Get Hitched! 2025 Driving hours

[Standards Equine]

@HersheyMint, they haven't met much yet. They came home in the trailer together, so Steve had a buddy for confidence. But Steve is currently in quarantine being treated for lice and going through a deworming protocol. He has some rubbed-bare patches on him and we just want to be safe... Steve seemed very interested in being Phillippe's friend, but Phillippe wasn't very interested. He just wanted to stay with mom...

 

[HersheyMint]

@HersheyMint, they haven't met much yet. They came home in the trailer together, so Steve had a buddy for confidence. But Steve is currently in quarantine being treated for lice and going through a deworming protocol. He has some rubbed-bare patches on him and we just want to be safe... Steve seemed very interested in being Phillippe's friend, but Phillippe wasn't very interested. He just wanted to stay with mom...

When you do let them socialize, I would like to hear how it goes. I'm hoping it will be fun for both Phillippe and Steve.

 

[Cayuse]

Thank you @Cayuse for doing this again! I've just sent you a message.

Got it! Will send it off on Monday!

 

[Standards Equine]

My friend Groot went out yesterday for 45 minutes all by his brave self!
It was windy and cooler than it has been. But it's often windy up here so I thought I'd take advantage of the training opportunity. He was his normal spicy little self, but drove off confidently. Our program was that he can pick the speed of travel, but I can to pick direction. So when he trotted, we went through (what's left of) the snow or through a big puddle, or up a hill, all in a direction away from the barn. If he walked, we'd head towards the barn. He did really well until we got to a place where there were tarps flapping that he just couldn't turn left and walk past. Just didn't have enough bravery. So we turned right and had to take the long way. He wasn't rude, he just couldn't muster confidence. Totally fair! All in all, drive #4 went great! His mom is going to come see him tomorrow. I hope she has confidence to go adventure with him. She really loves him but I understand they had a scare together previously.

 

[Standards Equine]

Saturday Groot 1 hour, Phillippe 45 minutes
And Ali introduced Toast and Jasmine to the idea of pairs driving for a half hour.
My little friend Groot got to show his mom how brave and smart he is on Saturday. She came out to take home her other mini gelding that we've been pony-sitting, but is leaving Groot with me for another month. I certainly don't hang my shingle out as a trainer, but I'm having fun helping this little dude develop. He made me super proud. Drive #5 and his mom felt confident to climb into the vehicle and take the reins! He was his normal forward self, but she didn't feel like he was running away. He went through the water in the field, through the snow, no hesitation. She had a big smile. Yes, it was a bit intimidating but she listened to what I'd said and didn't fight him. She was a fairly nervous driver last year when her other gelding was started, but she's made wonderful progress since then! The experience sure made me feel proud!

And the weather was so nice that I was able to pull out one sad, neglected wee donkey and take him around the field too! The only one who didn't get worked is Falcor the Hackney.

And Sunday, it snowed!

 

[HersheyMint]

Saturday Groot 1 hour, Phillippe 45 minutes
And Ali introduced Toast and Jasmine to the idea of pairs driving for a half hour.
My little friend Groot got to show his mom how brave and smart he is on Saturday. She came out to take home her other mini gelding that we've been pony-sitting, but is leaving Groot with me for another month. I certainly don't hang my shingle out as a trainer, but I'm having fun helping this little dude develop. He made me super proud. Drive #5 and his mom felt confident to climb into the vehicle and take the reins! He was his normal forward self, but she didn't feel like he was running away. He went through the water in the field, through the snow, no hesitation. She had a big smile. Yes, it was a bit intimidating but she listened to what I'd said and didn't fight him. She was a fairly nervous driver last year when her other gelding was started, but she's made wonderful progress since then! The experience sure made me feel proud!

And the weather was so nice that I was able to pull out one sad, neglected wee donkey and take him around the field too! The only one who didn't get worked is Falcor the Hackney.

And Sunday, it snowed!

What a wonderful day! Very cool that Ali did pairs! Such a full day. I can't imagine what you have accomplished on Sunday, if the weather permitted

 

[MaryFlora]

Steve is so sweet and he will no doubt bloom under your training!

I understand about the lice! Our weather has been warming up nicely and the minis are starting to shed. My smallest one, Tinker, also grows the longest coat and it is a magnet for lice. The ponies were dusted last month and again yesterday.

Be safe and keep having fun!

 

[Standards Equine]

Well, I spent 6 hours on Saturday helping 10 new drivers or equines learn about ground driving and introducing steps towards hitches.

Ali took wee Toast and did a great job! He even ground drove with a couple of young handlers to help them get the feel.

Falcor came and did a great job helping some adults get a feel for ground driving. He also did a hitched demo and helped people see that solving problems sometimes is best done by going forward!!

And my wee friend Groot had a great day. His second time ever indoor, his 6th hitch and a full week since his last drive. He did great! Started to get an idea of what cones will be like.

I’m exhausted. It was great!

 

[MajorClementine]

3.14.25
1 hour with Wally

Finally got some driving in. Hitched Wally and after much adjustment to the harness, cart, harness, cart, and Wally getting his head in the game we had a great 1 hour session in the arena. We set up poles and did a serpentine at a trot. He's a powerhouse.

 

[MajorClementine]

3.14.25
1 hour 30 min with team Candace and Blue
4.8 miles

Also got to hitch up my new red carriage this weekend. Had to make some chest straps for them to carry the yoke since my other carts just have loops on the end of the pole.

These guys are a dream team. Candace can be lazy but responds to me asking her to "get up and help". We drove to some dirt roads we could cruise along and these guys even took me you and over some sandstone and down a hill so steep we were just sliding the back wheels now and then with the brakes fully engaged (finding the sweet spot when breaking down a hill that steep was tricky).

My 5 year old son took a turn and was so excited he could "know how to drive horses". He told every person who would give him the time.



My dad and husband took our Fjord, Phineas, along with us.