I Did a Thing...

[Standards Equine]

He’s getting so consistently relaxed that I can take video out in the far side of the field!

And since he was so good in the field, we had our first walk down the road to the neighbour’s place!!!

He was absolutely amazing!!! I’m so thrilled with him.

 

[Standards Equine]

Not much for teaser pictures up yet for the photoshoot but this one is pretty nice!

 

[MaryFlora]

That was a very relaxing stroll through your area. Big blue ribbon to you both!

Your area is very similar to ours, you could have been in our back pasture and neighborhood.

 

[Standards Equine]

That was a very relaxing stroll through your area. Big blue ribbon to you both!

Your area is very similar to ours, you could have been in our back pasture and neighborhood.

Oh really? I don't think I know what area you're in, although I'd bet you've mentioned it previously... sorry! It always feels like clean air out here.

 

[MaryFlora]

Standards Equine we are in the north central area of Minnesota out in the country about 6 hours due south of Winnepeg.

It has been very dry here with no rain, freeze, or snow and today will be close to 80 degrees. We did have high sustained winds the other day which sent many of the Fall leaves flying!

Attached is a photo of the South field.

 

[Standards Equine]

Standards Equine we are in the north central area of Minnesota out in the country about 6 hours due south of Winnepeg.

It has been very dry here with no rain, freeze, or snow and today will be close to 80 degrees. We did have high sustained winds the other day which sent many of the Fall leaves flying!

Attached is a photo of the South field.

View attachment 52153

You're absolutely right, we could be neighbors! The only time I've been in Mannitoba was the Winnipeg airport. I sure hope you guys get some moisture. Seems the "wet times" of the year have shifted. Today it's drizzling out and juuuust below freezing. Not slippery yet. Hopefully it won't be.

 

[Standards Equine]

A driving friend of mine made me a bridle drop for Falcor. I found an auryn on etsy a couple months ago. This lovely friend made a bridle charm for Phillippe's bridle last spring so I asked her if she'd be willing to make another for Falcor. His bridle construction is a bit different so the attachment for the charm is, of course, different as well. I love it! I am absolutely enamoured with it! I cannot wait for the weekend so I can put it on him and take him out for a drive. It's snowing today so I think I'll pull out the sleighbells too! This feels like it really completes my theme for him, My Never-Ending Story... lol Oh! and my daughter handed me a lovely top last night that I may well wear next year to show him in the ring. The brand is Artax!

 

[Standards Equine]

A cold and breezy day today. I broke out the sleigh bells and we had a delightful drive!

 

[HersheyMint]

A driving friend of mine made me a bridle drop for Falcor. I found an auryn on etsy a couple months ago. This lovely friend made a bridle charm for Phillippe's bridle last spring so I asked her if she'd be willing to make another for Falcor. His bridle construction is a bit different so the attachment for the charm is, of course, different as well. I love it! I am absolutely enamoured with it! I cannot wait for the weekend so I can put it on him and take him out for a drive. It's snowing today so I think I'll pull out the sleighbells too! This feels like it really completes my theme for him, My Never-Ending Story... lol Oh! and my daughter handed me a lovely top last night that I may well wear next year to show him in the ring. The brand is Artax!
View attachment 52209

I would love to see you and Falcor and cheer you on! Hopefully there will be pictures to share here. I enjoy your shows and events that you post.

 

[Standards Equine]

Thank you @HersheyMint ! He’s such a good kid and has really grown to trust me. I’m really looking forward to next year. I have some goals - hopefully get him cantering confidently in cart and harness and going through water. I’d love to be able to move him up to prelim.

 

[Standards Equine]

I'm off the list for Christmas bonus this year from Falcor...
We had another great drive yesterday. It was awesome being able to drive him 2 days in a row! I remeasured him for the Cavello hoof boots that I have. They should be a size small but fit him really well in the sole. Unfortunately the top of the boots are really loose. I"m not sure what to do to counter that. Anyways, after wearing stack and pads for most of his life, it wasn't much to ask him to wear boots on his front feet. We worked in the field some and then up to the road. The idea is to be doing full 6 km conditioning drives by spring, so up we went, just to the closest neighbor's again. I'd asked him to trot some this time and Faclor was quite convinced that the road was for walking only. He'd trot just a few steps and then down to a walk again. So we walked most of the way to the neighbor, but I was more insistent for trot on the way home - which you'd THINK he'd WANT to do... nope, much prefer to walk. Once we got back to the home property, I turned him back into the field to continue to work rather than going down the driveway and being done. Oh my goodness! You'd think I was asking for his left leg. Bracing against the rein, resisting travelling anywhere that wasn't to the barn... Drama with a capital F! Fortunately all his opinions remained safe and we did finish with a nice walk back to the barn after a bit of trot work. He was sure puffing! What a different animal he is now. From "can't barely get him to walk he's got so much fire" to "come on buddy, let's get going!" and I love him.

 

[Dreams of Ashes]

Thank goodness his drama stayed on the safe side. Return to barn drama can be rather dangerous. I've had some dealings with that, although riding rather than driving. Instead of slow like your Falcor, they wanted to full blown sprint as fast as they could go, a rather dangerous habit(it didn't help that they were very quick and agile QHs), they quickly learned if I was aboard and they tried that they'd not only be required to walk at a reasonable pace, but they'd be going right past home and out the other side for some more work.

 

[HersheyMint]

I'm off the list for Christmas bonus this year from Falcor...
We had another great drive yesterday. It was awesome being able to drive him 2 days in a row! I remeasured him for the Cavello hoof boots that I have. They should be a size small but fit him really well in the sole. Unfortunately the top of the boots are really loose. I"m not sure what to do to counter that. Anyways, after wearing stack and pads for most of his life, it wasn't much to ask him to wear boots on his front feet. We worked in the field some and then up to the road. The idea is to be doing full 6 km conditioning drives by spring, so up we went, just to the closest neighbor's again. I'd asked him to trot some this time and Faclor was quite convinced that the road was for walking only. He'd trot just a few steps and then down to a walk again. So we walked most of the way to the neighbor, but I was more insistent for trot on the way home - which you'd THINK he'd WANT to do... nope, much prefer to walk. Once we got back to the home property, I turned him back into the field to continue to work rather than going down the driveway and being done. Oh my goodness! You'd think I was asking for his left leg. Bracing against the rein, resisting travelling anywhere that wasn't to the barn... Drama with a capital F! Fortunately all his opinions remained safe and we did finish with a nice walk back to the barn after a bit of trot work. He was sure puffing! What a different animal he is now. From "can't barely get him to walk he's got so much fire" to "come on buddy, let's get going!" and I love him.

Please don't take my emoji laugh as offensive. I love how descriptive you write. I read above what you must of been thinking, as I can picture myself watching from on the sidelines. Your love for him shows. Horses can sure be funny.

 

[Standards Equine]

@HersheyMint Don't you worry, your laughing emoji is exactly appropriate! Thank you for your kindness. Yes, I'm very fond, and proud of him!
These little animals are just problematic you know... My daughter and I are 99% sure we're buying another gelding. A 41" 3-year-old colt to start driving, as a resale project. He's black, big blaze, partial blue eye, and 4 tall socks. He's very striking. Just waiting for video of him moving and I'll be sending money. He comes from the daughter of the lady I got Falcor from, so she's not concerned about the quality of the home at all...