paintponylvr
Well-Known Member
Soooo, should have done some more maintenance. But just said no... and fitted Koalah with a harness she hadn't worn in months. NO, she's not pregnant - just has that huge and "pendulous" belly going on, LOL.This was her harness before it was re-sized to fit much smaller and narrower Cassie whom I sold over Christmas.
Julie was up here and we managed to get the pair ground driving together - I was hot and tired already. Wasn't thinking completely - both these mares do better if they are reversed in position, but HEY, they need to learn to work in any place. Bit is now completely blind in her left eye, but she was doing OK. Koalah is not real happy about having to work and is jumpy. I didn't do a lot of single work with her - but some. Then out we go to ground drive... At least they are holding their heads high and resistant - together - at first, LOL...
The pics were taken before I did some harness adjustments on both mares that made them calm down and work better once hitched.
So made harness adjustments again, then drove a little more right here. then Julie got in the passenger seat in back, and we went down the road. It is a 1/4 mile down to the intersection and then another along the area where there is a lot of space between planted corps and the road. So we did that, too. In all maybe a little over a mile and about 45 minutes out. We did work at trot, a short bit at a canter and then lots of walk and stops/stand. Nice little drive.
Didn't drive yesterday.
Today, after feeding & setting up feeds for tonight, the farrier trimmed 8 ponies, moved the 1 month old chickies in their pen, I went ahead and harnessed the pair by myself. This time I put Koalah on the left and Bit on the right. Took a little work to get them hitched - Koalah was jumpy and every time I touched her she'd "skitter" around. So, I spent about 1/2 hour just driving back and forth over the tongue and stopping and touching her w/o actually hitching. When they both finally lined up and stayed put, I hitched them. There weren't any problems! They stood quietly while I mounted the wagon and sat. I was able to put my phone in a bucket at my feet along w/ the 2 bottles of water I had with me and put my gloves on. THEN, I asked them to walk on. What a difference from 2 days ago!! I did better at asking and they started out much better. I circled the horse trailers two times and turned and headed out the drive and down the road the same as yesterday. They were driving better together but full of spit and vinegar - so I asked for and held them at an extended trot (at first it was just fast and high headed, then their heads came down and they started really driving up under themselves and wow - felt like we were flying). Had to remember that it was almost 100* (higher w/ heatindex/humidity) and asked them to walk. Was able to get into same field - but worked a bit longer. Here's a pic from my phone...
A much happier pair! AHHHH, and I got the "fix" I've so desperately needed lately.
Tried to load a video from my phone, but that didn't work. I'm off to get ready for our 26th Anniversary dinner out so.. TTFN.
Julie was up here and we managed to get the pair ground driving together - I was hot and tired already. Wasn't thinking completely - both these mares do better if they are reversed in position, but HEY, they need to learn to work in any place. Bit is now completely blind in her left eye, but she was doing OK. Koalah is not real happy about having to work and is jumpy. I didn't do a lot of single work with her - but some. Then out we go to ground drive... At least they are holding their heads high and resistant - together - at first, LOL...
The pics were taken before I did some harness adjustments on both mares that made them calm down and work better once hitched.
So made harness adjustments again, then drove a little more right here. then Julie got in the passenger seat in back, and we went down the road. It is a 1/4 mile down to the intersection and then another along the area where there is a lot of space between planted corps and the road. So we did that, too. In all maybe a little over a mile and about 45 minutes out. We did work at trot, a short bit at a canter and then lots of walk and stops/stand. Nice little drive.
Didn't drive yesterday.
Today, after feeding & setting up feeds for tonight, the farrier trimmed 8 ponies, moved the 1 month old chickies in their pen, I went ahead and harnessed the pair by myself. This time I put Koalah on the left and Bit on the right. Took a little work to get them hitched - Koalah was jumpy and every time I touched her she'd "skitter" around. So, I spent about 1/2 hour just driving back and forth over the tongue and stopping and touching her w/o actually hitching. When they both finally lined up and stayed put, I hitched them. There weren't any problems! They stood quietly while I mounted the wagon and sat. I was able to put my phone in a bucket at my feet along w/ the 2 bottles of water I had with me and put my gloves on. THEN, I asked them to walk on. What a difference from 2 days ago!! I did better at asking and they started out much better. I circled the horse trailers two times and turned and headed out the drive and down the road the same as yesterday. They were driving better together but full of spit and vinegar - so I asked for and held them at an extended trot (at first it was just fast and high headed, then their heads came down and they started really driving up under themselves and wow - felt like we were flying). Had to remember that it was almost 100* (higher w/ heatindex/humidity) and asked them to walk. Was able to get into same field - but worked a bit longer. Here's a pic from my phone...
A much happier pair! AHHHH, and I got the "fix" I've so desperately needed lately.
Tried to load a video from my phone, but that didn't work. I'm off to get ready for our 26th Anniversary dinner out so.. TTFN.
