Your Drive Day

[Silver City Heritage Farmstead]

When I worked at the chicken processing factory, we wore two pairs of gloves. The first pair was cotton knit. The second was rubber/latex that were worn OVER the cotton pair. That way, hands stayed warm and dry without losing dexterity. You could try it and see if it helps.

 

[MajorClementine]

Beautiful pic of driving Coal! Glad you were able to get out. It's amazing how accomplished you can feel for the day when you are able to get out and drive.

We are currently teaching our horses how to scuba dive. Nothing like 3 days of rain on top of snowy frozen ground to turn a little town in a mountain valley into a lake. But maybe if I got the shafts for the otter sled I could hook them to a paddle board????

 

[Cayuse]

Squeaks, there is a new thread for us to log our driving hours if you want to keep track of yours. I just thought I would mention it in case you missed it.

It is a mud pit here, so no fun until the next snow storm.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I was planning to drive but it got up to 80 degrees today. Too hot for hairy yaks to work. Last week it was 1 degree. This weekend is supposed to be a monster ice storm.

 

[Cayuse]

Wow, what a swing in your temperature! We went from about 10 to 55. I wonder if you set a record for your area?

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Wow, what a swing in your temperature! We went from about 10 to 55. I wonder if you set a record for your area?

The prairie is always setting a record of some kind. As the humorist Will Rogers said: "If you don't like our weather, just wait a minute."

 

[MajorClementine]

Decided to watch "Hello Dolly" on Netflix tonight. Haven't seen it for years. There are so many fun horse drawn vehicles. In the opening sequence there is a three-abreast with the middle horse much bigger than the two outside horses. Watched the movie with a whole new interest. So for my drive day...it was a vicarious drive via "Hello Dolly".

 

[Squeaks]

Squeaks, there is a new thread for us to log our driving hours if you want to keep track of yours. I just thought I would mention it in case you missed it.

It is a mud pit here, so no fun until the next snow storm.

I did miss this! I'll check it out, thank you!

Hubby and I were supposed to haul out and drive at the Nokesville park again... but we ended up spending more time in Orange than we had planned, so we settled for a quick drive across my folks place. Both of them were delightful, but definitely have to get them back in shape

I love this harness (mostly because it is Biothane lol), but I think I'll have to invest in another saddle. There isn't much of a tree at all to keep it off his withers sadly. I'm in a predicament that I'd love to get him a Euro colloar (or something equivalent) or a larger EE cart. He's borderline too big for my EE and upgrading the shafts as well as the motorcycle tires would just be more feasible to buy a new EE for the price of those two combined.

Sierra ended up with Coal's cooler. It was a quick measure and sew when I made it and just isn't going to work for its intended purpose xD. Can't wait to perfect it.

Still a sloppy rainy mess, so not a bad thing we couldn't go to Nokesville. Rain rain go away!

 

[Cayuse]

Still waiting for my otter sled shafts. All our snow is gone so I would not be able to use them, but I still can't wait to see what they are like and get everything adjusted.

 

[Squeaks]

No time for driving the mini's the last week

However, I will be at my folks place for a couple of days this week so I can enjoy it... Still waiting for mother nature to slap us in the face with some snow as she flirts 60* weather every now and again.

In the meantime, I thought you all may enjoy a chuckle at Willow... Whom I just introduced the harness and breeching to. She was quite a trooper and didn't fail at giving a "show" when she realized she had something on her bum that wouldn't go away ! The plan is to break her to drive well before she is ridden. She has been ground driven via hackamore (wolf tooth is in the way of bitting her).

 

[Cayuse]

Aww, she WAS a good girl. So funny to see their reactions and how they puzzle things out for themselves. She looked like she was about to settle down at the end, did she?

 

[Squeaks]

She did, this clip was the last of her little "Holy cow something is touching me on my butt!" reaction. Which was about two laps worth (first lap wasn't filmed). I'm very impressed with her attitude toward the gear. I knew I'd get a reaction, so it was best to just let her figure it out on her own and that she did quite quickly!

We continued to work for another 15 minutes with the gear on her and she couldn't have cared less

 

[MajorClementine]

So for my birthday my dad sent me a buggy anchor. Anyone ever used one? I'm pretty excited about it. Basically it's a weight with a leather strap on it that you attach to the bit. So rather than trying to decide if it's worth the risk to tie your hitched horse to a fence you just anchor them. The one he sent me is 15# and has a U.S. Cavalry brass button on the leather strap. He also purchased one for his Missouri Fox Trotter that is 25#. I'm thinking after some training with this it will really help us out in situations like parade line-ups. She gets tired of standing in line. Hopefully this anchor will be a good training tool to help that.

Also, I am looking at getting this...

http://frontierequestrian.com/product/frontier-mini-pony-size-lightweight-wagonette-pleasure-carriage/

We got one of their larger marathon carriages for our Fjord team and it seems very well made. In talking to the owner he said that he and his shop designed the carriages then outsourced to have them produced. Not my favorite way to do things but it is an affordable way. I like that he uses motorcycle tires and that it has a breaking system to help down the hills. It is a little on the heavier side (170#) but I'm thinking Clementine won't have any trouble with it. She's 38"-39" tall. Any thoughts?? I'm thinking of having my business logo put on each side by the rear wheel for a little advertising as we drive

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I have one of those anchors. Not sure what mine weighs, I'll have to check. I think it was used at the local train depot to tether horses. I have tried to use it with Dapper Dan, but he is so strong, he just drug it around with him, cart and all. I think if a horse were used to being ground tied, the way teamster teams probably were in the old days, it would work fine. I would not rely on it, however!

Your new vehicle sounds exciting. A think an advertising logo on it would be very cool.

 

[Cayuse]

I have seen the anchors, I think my uncle had one and used it as a conversation piece years ago. I have never used one though.

The cart looks like a nice one. You will like the motorcycle tires if you get them. What color would you have the cart painted?

I had P-nut out for two ground driving sessions. I changed his bit to a mullen mouth and he was "happy happy happy" and so was I. I should've tried it sooner. He was ok with the snaffle but "touchy", with the mullen he was steadier and less reactive to any little hand movement. The vet came and checked his stifles as I thought he was a little "sticky" and she said he just needed more exercise to strengthen. She suggested some poles to navigate and hills to walk. She x-rayed him and he was very patient.

 

[MajorClementine]

I plan on doing plenty of training with the tether weight before using it in any type of "away" situation. My line of thought is that if she gets used to standing quietly while on the tether at home that it may translate to helping her understand she needs to stand and wait when we are away from home. Obviously 15# isn't going to hold her if she decides to go. Mostly it's a tool to remind her of what she should be doing. We'll see how it goes. I'm excited to try it out for sure. I figure it'll take the same kind of training as ground tying.

The buggy I'm looking at comes in black, blue, or red. I like the black more than the other two colors. The wheels are all silver but I'm wondering if he can get them unpainted for me and I'll have them powder coated a different color when they get here. I need to talk to him about that. I do like the red cart but I'm not sold on red behind a bay.... plus the black seems more versatile. I can also change the seat color at some point if I want to give it a pop of color.

I may need to try a mullen with Clem. I'm not sold on the snaffle. I've also been thinking a dog bone.....

 

[Marsha Cassada]

My problem with the tether is the damage to the horse's mouth if he decides to drag it. I just didn't feel good about pursuing it. I think in the old days it was a case of "have to" and people did what they had to do. If a cart horse bolted, I'll bet the theory was he couldn't move as fast with a tether attached and hopefully it would get caught on something before he got too far if he did drag it.

I carried my tether around in my cart tool box for a couple of years, thinking it would come in handy. Finally decided to jettison that extra weight. I wonder if I should try it again, now that he is older. I could attach it to a halter instead of to the bridle.

I wonder if there are any old photographs of them being used.

Let us know if you get Clementine trained to use it. It would be handy when there is nothing to tie to around, for sure!

 

[Cayuse]

MajorClem did your dad close on the property? I hope so!

I never liked, or thought I would like red on a bay but Cappy has a red harness pad and I like it. If you like a red cart, I say go for it!

I drove Cappy yesterday and today and although he was feeling silly at first he settled down and gave me a nice ride in the otter sled. I had him pull the manure tubs first, and then hubby took him for a short spin to make sure he was settled down (I am still technically not supposed to drive so trying to be safe a possible). He

LOVES my husband!

My shafts have not come yet, soon I hope.

 

[MajorClementine]

I wonder if there are any old photographs of them being used.

If you have Netflix watch the first 20 min or so of "Hello Dolly". They used the weighted tethers on all of the horses on set and there are a lot of them. You see Mr. Vandergelder unclip the tether from the bit and pick up the weight and place it in his carriage before driving off so it's not like they just used them as a prop. They show them being used as intended. It's kinda neat to see.

MajorClem did your dad close on the property? I hope so!

I never liked, or thought I would like red on a bay but Cappy has a red harness pad and I like it. If you like a red cart, I say go for it!

I drove Cappy yesterday and today and although he was feeling silly at first he settled down and gave me a nice ride in the otter sled. I had him pull the manure tubs first, and then hubby took him for a short spin to make sure he was settled down (I am still technically not supposed to drive so trying to be safe a possible). He

LOVES my husband!

My shafts have not come yet, soon I hope.

Yes he did close on the property. So on paper it's his but he is allowing the previous owner to continue to use it until next fall since my father will be in Illinois until then anyway. But we know for certain now that our horses will be "snowbirds". North in the summer and south in the winter.

Will you post a pic of Cappy in his red gear? I liked the red because it was different from what you usually see. The blue was an obnoxious blue so it's out for sure.

I hope you get your shafts soon. Sounds like you are putting the otter sled to good use anyway

 

[Cayuse]

I can get a picture tomorrow or Sunday of Cappy in red. I wonder if the blue cart is what I call "bridesmaid blue", it was a color popular back she everyone I knew was getting married and ALL the bridesmaids wore that color and I got tired of it! I'll have to check out the site again to see if it is.

I drove Peanut this afternoon and he had a great time. He was getting a little bored with the lack of work and a bored Peanut is a naughty Peanut !!!