunately, we do have those ... However, if you are a truly knowledgeable rider, I'm sure all of us will benefit from your insights. So yes, may be it is a time for a new thread started by you?

[EqTrainer]

slc, I use fly predators too, and just fly spray the horses in places where I don't spread them.. right now it's right in the middle of the field :lol: I know it's not ideal but my horses and I just cannot bear to have a Nevar Incident everytime we ride...

so far this year, the only spray that is keeping them off is Endure.

Nevar, congratulations for your debut and for laughing it off.

And for anyone who thought her horse should have just dealt... I suggest you ride him :winkgrin:

[ridgeback]

ridgeback, Gucci Cowgirl and Dressage Art,

If you have a specific problem with me I suggest you take it to another thread.

I think I was very clear with my post..To think some sort of riding technique is going to control a horse when it's being attacked by huge horse flies is ludicrous..

[keana]

That's hilarious. You are riding it with style and grace, though :yes: It looks like you asked for the movement :yes:

Of course the serious side of me says that your horse should not have given in to the implulse and you should quietly, with your aids, not have allowed such a thing :no:

I do love it though and thanks for sharing it :yes:

Are you for real?? that is a VERY serious side you have there.:eek: it would be funny if it was a joke.....

[slc2]

"you should quietly have not allowed it" --- BaroquePony

I very, very much doubt that Alois Podhajsky and other classical heroes would have done any different. And I actually have never found any 'classical master' that was actually THIS serious.

Horses have instincts, and dressage judges actually ignore a great deal of instinctive behavior and sudden startles - as long as it's not REPEATED, LOL. But in this case, this fly (which has a little hum that has caused cattle stampedes, fyi) didn't go away, so it repeated.

In any case, 'Should have' doesn't mean anything, because the show is over and done, and if the girl could have stopped the horse, she would have.

When questioned about a horse opening his mouth at one other clinic, another classical great shouted out, 'He's SMILING!'

I very much doubt any classical traditionalist was quite THIS serious.

Karl Mikolka has a lovely selection of stories about his days at the SRS, all that involve the legendary head of the Spanish Riding School doing a water skiing act on his face or his ass.

Podhajsky himself wrote in his book about having a horse refuse a jump, and having it run backwards, slide down a bank, and go swirling off in the Danube, to be found a few miles downriver caught on a fishing wier.

It happens to everyone.

[allpurpose]

It happens to everyone.

Amen! Glass houses and all that...;)

[Raji]

LOL! I think this thread should become "your funniest experience in the ring and the judge's comments!
I'll start. Daughter (JR/YR) showing horse (1st level horse of the year region 3) at Palm Beach Derby, judge, Edgar Hotz. Ring was adjacent to freestyle ring. After a few minutes horse proceeds to follow the music and the movements of the adjacent horse. Mother (me) and trainer are falling off the bleachers LOL, daughter not amused. Judge gives 48% and stated "horse not on the aids".
Whose next?I have several more :-)

[slc2]

Pony develops serious allergy to judge's tent. center line, what's that?

stallion wanna be throws foreleg over nice fat lovely broad backed mare jogging tantalizingly along. rider of mare is totally unaware of this. :D

horse wraps entire chain dressage ring around his legs and then runs at my horse in warmup, causing my horse to turn around, look at me, and say, 'You better hang on, I'm leaving'. rider does not have time to go back and get mason jar of gin before test.

horse decides tht Mr Uwe Steiner schooling Rantares on ground, causing Rantares to execute lovely string of multiple levades and pesades, means that horse needs to exit stage LEFT Tout DE SUITE, and then does imitation of Rantares during test, then abruptly my quarter runs out and he can barely jog around - he's TIRED! rider does also not have time to get mason jar before THIS test.

they aren't robots.

[Gucci Cowgirl]

ridgeback, Gucci Cowgirl and Dressage Art,

If you have a specific problem with me I suggest you take it to another thread.

I also think you should start your own thread.

It can be called "Why I am entitled to be condescending to those posting photos" and it can profile your riding, training, and teaching career, complete with photos and videos.:yes:

[EqTrainer]

My horse, at four, at his first recognized show..

so disturbed he simply WOULD NOT canter. No, no ma'am, not gonna do it. No way. Just can't. Sorry. So sorry.

Judges comment:

Lovely horse. Very disobedient to aids.

:D:lol:

[FriesianX]

One of my old horses, early show - big wind gust comes up right as we are suppose to canter in front of the judge, then down the long side - wind gust LIFTS the judge's tent up. Apparently lifts my horse up too - straight up, and we hop, on hind feet, down the long side in a lovely courbette. I kept him ON course, and after a VERY LONG 25 meters or so, back we return to all four feet (yes, he hopped quite a ways on 2 hind feet). Judge's comment - stayed on course, excellent tactful riding. Submission 2, rider 9. We got better after that :D Sometimes sh*# happens. Horses are horses - some things we can forgive. I think a B-52 bomber that is shooting its guns at your horse (i.e. horsefly) is something we can forgive! A horse eating judge's booth - forgive. I think Nevar did a great job - and I bet the judge would have LIKED to make a nice comment, but wanted to appear professional ;)

[slc2]

i recall scott Peterson when my pony took off (rain coat situation, person right at ringside flapping giant poncho thing, i'm not sure why), Scott writes - 'Very serious about his job' in comments, LOL. That was it, i think i got a usual-for-pony-score on the movement it happened in. a friend had a similar go and got a comment, 'Beautiful tail'....not sure if that was the rider or the horse...My pony took off at a dead gallop, lol, and stayed EXACTLY on course, and in armpit deep mud in the pouring rain! i thought my pony would sink in below the surface and never be found!

I love scott. it was like the weather was soooo horrible and he just was so kind and relaxed the whole show. what a wonderful man.

It would have been REALLY funny if he had written - 'damn, first good working canter i saw all day', HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

[Ambrey]

I choose to believe BaroquePony was being sarcastic. Life is more fun that way and she hasn't denied it yet :)

Because, as you can see, quietly and with her aids nevar was keeping her horse IN the arena and OFF the spectators ;)

[affirmed]

The bugs ARE terrible here--lil divebombers.
My 12 year old daughter showed today--rode her fly spray coated mare into the arena, mare got dive bombed by a massive deer fly 15 feet in, proceeded to execute a spectacular shy/spook, whirled around and came right back out, my daughter stayed with her but VERY upset, of course...looked like she was about to cry for a second, then this steely resolve came into her eyes..she turned that mare RIGHT back around and rode on--they placed third. The judge was awesome. I was very proud of my little girl, needless to say.....:winkgrin:

[Sunny Santa Cruz]

:lol: With that photo my dear, I would have given you a 10 for "rider". I sure hope you'll frame this photo and put it proudly up for display! It totally made my day neVar ....*I almost peed myself* Great job and thanks for sharing!:D

[grayarabpony]

Jesus, will you guys let up on BaroquePony -- talk about too serious!

OP, your horse really hates flies, that much is obvious. Great picture! The horse looks pissed off but you look calm, cool and collected. :D

[FancyFree]

That was a huge buck! Good for Nevar for handling it so well.

My one experience with horse flies was when one landed on my horse's back while she was on the hot walker. She went nuts. Reared up, kicked out, the works. The thing still wouldn't get off her! I had to go in there with my crop and try to flip it off. Thank God my horse was a very sensible girl and didn't kick at me. She stood still while I got the thing off. She had a big bite on her back.

So yeah, I don't think it would be easy to control a horse being bitten by horse flies. Anyone who thinks so must not have any experience with those big bugs.

[neVar]

awww sunny yes it's going to have it's place of honor in the house. Im' doing up a series panoramic of the hUGE HONKING buck a friends 5 year old did outta no where (same ring btw) at the show the month before. steady eddy (the one she uses to pony the CRAZY horses off of) it was so out of place- and of cours eshe stayed on- which is why it's funny (and still scored in the 60's!)

[dressagetraks]

Great picture and great riding, NeVar.

I used to think my horses were weenies about the big horseflies, until one landed on me one day, and drew blood through thick blue jeans almost immediately upon landing. Stung like the devil.

If I were a horse, I would have been bucking all the way down the arena to get that thing off. :yes::yes:

[hessy35]

Aka what happens when horse flies 'help'

http://neVar.sasktelwebsite.net/badtexasweb.jpg


Saddly we had an AMAZING warm up.... gorgeous- had several people comment how great he looks.... and then we entered ring and VOILA (btw this is about 4 changes in in our attempt at half pass, it wen thalfpass CHANGE half pass KICK AT FLY half pass LEAP and kick at FLy and CHange NOOOOO Bugger Change back counter canter CHANGE while leaping at fly"

Our center line at start was a "halt salute, Slap huge horse fly that was biting his neck the whole way"


We came out with a great submission score of 2 :) one of those rides wehre i could do nothing bug laugh because it was just SO sureal he was never kicking at ME, my leg etc- evertime it was when i'd see a horse fly come dive bombing in at us.....

Fly spray is your friend... or try the Mushroom Matrix to get thim to relax.

[PaddyUK]

Bloody well sat NeVar.

Even in little old England we are having masses of horse flies.

Just going for a hack is becoming a swatting fest.

We use a pour on fly repelent (you make it up to a pint then have to saturate the horse) which lasts for 2 weeks plus Power Phaser every day and earcovers and still get problems so goodness knows what you have to use over there.

We can't use the ear covers to compete in:no: same as you I guess, as they can be used to cover up any sneaky cotton wool balls used to drown out sound.

Paddy

[ridgeback]

Jesus, will you guys let up on BaroquePony -- talk about too serious!

OP, your horse really hates flies, that much is obvious. Great picture! The horse looks pissed off but you look calm, cool and collected. :D

I made my one comment about her post then answered other people's comments about my post so get over it:D:)

[dogchushu]

yes the evil big huge 'deer' horse flies..... yoiu know the ones as big as your thumb who from 5' away you can see their eyes who look like they are made out of the same material as a stealth bomber and hurt more then a bee sting when they get you. YUP it was THOSE ONES>


We'ver never had them at this property before we tend to get oodles of mousquitos and no see ums. He is very good at working through those- we ride outside no matter WHAT The weather (i like to pretend we don't have an indoor ring) unless it's actually pouring rain.. (can't dare wreck the footing!). We've also had ticks in this area for the first in like FOREVER.

Freestyle music is the "Good bad and ugly" :P

I HATE those things! They've bitten me--through a shirt--and made me bleed. I can't imagine how much they're torturing my poor horse. The only good thing about them is that they make a very satisfying crunch when you crush them!

[grayarabpony]

I made my one comment about her post then answered other people's comments about my post so get over it:D:)

All of the smiley faces in the world don't make up for a smarta$$ remark like "get over it". You made at least half a dozen snarky posts about BaroquePony, a total waste of bandwidth IMNSHO.

[edit]

[Ambrey]

All of the smiley faces in the world don't make up for a smarta$$ remark like "get over it". You made at least half a dozen snarky posts about BaroquePony, a total waste of bandwidth IMNSHO.

So shut up already. ;)

If snarky is a waste of bandwidth, this forum needs to be sued by the Internet Conservation Corps.

[sidepasser]

Good job staying on...I've seen those flies bite a horse and it bleed..my mare goes nuts when she hears them and it isn't pretty, even in the pasture she will buck, run, roll..do whatever to get one off.

Endure is all I have been successful using this year other than Deep Woods Off with Deet. Hate to use much of that though.

Nice ride..and you'll get 'em next time!

[ridgeback]

All of the smiley faces in the world don't make up for a smarta$$ remark like "get over it". You made at least half a dozen snarky posts about BaroquePony, a total waste of bandwidth IMNSHO.

[edit]

Like I said I made ONE posts about BaroquePony and the rest where answering comments.... Clearly other people felt the same way!!!! So move on!!

[InsideLeg2OutsideRein]

That is a *g r e a t* photo! Nicely stuck, too (good saddle or not!) Love that you have a sense of humor about it :)

[Mozart]

If snarky is a waste of bandwidth, this forum needs to be sued by the Internet Conservation Corps.

:lol:


neVar, you need to blow that pic up and put it up in your tack shop! You should sell a lot of saddles if you keep giving the credit to the saddle (you humble thing you).

BaroquePony may not realize what your horse was up against. We are not talking gnats, midges or mosquitoes. We are talking Canadian deer fly.

I have very specific youthful memories of being attacked by those flies while swimming in the lake in summer. We had to go under water to get away from them. Drowning started to look like a very reasonable option.

[rabicon]

Great seat ;) Sorry it didn't go perfect but thats horses for ya. :yes: I love the picture though.

[Whisper]

My boyfriend asked, "Who is that!?" when I opened the picture (I was browsing during the commercials of the movie we were watching). Both of us were really impressed by how well you stuck with him.

[Sandra6500]

Well at least yours had a reason. Mine sometimes does it just "cause":

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2193606920046924277UijcoW

[charismaryllis]

Well at least yours had a reason. Mine sometimes does it just "cause":

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2193606920046924277UijcoW


yee ha! :lol: (and i mean that in a good way--i'd have been off on my head.)

'round here, even the regular barn flies just flap away after you smack them, bare handed, while they're on the horse. damn things. :mad:

[Moderator 1]

Thanks for refocusing the thread on the OP! Let's keep it that way... ;)

Thanks again,
Mod 1

[Schiffon]

.

Then it stops..."Where is it? Has it landed on horsie? Is it on me?" Wait for buck, airs above the ground, spin and bolt move from horsie, or paralyzing sting on your human back. Then, you spot it, swat it HARD, and watch it fall. It's writhing, pitiful, legs waving in the air. Then...it rolls over and FLIES AWAY INTACT, DRONING MERRILY TO ITSELF! :eek:

:

That's why you wear gloves so when you swat it you use your thumb to catch the thing, pick it up and hear it crunch when you squish it! Its scary how much satisfaction I get from decreasing their population by 1.

I really don't think any of the tabanids (the group that contains horse flies, deer flies, and green heads) are affected by smell, whether it be for attraction or for repellent. They are attracted by movement, which is the principle of the traps. The only answer is to ride indoors, after dark, in an open area that is 1-2 MILES away from wooded areas because they have a wide range from their nesting site, or when there is a stiff breeze. Another good reason not to show in July and August, in my book!

[retrofit]

Great job riding through it and nice to see that you are such a good sport about the whole thing. Here's hoping your good natured outlook will rub off on the more self-righteous around here. :rolleyes:

[pintopiaffe]

We are talking Canadian deer fly.


The kissing cousin of the Maine Moose Fly.

They are evil, evil things spawned in nuclear waste dumps, I am sure.

Good on ya NV. :yes: Despite it ALL you're in the ring DOING IT! :D

[perpetual_novice]

There are way too many of these around this year:

http://pest.ca.uky.edu/EXT/master_gardener/entbasics/diptera/horsefly.jpg

[bird4416]

Several times recently, I've seen my horses standing in the pasture bucking to get rid of a horse fly. This is usually followed by a gallop around when the bucking doesn't work. The horse flies and deer flies are horrible this year in north Georgia.

[neVar]

ugg i shudder just thinking of these bloody things :)

http://www.isledegrande.com/giimages9/horsefly-200.jpg


the ones chasing us were a good 1" - 1.5" long.

[vanillabean]

They are so bad my boy lets me hit them off of him with the end of the whip while we are going, even if they are up by his ears. He just points them out and I take care of them.
He's much more bothered about flies than the whip or anything else I do up there though, in general.
(Horse thinks: "Agh! Why are we in this ring today. Plod plod plod. Ho-hum, let's stop. Ouch? Why is she kicking me? ((buck)) Where is my Food? Out at the barn ((starts to head off to barn)) GEEZE! kicking again...I'll show her..((buck buck buck)) OUCH! (gallops on) ugh. fine. I am NOT going right though!)
The flies, however, are horrifying.

[eurythmic]

there's a new fly in town - HUGE with a white back. Very evil.
Reminds me of that final scene in the original movie "The Fly" where the fly part of the scientist is buzzing around his madly swatting wife going "heeeeellllppp meeee....heeeeellllppp meeee...in a tiny voice.
But I digress.
Anybody know what they are?

[gailbyrd]

And those suckers are fast too!!! Had one CHASING my horse on the lunge line the other day. Had to make her go into a gallop to get away from the devil!!!!

Good riding Nevar!!!!