?

My friend's aunt and uncle are getting rid of their daschund puppy, and I've agreed to "adopt" it. These people (not my friend, her aunt and uncle) are absolutely not good pet owners--they locked this poor puppy (about 6 months old) in their basement with "plenty of food and water" for five days while they were in Oklahoma over Thanksgiving. Since they don't treat this poor little dog very well, I don't want them to change their minds about giving him away after I've already gotten him home--they live in Iowa (where I go to college) and I'm taking him home to Illinois to live with my parents.

Basically, is there a form or something that I could have them sign that gives me full rights/ownership to the dog?

I am a freshman in college, and a friend of mine (also a freshman) is convinced that she doesn't want a credit card, and will never have the need for one. I was always told that it is a good idea to get a low-limit credit card, use it sparingly, life for gas or books, and pay it off in full at the end of each month to help build up a credit score.

So, what are the benefits and drawbacks of a college student (or really anybody) not having (or never having) a credit card?

I recently started riding at a barn close to where I go to college, and the instructor informed me that the stable teaches the "American" style of riding (hunters), where you approach the jump in the two-point. At the barn that I ride at when I'm home, I was taught to sit up until the jump and go into the two-point as the horse started to jump.

The instructor explained to me that the "American" style of riding is not often taught in the midwest (where I'm from AND where I'm going to school).

Can someone explain to me this "American" style of riding? Once I tried what the instructor told me to do (approaching the jump in the two-point), I felt much more comfortable over the jump. I'm just curious how it is different and where it came from.

I was just at the stable, seeing the mare I lease. I was just going to hose her down, but she was so naughty coming out of her stall that I decided to hand-walk her in the small outdoor pen for ten minutes. It was a little over 90, so I didn't want to ride and thought hand-walking would be a good alternative, however, after about four minutes, one of the nastier instructors RODE up on her horse and yelled at me for working my mare too hard in this heat. She had been cantering and jumping and felt the need to yell at me for walking my mare. Does it sound like I did anything terribly wrong to anybody else?

I have a 60% off coupon for a local tack shop, and I really need some new stirrup leathers. The pair I had now were bought for me by my dad, and he had no idea what he was getting. They're cracking (even with regular oilings), and stretched to different lengths. The ones I have now are like 56" and way too long; I am constantly having to punch holes in them. I am 5'5", and according to my riding instructor, my legs aren't very long. What length do you think would work? I'll ask somebody at the saddle shop, but I'd like to have more than one opinion.

I got a 60% off coupon for a local saddle shop. It's good for everything in the store (minus Troxel, Devon-Aire and Passier products). I know I want a bareback pad, any other ideas as to what I should get?

I lease my mare, so I really can't get anything for her stall.

I have a good show bridle, pads, blankets, etc.

Here's the website

http://www.saddleshop.com/eng/engset.htm

Oh, and I ride English (hunters)

I'm trying to figure out what my friends and I should do for my 18th birthday. I wanted to go see Rango, but four of the five stuck their noses up at the idea. Now I'm lost as to what we should do. I really don't want to clean the house or do anything super expensive. I do live near Chicago, but I would need my parents to go with (dad worries about me), so that's out of the question. Any ideas? Nothing silly or super childish please.

Now that show season is over (we had our last show last weekend), the barn-owner wants everyone to wash/clean their brushes. My instructor suggested putting the brushes into the dishwasher, but my mom refused to let me. What are some other good ways to clean my brushes?

Brushes I'll have to clean:

~Curry Comb (rubber)

~Hard Brush (plasticy bristles)

~Soft Brush (goat hair)

~Rubber body glove

I am doing a schooling school with my mare today. She hates other horses and will try to kick and bite, so I have to put a red ribbon in her tail. What is the best way to do this? Her tail is fairly thick and long, and I don't have a ton of time to braid it.

I fell off of my mare four weeks ago Thursday. I hit my head pretty bad, and ended up with a "mildly severe" concussion (that's how the doctor described it). I wasn't able to get right back on because I was extremely dizzy, and was seeing double. Now, it's been almost four weeks, and my mom is very hesitant to let me ride again. I'm supposed to ride on Thursday for the first time in four weeks. It'll be a lesson, so I'll be supervised.

Anyways, my mom keeps saying how dangerous riding is, and how she doesn't want me getting hurt again. She bought me a new helmet, and has gone with to the barn to check on my horse. She is planning on watching the lesson to make sure I don't overdo it. She wants me to work on balancing exercises, and to only walk.

I am 17, and I usually drive myself to the stables (she is still traumatized because she had to pick me up after I fell). I know she is just worried about my well-being, but I feel she is being over-protective. It's been almost a month since I fell off. Now I'm feeling extremely apprehensive about riding again. How can I convince her that she is making me more nervous by constantly worrying about the possibility of my falling off?

When I try to curry comb my mare, she gets very agitated and tries to bite me. She doesn't have any sores, and the vet says she doesn't have overly sensitive skin. Any ideas as to why she tries to bite?

She is a draft cross, and she used to be an Amish cart horse.