Ask Dixie anything - really anything......

Yeah, I've been to Dyersburg. My husband and I also showed horses, so we traveled throughout the south.

Showed horses? Wow, might they have been Tennessee Walkers? There was a time when I was around those people.
 
Showed horses? Wow, might they have been Tennessee Walkers? There was a time when I was around those people.

My husband showed Tn. Walkers. I showed American Saddlebreds. Been several years, but care to throw some names around?
 
My husband showed Tn. Walkers. I showed American Saddlebreds. Been several years, but care to throw some names around?
Oh wow, then we do have something in common outside the deaf issues here, lol. Although, I'd be looking thru a fog as it has been over 20 years but I will say that my wife was attached (as a groom) to the best walking horse trainer/rider on the West Coast! He'd periodically go back to Tenn., the Walking Horse capital of the US...on business. He was a heck of a trainer, known also for not "hot-footing" the horses he trained, something that is illegal in that world. His name is/was Ray Rhodes.
 
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Oh wow, then we do have something in common outside the deaf issues here, lol. Although, I'd be looking thru a fog as it has been over 20 years but I will say that my wife was attached (as a groom) to the best walking horse trainer/rider on the West Coast! He'd periodically go back to Tenn., the Walking Horse capital of the US...on business. He was a heck of a trainer, known also for not "hot-footing" the horses he trained, something that is illegal in that world. His name is/was Ray Rhodes.


Ahh....I am familiar with the name Ray Rhodes.....from the Celebration in Shebyville, Tn. every year. My husband's trainer was Wallace Brandon, of Wallace Brandon Stables. My trainer was Nick McGowan until his tragic death, and then Richard Lacey. Ahh, yes...chemically "soring" or "hot footing" to enhance gait was quite the controversy at one point. Carries a jail penalty these days.
 
Ahh....I am familiar with the name Ray Rhodes.....from the Celebration in Shebyville, Tn. every year. My husband's trainer was Wallace Brandon, of Wallace Brandon Stables. My trainer was Nick McGowan until his tragic death, and then Richard Lacey. Ahh, yes...chemically "soring" or "hot footing" to enhance gait was quite the controversy at one point. Carries a jail penalty these days.

I see..well, back then it was happening..the hot-footing, I mean...with hot nails or something and yes, for the gait. The ones that did it did it quite a while prior to the next show, during which time the wounds would heal and be covered up enough with hair to pass muster during shows. I can imagine that they have that cleaned up some way.

Now, Ray's clients invaribly wanted him to ride their horses during the shows. Gosh, the difference between Ray and the rest of them was so pronounced that during warm-ups, they would try to get as far away from him as they could and hope they didn't fall in ahead or behind him when the judge would signal the beginning of an exercise. His head NEVER bobbed, he never used a crop to cue the horse into the next gait; he used his own rear-end, shifting it, etc to cue the animal into the next gait! I am getting shivers just thinking about it now!
 
I see..well, back then it was happening..the hot-footing, I mean...with hot nails or something and yes, for the gait. The ones that did it did it quite a while prior to the next show, during which time the wounds would heal and be covered up enough with hair to pass muster during shows. I can imagine that they have that cleaned up some way.

Now, Ray's clients invaribly wanted him to ride their horses during the shows. Gosh, the difference between Ray and the rest of them was so pronounced that during warm-ups, they would try to get as far away from him as they could and hope they didn't fall in ahead or behind him when the judge would signal the beginning of an exercise. His head NEVER bobbed, he never used a crop to cue the horse into the next gait; he used his own rear-end, shifting it, etc to cue the animal into the next gait! I am getting shivers just thinking about it now!

Yeah, the hot footing actually involved driving a nail into the "frog" the soft part in the middle of the foot. Not enough to casue permanent damage, but enough to cause pain, forcing the animal to lift his foot away from the pain source. Horrible practice! There was also a practice called "soring" where they would use a chemical to burn areas for the same purpose. The gait of a sored or hot footed horse is usually very recognizable. It is only those who didn't not have the talent necessary to train a horse that engaged in this awful practice....covered up their own inabilities through abuse.

I agree.... when you see a horse and rider in tune it is an awesome sight. And an awesome feeling when you can accomplish it! That getting the horse to shift gait through rider balance shifting is known as "taking a deep seat." Kind of a metaphor for feeling the movements of the horse through the riders body and being able to anticipate.
 
Wow my thread has taken a nice spin. For the record yes I have experience in horseback riding althoug its been about 2 years since I last mounted the saddle. I miss riding but I certaintly dont miss the responsibility of a horse. Thats ALOT of work to properly upkeep and maintain a horse.
 
Yup - sometimes I'll cook a fried egg sandwhich for dinner even though I already had one for breakfast that morning.
 
Are you planning have more kids?

What's your goal?

Have you met any other ADers?

Is your daughter in pre-school?
 
Do u smoke and drink?

Have u ever lied?

Have u ever stole things?
 
Goofy Question

Here's a goofy question for ya.. Do blondes, brunettes and red heads think differently? :giggle:
 
Are you planning have more kids?
No-not unless I am happily remarried.
What's your goal?
To finish my Bachelor's degree
Have you met any other ADers?
No.
Is your daughter in pre-school?
yes
 
Do u smoke and drink?
Yes I smoke and I also enjoy the occassional drink.
Have u ever lied?
Yes, who hasnt in their lifetime. Everyone has a lie they wish they hadn't told and want to take back if they could.
Have u ever stole things?
No - never. I worry more about people thinking Im going to steal when really all Im doing is returning the product to its rightful shelf that happens to be by the front door.
 
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