Driving 2009

Kim and I are training several of our horses to drive this year.  Platinum is already trained. Bob's (aka Gotta Go) training has been put on hold as we have not been able to figure out how to keep him from putting his tongue over the bit. Georgie and Leggs are the current trainee's. Both are being long lined and introduced to the cart. Georgie will be Kim's horse (he is training her) and Leggs will be my second driving horse. Platinum, the experienced one, will be my primary driving horse and a horse suitable for experienced guests to drive.

Today, Sunday April 26th, was Kim and Georgie's First day of actual driving. We had already put Georgie to the cart and had led her around hitched to it a few weeks ago, but today was the first day anyone was in the cart. Georgie was marvelous!!

We hauled her to Masterson Station park where there is a nice hard packed sand and grass riding ring. A good size for a horse who is learing to pull the cart and to turn it. Some parts of the sand footing were a bit deep. We expected that, and this was part of our decision to use this ring. We wanted some place where Georgie would be fenced in -- with good footing for most of the ring and deeper sand in case she were to spook or bolt. Our own property has rolling hills and does not have any part that is suitable for a first few drives.

Georgie was very good and did not spook at all. We will try her there again on the next suitable weekend. Below are 3 photos of Kim and Georgie.

Georgie is wearing a halter over her bridle. We used that with a lead rope to lead her around with the cart attached and again with a driver in the cart. The pink rope is to tie the shafts down - this harness has floating tugs and neither horse nor driver had experience with those - so we tied them down to make sure she would not be banged in the belly nor in the back from the shafts going abruptly up or down.

Georgie was only driven for 15 minutes at the walk - with a lot of Halts (to practice Whoa - Stand!). She is not fit enough for longer work. She was not trotted at all.

 

---------------------------

July 2009. Georgie has decided she does not care to be driven. We did drive her about a dozen times at home and at the park. She is currently enjoying a bit of time off while we improve her fitness level with round pen workouts.

In the meantime, we have Leggs going nicely in harness. Kim is now driving Platinum and I am driving Leggs. We have been to Masterson Station several times and Shaker Village. We also drive at home. Leggs, like Platinum, seems to enjoy the work. Here are a few pictures from Shaker Village in May - this was Legg's 3rd time off the farm.

First we have Platinum and Kim

A close up of Platinum in his new Chimacum Tack harness. Kim is holding him  - Platinum was trying to graze - Kim had to pull him up and  that has made the blinkers crooked on his face - they weren't that way when he was being driven.

JJay and Leggs

Leggs got his bit of grass - he is wearing his Camptown Harness.

As you can see - none of us are "fit" - All of us are on diets. The horses wear grazing muzzles when they are turned out and are being worked in the round pen as well as being driven. We are taking the fitness and weight loss slowly for all of us as we want to make this a permanent change.

--------------------------

July 2009

We have started Dusty in harness again. We sold his original harness because it did not really fit him. He can wear the Camptown harness with a larger bridle. He is currently being long lined and in early August we will put him to the Frontier Cart. We have another set of shafts for that cart that will fit him. Dusty is probably 39 or 40 inches at the withers. We don't have a good measuring stick so are not sure.

Platinum continues to be Kim's driving horse and I have been driving Leggs. I expect to start driving Georgie lightly again soon. May also start Bob back in long lines. I have a new bit that he may like better.

No new pictures at this time.