Rather-Be-Riding

I know this isn't really a "horse section" question, & I have also posted it in the car/truck mantiance section, but I thought you horse owners may have run into this before also... It's a wild shot but here it goes:

On my old 95 Ford F150... I'm tiring to connect a new adaptor to the truck wires.

Before I start. My trailer wiring if fine, when I connect it to my newer truck they work perfect.

We just can't figure what's going on with the wiring from the old truck. I found this diagram:

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Trail...

(scroll down to the 7-way connection... that is what I'm tiring to wire to because that's the adaptor my trailer has.) I'm going to print this off & try it again tonight. BUT:

The issue I'm having is that the wires coming from my truck does not have a Red wire. It has an Orange...? & the Orange wire it thick/big like the white ground?

Now when we pulled with this truck before the trailer only had a 6-way connection & it worked fine then.

My boyfriend is helping & we connected everything where it said to go, & tried the Orange wire in the Red spot... but nothing works... or only bits & pieces. We ran out of time before dark last night, so I don't know what combination he left it wired in. But when we stopped last night, I only have Brake lights, hazards, & when you turn the right signal on it blinks like hazards (both lights blink)...

PLEASE help if you can. I have to pull horses on Thursday so I need to get them fixed tonight!

On my old 95 Ford F150... I'm tiring to connect a new adaptor to the truck wires.

Before I start. My trailer wiring if fine, when I connect it to my newer truck they work perfect.

We just can't figure what's going on with the wiring from the old truck. I found this diagram:

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Trail...

(scroll down to the 7-wat connection... that is what I'm tiring to wire to because that's the adaptor my trailer has.) I'm going to print this off & try it again tonight. BUT:

The issue I'm having is that the wires coming from my truck does not have a Red wire. It has an Orange...? & the Orange wire it thick/big like the white ground?

Now when we pulled with this truck before the trailer only had a 6-way connection & it worked fine then.

My boyfriend is helping & we connected everything where it said to go, & tried the Orange wire in the Red spot... but nothing works... or only bits & pieces. We ran out of time before dark last night, so I don't know what combination he left it wired in. But when we stopped last night, I only have Brake lights, hazards, & when you turn the right signal on it blinks like hazards (both lights blink)...

PLEASE help if you can. I have to pull horses on Thursday so I need to get them fixed tonight!

I have a double show coming up this weekend (13th & 14th) & on the Show Bills there is Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, & Working Pleasure.

I know what Western Pleasure is & I know what Western Horsemanship is but:

What is the DIFFERENCE between WESTERN Pleasure & WORKING Pleasure?

Is it subtle differences like in English Pleasure & Hunt Seat?

I ride English primarily & some speed events but might try my hand at a few Western classes.

So I've been reading & answering all the bit questions that have been posted today... from one of my answers you'll see that the bit I grew up using & the only one I have ever used has been a Tom Thumb... as I read, you all HATE that bit. I'm in no way new to horses, but you all have me thinking about my bits!!!

So here is my 2 questions:

1. If Tom Thumbs are so bad... what do people suggest?

I am not FOR or AGAINST the Tom Thumb... it is simply what I know/have used.

(I ride trail, but English... in trail the bit you use doesn't matter there are no "rules" to what type you use.) So I ride in this 99% of the time unless I'm showing.

2. When I show obviously there are "rules" to the type of bit you use. Currently when I show English I use a D-ring snaffle. But (I know this is un-educated, that's why I'm asking) I need some type of curb strap/chain... & my bit doesn't offer that option. What is a bit you suggest that has a curb option?

here it is exactly: What I'm using now:

http://www.kentuckyhorse.org/attachments/wysiwyg/5...

When I show Western I use my Tom Thumb... sense you all HATE that one, what is a similar option?

My gelding has no issue with a Tom Thumb, he is 18 & has only been in a Tom Thumb... so there isn't really a need to change unless something else is way better (please tell WHY it is better).

My mare; I do have her in a Myler Combination... she has gear exceleration issues, this bit seems to help. I like the multi points of pressure that it offers to re-soften her to the bit. But I can't show in this... so I don't show her currently. & am in hopes of being able for her & I to get with a trainer once a week for some outside imput.

Again... I don;t want to send $$$$$, that's dumb.

So I've been working on my proper diagonals (never paid any attention to them before because all I ever have done is competitive trail & this wasn't needed) because I'm doing a little showing this year to kill my boredom. But I have a really hard time getting on the left diagonal! Naturally when going straight, I am always on the right diagonal, even when I set two beats, look to hit the left... I can't seem to hit it! I have to count the beats out load then the only way to get on it is to post when it feels wrong. Then when I am on it, it feels off and unnatural... like I'm off.

I'm new to this showing thing but NOT new to horses or riding... So my question is: Can a horse have a stronger/ more dominate diagonal??? Or is it that after 25 years of riding trails I have made a habit of riding the right diagonal???

I did a show this last weekend... I was able to get on the left... it still felt wrong, so I asked the judge at the end & she said I & my horse did everything correct... so if that's the case why does it feel "off"???

This is pry a dumb question but I'm new to "arena" showing; In reference to Open shows: (I ride English & am doing all english classes) BUT the classes Discipline Rail, Horsemanship, & Figure 8 Stake Race (speed event, doing it for the pure fun of it), can I ride English in any/all of these?

I tried Goggling & I never saw a style specified... When I went to shows last year I rode both styles but this year I would prefer to only take 1 saddle because I'm trailer pooling with some other people. I know I can ride Trail in an english saddle, just didn't know about the others.

Thanks for your help! :)

*NOTE* I'm not going to "win" I just don't want to be disqualified for having the "wrong" saddle. And I do not care if I'm looked at funny... I just want to know if it is allowed.

I tried looking this up on google... but there are just too many options & I don't know which is correct.

I'm wanting to map out/ fence off/ section off a part of my flat yard/pasture to practice in for an open show that's coming up next week.

Do any of you know how long X how wide a standard arena is at an open show is? (Like for English/western pleasure, trail, etc..) Or what would work/I could get by with to practice in?

This is nothing big.. just a local show. I need to do a little refresher with my gelding; trails & roads are not a good places to refresh for a show!!!

On Sunday I was digging up my flower bed to plant some new flowers and I took some manure from my horse's dry lot to mix in before I planted. I didn't notice until it was too late that the dirt/manure I was transferring had baby grubs in it. LINK: is a photo I found online of what they look like. (sorry it's such a long link)

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.gro...

How do I get rid of them? Are they going to kill the plants I just planted? Why did I find them in a dirt/manure patch with no plants?

I have a feeling I'm going to have to treat my flower bed and my dry lot... I don't want them to spread to my lawn!

I live on a rental property that is also a farm property so we have grain bins... some farm rats have decided to make that their home. I'm not sure how many there are, but I'm guessing from what I've seen and the amount of holes there are pry 20+.

I'm not big on poison because I have a dog the runs the property and eats just about anything.

Do any of you have a good idea on how to get rid of the rats?

(I'm open to poison only if it WORKS)

I'm wondering what are some good quality dogs foods available in stores I can get?

I have tried the "famous" Eukanuba, my dog sh** loose forever. Took her of it ASAP.

We bred/raised Goldens my entire childhood, my mom showed, and was a vet tech for 20 years so I'm not dumb about dogs. My vet knows what I feed and knows I only want to feed good food and has never said anything bad about what I feed. (This is the vet my mom worked for for 20 years, so she's a friend & would never intentionally not speak up about my feed) My dog is in perfect health, her skin, coat, teeth etc.. all perfect. My vet even comments at every check up how go she looks & is amazed at her coat condition.

The feed I was feeding is not available where I am living now so I went to Pro Plan Adult Lamb & Rice, Shredded Bland. (The shredded part I don't understand, it just looks odd to me, but doesn't have anything weird in it) Pro Plan is what I grew up feeding my dogs so I felt it was a safe healthy choice. I've read the ingredients, can't find anything bad.

I'm asking this question because I'm really not sure when reading the ingredients what is good and what is bad besides "chickens beaks & such".

You opinions and options?

I live in a smaller town in the Mid-West so I don't have all the options to find different foods.

I have had horses my entire life, and have trained many so I'm confused about this problem: I have a 10 year old mare (1/2 Whelsh/ 1/4 Trochanter/ 1/4 Thoroughbred) that I have had her entire life, I broke and trained her myself. She's great and has fantanstic gound manners and all around is the perfect horse: calm, easy going but loves to go, doesn't spook, smart, willing to do anything, courious, and a fast learner... but has this little issue that I can't seem to fix no matter what I try. She does this wheather I ride her alone or with others, it doesn't seem to matter. This problem started about 3 years ago, prior to that, angel horse, my beginer friends would ride her!

She has this amazing fast walk, but seems to always want to break into a trot, then a faster trot, then gallop ect... I have tried riding in circles, bit checking her, coming to a stop and backing then going again, setting heavy in the seat, backing, stop and go, leap frog with other riders, you name it and I have tried changing her bit from a snaffle (that I rode with for years), to a curb, and now the a myler combination. I don't have access to a round pen or arena so I have to work in my open yard or on the trail.

Does anyone know what I can do!?!

I know she's more of an everyday ride type of horse, but even then she still does it! HELP!