tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post1997837792557360429..comments2024-01-03T03:28:48.980-07:00Comments on mugwump Chronicles: Mort/Chapter 4Mugwumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01487540636265322556noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-27979520852565594462008-08-27T07:03:00.000-06:002008-08-27T07:03:00.000-06:00I found your blog about 2 weeks or so ago and have...I found your blog about 2 weeks or so ago and have just finished reading all of your blog from start to finish. <BR/><BR/>What an awesome read!!!!<BR/><BR/>I read a lot of books and your stories are amoung the best. I believe that any horse lover would enjoy your stories, not just the young but the young at heart as well.<BR/><BR/>Your training tips and insight into horses are well written and explained in "normal" language that everyone can understand regardless of their level of riding experience. It is rare to find an excellant story teller and trainer all rolled into one.<BR/><BR/>So please don't stop. If I was ever to become an addict, it would be to the next installment on the "Mugwump Chronicles".Kim Headleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02703952777934787135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-81546793187209473262008-08-23T14:58:00.000-06:002008-08-23T14:58:00.000-06:00Loose back cinches is a big problem! They should b...Loose back cinches is a big problem! <BR/><BR/>They should be flush with the horses barrel, not tight, and connected to the front cinch (there is two rings on your front cinch) so it can't slide back or get snug around the stifle and cause a bucking problem.<BR/>It's to keep the saddle from popping up too much. Prevents saddles from whacking the horse on the back as they are limited to how far they can lift up.<BR/><BR/>I watched my good friend learn that lesson when I was young. He was warming up his normally unflappable mare. The back cinch was loose and not tied to the front. His mare slipped, he was pitched forward, the back cinch slid back and as he was pitched forward the movement made the back of the saddle pop up and in turn made the mare buck once and bolt because the back cinch tightened right by her back legs. He fell off, the mare came back to him but lesson learned, don't have a loose or untied back cinch. <BR/><BR/>Another time was at a trail ride and a guy got hung up on a tree because his back cinch was too loose. Luckily he was on a pretty quiet horse that just stood there as we broke the branch off.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Another post, another.<BR/><BR/>Oh and book, book, book, book!! Or atleast a few posts!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14523660446608394720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-87539284224193177872008-08-23T09:24:00.000-06:002008-08-23T09:24:00.000-06:00I love that everyone grew to recognize him and jus...I love that everyone grew to recognize him and just sort of rolled their eyes when he got out <I>again</I>! <BR/><BR/>He just sounds like one of those horses -- can't live with him, can't live without him.manymisadventureshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00269126419483167938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-14045016129780980692008-08-23T09:02:00.000-06:002008-08-23T09:02:00.000-06:00Oh, the picture reminded me, the back girth (cinch...Oh, the picture reminded me, the back girth (cinch?) on a western saddle, how snug should it be? I see on mort in that picture its at least flush with his barrel. We've been leaving ours loose, you can stick a fist in it (but hopefully not a hoof!) <BR/>While I'm at it, whats it for? People have told me that its to keep the back of the saddle down. Is that a common problem?<BR/>I was raised english all my life, I actually only learned how to put on a western saddle about two years ago. I like it though, its like a dressage saddle on steroids.gillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12116128687769268871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-86314720102659015012008-08-23T07:46:00.000-06:002008-08-23T07:46:00.000-06:00WOW! Now how come I'm all teary eyed and chucklin...WOW! Now how come I'm all teary eyed and chuckling like no one's business? What a vivid story about a horse with a determined mind. My favorite kind.<BR/>My voice joins the ranks chanting, "Book, book, book".restoration42https://www.blogger.com/profile/09225587029759842297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-34567508039717535322008-08-22T21:24:00.000-06:002008-08-22T21:24:00.000-06:00laura-do you think our horses were smarter then, o...laura-do you think our horses were smarter then, or were our fences that crappy?<BR/>esquared-I'm a little sappy sometimes<BR/>redsmom-Thanks! I'm glad it helps<BR/>mrs mom- love makes us do some whacky things, I hope it works out<BR/>wvfarmgirl-ask away, it gives me stuff to write about<BR/>kaptkaos-my little barn was at Maizeland and Academy, across from Palmer Park, where the Mcphearsons lived. Ring any bells?<BR/>gillian-I never did get Mort completely contained, but everybody knew who owned him<BR/>Thanks to the rest of you, this writing is great for me too.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-68838613129857285202008-08-22T19:17:00.000-06:002008-08-22T19:17:00.000-06:00At least he seemed to be doing it on purpose. Ther...At least he seemed to be doing it on purpose. Theres no shame in losing the fencing/enclosure battle to a worthy, determined opponent. What I cant stand are the horses (read: geldings) who take down our hotwire by the following oh-so-refined process: reach under for grass, shock yourself, look startled and confused, repeat.gillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12116128687769268871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-68141224646796482372008-08-22T11:29:00.000-06:002008-08-22T11:29:00.000-06:00Your father reminds me of my own. Mad at the extr...Your father reminds me of my own. Mad at the extra effort but more than happy about the partnership, and life experences that horses were giving me. He aways said that the back of the horse was safer than standing around in a mall.Justaplainsamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15399124494395034612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-8941269410402164332008-08-22T08:25:00.000-06:002008-08-22T08:25:00.000-06:00Mugs I love these stories. and it makes me feel li...Mugs I love these stories. and it makes me feel like I am back home in the freezing cold. Its facinating to me to read about the place I grew up...They should have kept that drive in!kaptkaos113https://www.blogger.com/profile/04371908125908386310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-1283358105675105252008-08-22T08:11:00.000-06:002008-08-22T08:11:00.000-06:00HA! I have to say... I love a horse with characte...HA! I have to say... I love a horse with character. You want to kill them sometimes but you can't All because just something about their mischevious nature, and their look that just makes you laugh when they get caught getting into trouble. <BR/><BR/>They melt your heart, teach you patience and real unwavering, unconditional love. Your stories, especially Mort's, I think I love SO much because it takes me back to being innocent and just to the bare back, deep rooted reasons I love horses. You portray a girl that just loves her horse so purely. It always leaves me wishing I had one as a kid the way you did and thanking heaven I have access to the character I do now at 25! :) Great story mugs! Can't wait for the next.autumnblazehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14261052609848445921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-23599020936623947472008-08-22T08:06:00.000-06:002008-08-22T08:06:00.000-06:00Excellent storytelling! I think you were discussin...Excellent storytelling! I think you were discussing a while back where your stories might fit in the book world. I'm thinking, as a past librarian, there would be a market for the YA (young adult, usually 13 to 17 in the book world)girls, the ones you have shared about your teen years. I know when I was a teen I would have eaten these kinds of stories up because they put me right in the story with you and of course the horses are great. I'd be thinking, "I sure would like to have been her!" Thanks for sharing your experiences!Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224646742863478548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-67172239669792091442008-08-22T08:03:00.000-06:002008-08-22T08:03:00.000-06:00They truly are something, aren't they? Thanks for...They truly are something, aren't they? Thanks for sharing Mort, Sonita, and all the rest with us!SunnySDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07591623033468632399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-33493370566308937702008-08-22T05:20:00.000-06:002008-08-22T05:20:00.000-06:00I'm with everyone else here... been reading you fr...I'm with everyone else here... been reading you from the beginning and check in several times a day to see if there's a new post about Sonita or Mort. I can't wait to read the next installment of Sonita! And your stories about Mort remind me so much of my childhood days in a small one-horse (mine!) town. Keep it up!<BR/><BR/>I'd also love to talk to you someday and get your advice on training one of the SWAP mares that I rescued. :)wvfarmgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13094014775730589341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-44580453192918995262008-08-22T00:12:00.000-06:002008-08-22T00:12:00.000-06:00I haven't posted before but..... Mugs, I have to s...I haven't posted before but..... Mugs, I have to say, when I saw another "horse story" today I honestly felt a moment of true excitement. Like the kind where your heart flurries making you remember to breathe and you lose focus for a moment. I, so far, love all the topics you write about. The training is very useful and full of insight. In my mind these "horse stories" are training related as well. Not just stories. But nonetheless, you do tell them in a different manner. I absolutely adore them. Thank you for sharing your talent with us!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-52489786856945688142008-08-21T23:51:00.000-06:002008-08-21T23:51:00.000-06:00Another Fugly visitor -- I like your writing about...Another Fugly visitor -- I like your writing about training, but this is great!<BR/><BR/>I boarded a white mare with a lovely bay gelding who sounds like your Mort. The gelding had to go and he took his ladyfriend (my mare) with him on many occasions. To the point that the gelding's owner and me would get calls -- 'hey, the brown and white horse are in my yard!' One of us would go round them up and bring them home. They never went far, usually to a nice garden, and once, to an elementary school with a newly planted lawn *sigh*.<BR/><BR/>Well, don't plant new grass where horses can smell it!<BR/><BR/>Both those horse are now over the Bridge, waiting for us and no doubt trying to figure out an escape route ..<BR/><BR/>Keep writing!mbdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13075253174335937592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-68231268999512749732008-08-21T20:04:00.000-06:002008-08-21T20:04:00.000-06:00First time commenting, but I've been reading your ...First time commenting, but I've been reading your blog since the start. You do a wonderful job of story telling and teaching at the same time. Love your blog, keep it up!Jessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264955546526540949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-25132774851101708492008-08-21T19:45:00.000-06:002008-08-21T19:45:00.000-06:00Hey Mugwump, thanks for stopping in over at my blo...Hey Mugwump, thanks for stopping in over at my blog, and leaving your thoughts! I have been reading you from the start here as well, and have enjoyed every post of yours. Keep em coming! ;)<BR/><BR/>Oh- and stay tuned at HorseFeathers... plans are in the works to bring that big mare home to the east coast! Now cross your hooves for us ;)Mrs. Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15269132012512166439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-17243315368533067552008-08-21T19:39:00.000-06:002008-08-21T19:39:00.000-06:00Gosh, I just love your writing! I love your descr...Gosh, I just love your writing! I love your descriptions, like the "snot freezing cold" and your dad's "frosty malevolence." You paint such vivid pictures with your words, that I can picture everything as if I were there and feel all your emotions. I was hoping for more of the Mort story just the other day. <BR/><BR/>Thanks again for this lovely story and your great blog. I've really been using your advice and inspriation and making headway with my old, spoiled gelding!Redsmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473393390441394419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-10625621110539443372008-08-21T19:36:00.000-06:002008-08-21T19:36:00.000-06:00I have a houdini of my own, but he's 38 and starti...I have a houdini of my own, but he's 38 and starting to retire a bit from it. His specialty is in latches and knots. I loved this story. Heartwarming seems sappy but it fits. You made me smile.Esquaredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11430866656336769601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-54849910959292553002008-08-21T19:23:00.000-06:002008-08-21T19:23:00.000-06:00You are a great writer! I loved this post. Not lea...You are a great writer! I loved this post. Not least because Jackson, the horse I owned as a teenager, escaped from just such a neighborhood corral and ran amuk (with his pasture pal) on a golf course, and I had to pay for every divet that critter put in the very expensive greens. You don't know how good you had it!Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-74198471823300312122008-08-21T19:05:00.001-06:002008-08-21T19:05:00.001-06:00I was just riding Mort back to the barn. :( My Dad...I was just riding Mort back to the barn. :( My Dad took me to school, where I got a weeks detention for being late. It was worth it though.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-7414485966902566032008-08-21T19:02:00.000-06:002008-08-21T19:02:00.000-06:00Awesome. I rode my horse to school once although i...Awesome. I rode my horse to school once although it was during exams and I didn't have one. I also drove my horse to school to give my one horse crazy teacher a ride.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14523660446608394720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380534023229200743.post-57390058584697213902008-08-21T18:20:00.000-06:002008-08-21T18:20:00.000-06:00I love going back to your childhood, it's kinda li...I love going back to your childhood, it's kinda like time travel. Another good one Muggs. Thanks for being one of the great storytellers =)Whywudyabreedithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12069453160852561143noreply@blogger.com