HerdingStdPoodle

Ms Stella;

Fascinating thread. Does this mean that horse and poodle people love grooming? Perhaps horse and poodle people appreciate the beautiful in life?
HerdingStdPoodle

Sookster

Fun thread! Thanks for reviving it.

I've had a fondness and connection to horses since I was old enough to know what a horse was, way before I knew about poodles I got my first riding lessons as a birthday present for my 13th birthday, and the QH cutting bred mare I was taking lessons on was my Christmas present that year. Little did we know, she was pregnant when we bought her, and in March of the next year gave birth to a beautiful QH filly that I raised and trained myself. Those two girls were the foundation for the love and admiration I will always have for horses.

In high school I owned an enormous QH gelding and an off-the-track appendix QH gelding, in addition to the little mare I raised, that I competed with (barrel racing, pole bending, Western games events). In addition I had a Welsh pony trail riding mare, an Arabian gelding for trail riding, and a retired barrel racer/broodmare who had me a couple more foals before we placed her into full retirement. Sold almost all of them after high school, but took the Appendix and the mare with me to college. I worked 30 hours a week while attending school full time the first two years to pay my board, but when I transferred schools and got into upper level classes, it was just too much and I had to part with those last two. I did find a job at a local dressage training farm when I transferred schools, and that gets me my equine fix every week to this day. It's my dream to find a job where I make enough money to own land and horses again. For now, the poodles are a good substitute.

And as to the "loving grooming", this is a completely different topic, but I also showed beef cattle growing up. Don't know if anyone here was involved in that, but it's remarkably similar to dog shows and involves LOTS of hair. 3-4 times weekly bath/blow dry (yes, not kidding), constant coat care, conditioning, brushing and combing and growing coat for shows. Lots of spraying up, dying, and clipping involved day of show. I did this for 7 years, showing up to 4 calves at a time. My favorite part? Well, the grooming of course. I even competed in grooming competitions with the cattle at shows. Call me crazy! Here are a few fun photos.

Nova saying hello to a big Oldenburg mare at the barn I help out at:


Showing a beef heifer my senior year of high school:

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Mel

As I was brushing Sandy last night it reminded me of the time it take to keep a horse looking show ready. I have a Morgan mare and a shetland (? she's a rescue from the meat man so not sure). We bought the pony for my mare and didn't know anything about her. Turned out that's she's really trained so the kids got a riding pony. My husband wanted me to get a mini but I pushed for just a bigger in hopes to have a pony for them. So I think he was a little suprised at her size when she got here. I didn't know I what I was missing until I got the pony I always wanted as a kid.
They have been on vacation time because of my lack of time (so they are looking a bit rough around the edges with beards and whiskers) but soon pony is going to be worked more to get into shape and horse worked more to get me into shape (lol). Might hit a few shows this year but I'm not sure if I'm up to the daily grind of getting ready for a bigger show so might just stick with fun leading kids around :0).

My two are in my front yard.

Fluffyspoos

Sookster, I have never seen a cow that clean - I have always wanted to make one that fluffy and pretty!

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Sookster

Whitening shampoo isn't just for poodles Dirt isn't good for hair growth, so they never got the chance to get too dirty, but they are cows, hence the several times a week baths. You think it takes a long time to blow dry a poodle? Try a thousand pound steer! I actually use my old Sullivan's cattle dryer to blow dry my poodle. Works so much better than the dryers made for dogs.

Here are a few more photos for your enjoyment. These pasture photos taken when the heifers were turned out upon arriving home from their very last show, finally getting to be cows and never having to be bathed or blow-dried again. (Anyone notice the shaved faces??? LOL)







And my favorite show heifer of all time, sporting her hot pink halter, Cassie.

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ridetilupuke

Love this thread and reading everyones horsey roots! I didn't get a horse until I was in my early 20's. First was a belgium cross. Since then I have owned as many as 7 and as few as 1. I currently have a paint gelding, Arrow, who is 16 years old. I have had him since he was a 2 yr old. My other horse is a Perchron mare who is 20. Toots is the gal I let anyone ride as she is just like riding a sofa. Wide & comfy! I don't show but prefer to hit the trails and hills. I do have pics but I can't seem to figure out how to upload them from my phone.

MaxxMozart84

I've never owned a horse but my family is a Horse family! Hahaha an interesting thought indeed!
I am also a hairstylist! Lol and I groom my poodles all the time for fun! Lol


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HerdingStdPoodle

Sookster;

Is your favorite show heifer a Black Angus?
HerdingStdPoodle

Cailin77

I have an Arab mare. My Mom and I got her when I was a junior in college from someone who was moving across the country and couldnt take all her horses. Princess was horribly green broke when we got her- she hadn't left the pasture in years! She was terrified of everything when we first started riding. Now (5 years later) she is wonderful though!

We help manage a friend's farm in exchange for Princess living there. I'm particularly attached to the ancient pony mare (I think she's around 40, the vet and farrier won't even guess). Her name is Black and apparently she is gaited (she's too old to go that fast anymore!), but we have no idea what mix of breeds she is. She's very smart and I just adore her! There are also 2 donkeys (such sweet creatures), 2 QH geldings, 3 goats and tons of chickens and ducks! I love spending time at the farm! Princess is the only riding horse- the other 3 are retired.

Sookster

She was an Angus cross (Sim/Angus). They all were, actually. The black/white one was an Angus/Shorthorn cross, the other black ones are Sim/Angus and Limi/Angus.

The black/white was my showmanship heifer senior year. I had her trained to basically do the equivalent of "self stack" in the ring.

The horses and cattle were fun. I miss them a lot. Someday I will have poodles AND horses and cattle. Someday...

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