What a bust?

Over the weekend I was going to try to get pictures for both blogs, this one and TWGH. I brought Kat out to drive him Saturday night and just as I was putting him to the cart the wind kicked up. It was a strange wind that you couldn't really tell which direction it was blowing in from. Out to the South and East, the skies were dark and looking like we could get some rain. Which we did.

There was also a bunch of lightning going on. Both the flash type and the bolts striking the ground or whatever it was hitting. Which made me think climbing into a metal cart in a lightning storm was NOT a good idea. I don't care if it has rubber tires on it... I already had the shafts through the tugs and the traces hooked.  My cones were all out and the storm was headed our way.  So much for doing anything with the horses.

Last week I had tried the nylon harness on the TB mare to see if it was going to fit and what adjustments if any, needed to be made... What a joke! No pictures, but it won't work for her.  The saddle fit, one hole to adjust larger on both sides, but not any more. The crupper fit, but not the breeching, the breastcollar might work but the strap over the neck is too short and the traces definitely won't. Since they are attached... yeah, not happening.

Then came the bridle. I am so glad this mare is patient and tolerant beyond everything.  The bit adjustments were on the last hole as long as they go. The buckles to adjust the blinders were let down and by the time the bit was positioned where it should be? The top of the blinders were low enough she could look over them. The metal piece that is supposed to hold them out to the sides, was laying on her forehead. She sighed and gave me a look as if to say, Seriously??? This is a joke, right?

Sunday night I headed out to work Pal. Something in the neighbors oleander bush next to the fence in the corner, was out to get him. He knew it was there, something was going to jump out and when it did, he would be eaten.  Which also caused him to forget how to lunge.  He would blast around past the bush, then whip his butt around to the outside and stop to face me and the killer in the plant.  I managed to get some pictures of him moving before getting out a whip and putting a stop to his game.



This one looks kind of dark but clicking on it brings it up bigger with more light.



Heading towards the oleander....



Yep, I had left my buckets and poles out too. Another driving obstacle.



You can see here, he is looking at the oleander and still has and ear on me. That bush really had him on edge. Even after walking him up to the corner and making him stand there, he still though something was going to get him.



All it took was the whip popping a few times behind his butt and a miracle happened. He remembered how to go around on the lunge line and to keep moving. No crowding towards the center, no egg shaped circles, his brain returned and he started to work. He also started to sweat. Which is something he seems to be strongly against doing.



When he finally settled down and started to work, It was time to put the bridle on, attach the lines and ground drive. He walked off with no hesitation, no questioning glances, just leaned into the bridle and walked off. Lots of circles, big and small, stop, wait, then walk some more.



Things were going well so I decided to kick it up a notch. I brought in my shaft poles for training. What they consist of is a piece of heavy 1" rope with a snap on one end, run through a long piece of 1" PVC pipe. The other end has a knot in it to keep the PVC pipe up by the snap.  They are a good weight and teach the horse how to move between the shafts, make noise behind them as the ends slide along through the dirt and are relatively cheap to make. As well as being easy to replace if things go wrong.

Like they did for us.

Twice.

At first I brought the pipe/shafts in and adjusted things so that I could hold the rein as well as hold on to the shafts and drag them around as we went. Let the horse hear the noise and understand it is not going to hurt them.  Adjust the rein in the hand through your fingers on top of the shaft, so that you can drop the shaft, but still hold onto the rein, if need be. You can always come back by and pick up the shaft again. If you have a helper that can walk along beside you with the shafts- even better, but many times most of us don't.

Pal seemed unfazed by the sound so I ran the shafts through the tugs on each side and snapped them to the ring on the breastcollar.  I let him stand there for a little bit before asking him to walk on.  A few laps around and a couple of turns into our work and Pal blew up. He started to trot ahead, then added in some bucking and the rodeo was on. He pulled the lines through my hands and took off across the arena. He ran to the corner to stand next to the WB

I walked up to him, led him out of the corner and asked him to stop and stand. I let him settle down and waited for him to relax.  Once he did, I checked everything to make sure nothing had broken, everything was still fastened and in place where it should be. I kept talking to him the whole time. Telling him how he just needed to relax and nothing was going to hurt him. Haaaa!

We started walking again, he was doing fine. I praised him. A few laps around and he put his head down. When he did, the ring on the saddle that the overcheck snaps to- BROKE!  The snap flipped up over his head and smacked him right in the forehead. He was not amused.  He started to buck again and threw a tantrum. 

This time I kept a hold of the lines and brought him around in a circle to the right as if doing long line work. He was still jumping and diving, but slowing down and decreasing the intensity with each jump.  **This is when longer lines than the actual reins are a safety issue. The horse can kick and you stay out of range.**

I almost had him stopped when he decided he wasn't done yet. He bucked a few more times and spun around to face me. As the shafts swung around behind him he looked at me with bugged out eyes.  His back hoof came down on one of the shafts and he bent the PVC pipe, which rattled him a little.  He kept his head though and settled down to stand there.  I took the shafts off of him and long lined him a little more before calling it good for the day. 

***As far as the horses blowing up, throwing tantrums and having a fit- it is better that they do it now and learn to trust that you will always get them through things. They can also learn to work through their tantrums. It's a lot like the young horses bucking the first few times they wear a saddle on their backs.  I prefer this than if they hold it all in, waiting until they are put to the cart.  Kat had his share of minor fits and gave me signs along the way, he just waited for the epic one and picked that day at the horsepark...  It can be fun, but can also be incredibly dangerous at the same time. The best any of us can do is try to lessen the chances of danger as we go. *** 

PSA and another great deal

Too good to pass up!

Big Dee's has their Troxel brand Sport Helmets- ON SALE! (who doesn't love those words?) for $22.50

A lot of the driving competitions around here, require anyone in or on a cart to wear a helmet, regardless of their age. No exceptions. Granted they are only available in black or white, but you can get a colored cover for an additional $3.50.

Isn't your brain worth it?

They also have ground driving lines for $17.50 For those of you just getting started, this is not a bad deal and since you can use them for ground driving horses you will later ride- not a large outlay of cash.

*** I forgot to add this- sale is good through September 15th.***

In the beginning...

Since wanting to start Pal and my TB mare Mommy Mare in harness, I will at some point need a cart. I have been shopping them online for some time and getting familiar with what I need and what I want and I found one on CL. It needs a new Singletree, but those are easy to find, not too expensive and simple to replace. 

For anyone wanting to get into driving, now is the perfect time to start learning as much as you can about the different kinds of cart and carriages available, the different features of each, how much they cost and what is or isn't allowed in the type of competitions you wish to participate in. It is also a good time to do your research on harness as well.  Find out what is going to work for you, what the costs are and give yourself a target for your budget.

Included with the cart was a nylon harness.  While a nylon harness can be acquired rather cheaply and they do work, they are not my first choice for use when it comes to putting a horse or pony to a cart.  First off is the way they fit. Or maybe more of how they don't.  For the beginner it may all seem well and good, but as we go over things, safety being high on the priority list for everyone, it will become clear as to why they aren't used in competition.

Getting started I put on the saddle. They do have a tree of sorts in them to keep things up off the spine. This is very important if you will be using a two wheeled cart. More weight will be dispersed on the tugs and saddle. If you will only be using a two wheeled cart- meadowbrook or easy entry type carts are common, you want the saddle to be wide and cover more area. This reduces the amount of pressure per square inch.  A four in width seems to be the minimum from what I am finding.



Not the best shot I know, but it is on and adjusted to almost the last hole on both sides, as small as it goes.  When putting the saddle on- just like any other saddle- put it on a little too far forward and slide it back. This keeps the hair smooth underneath. Also just tighten it up to snug. You can tighten it up a little more later on. This keeps the horse from becoming 'cinchy'.

Next we have the breast collar and traces.  With the nylon harness- the traces are attached and do not come off or adjust.  This can be a problem if your horse is extra long or super short.  The breast collar should sit right about at the base of the neck, where the shoulders join in. Not too low, but too high can cut off their breathing if they need to lean into the harness to go up a hill or something.  This one is adjusted in about the middle of the holes provided.

I run the traces through the tugs on the harness saddle, then lay them up over the horses back. This keeps everything up off the ground and neat while you are putting the harness on the horse.

Then it is time to put on the bitching strap and crupper.  This one is in need of a few adjustments still. The breeching should not be this low and the crupper was not in the right spot since the backstrap is too long. For now though, it will do. I adjusted the backstrap after our workout and will fix the breeching soon enough. It was adjusted as short as it would go and still hung this far down. Good rule of thumb- the breeching and breastcollar should hang level with the tugs for the cart shafts. It makes for a neater appearance and proper fit.

  

 

Once the breeching and crupper are on, I run the tie back straps through the tugs and back through the buckles. If you can wrap them around the traces or run through them, I do it to keep them from sliding off the horses back while lunging.  This one, I ran the traces through the turret rings and tied them off.  This is the beauty of the nylon harness though. If the traces or tie back straps should come down and you end up with straps around the horses legs, the horses could step on them, damaging or breaking them. Nylon has less tendency to break and being a cheaper harness, you won't mind as much if it gets dirty. Rinse it off and do it again. 

Later on, you may actually want to do some ground driving with all of the straps down.  Things break, stuff comes undone and your horse needs to be used to straps hanging down and maybe touching their legs.  The more you can do BEFORE you put them to a cart- the better. The more they trust you and the more relaxed they are, the less that sets them off- the safer it will be for everyone. 

Once the harness is on, I like to take my horses into the arena and tie them to the fence. This gives them a chance to settle into the routine, but it also gives me a chance to grab the bridle, long lines, the cart if we are using one and anything else I may have forgotten.  They are not in trouble, just hang out for a few minutes and let me get everything organized before going any further.  Before I lunge the horse, I will again check the girth and adjust it as needed. Just a hole or two can make a big difference and with a green horse, you don't want things going wrong yet. Not on purpose or by accident.





Driving bridles have plenty of buckles on them, believe me and as you adjust the buckles for the blinders, remember to adjust the buckles below for the bit.  You want the horse to be comfortable and this to be as pleasant as possible for them too.  Pal is starting in a D ring snaffle, Kat was started in a loose ring snaffle. There's no reason to jump right in with a shanked driving bit if the horse has never worn one before.  Also the nylon harnesses usually come with an overcheck. You can take them off, however if adjusted to the loosest setting, they will not allow the horse to put their head down and graze while you work.

Remember what I said about how the nylon harness fits or doesn't? Well this one has parts adjusted as small as it goes, as long as it goes and others right in the middle. A good harness should be adjusted on or around the same holes on each piece. Of course there will be exceptions, but for the most part it could at least come close.



Pal after our workout.  We did some flexing and bending exercises and walked around the arena a few times. Mostly a lot of big circles until he is more in shape and his fitness level comes up.  He did really well and I can hardly wait to see his body change as we progress.



I noticed the harness didn't have the reins, but for now this is not a big deal. The reins or lines for driving don't often allow you much room behind the horse when ground driving them. Long lines or even two lunge lines gives you plenty of space to be behind the horse, ground driving or push them out and long line them.

At first when I was behind him and asked him to move he was confused. Or at least he acted like he had no clue in this world what I wanted him to do. Just a small tug on one rein, cluck and a kiss asking him to move forward. I would get one step at a time and took that. I praised him when he did it, then asked for another. Soon he was walking off with no problem.  

When he finally moved off a few steps, I asked for a stop. Nice soothing, calming whoa....  We want the driving horse to be quiet and responsive, yet above all- whoa always, Always, ALWAYS means stop!  Making sure that the horse understands stop, is never a bad thing.  When we are just starting out, it's a good time to make sure this is clear.  I asked him to move on again and he did.  

When ground driving, you want to try to stay behind the horse, where you will be when you are in the cart. Let the horse become accustomed to hearing you behind him and the idea that all of your voice commands come from back there.  Also keep your hands low, arms relaxed, the reins loose but feeling, watch that they keep an ear on you and they are paying attention to you.

Another thing to remember is that when the horse has the bridle on, the blinders prevent them from seeing you approach their side or behind them. You must speak to them and let them know you are there and life is good, how wonderful they are, etc. Talk about your day, how nice or crappy the weather is/was or even sing to them, but let your voice be heard and let them know you are there. 

Garage sale signs and gopher holes

What do these two things have to do with driving? Funny you should ask!  After posting the two links to the video of the Live Oak competition... I was watching it for about the 87th time when the light bulb in my head went off. I had one of those DUH! moments. What took me so long to see this?

As one of the four in hand teams were going through the obstacles, the flags caught my eyes. They were blowing and flapping in the wind. I need flags.

The flags were way above the horses heads, but they were there, they were flying and they were pretty.  It was right about then that I realized, if Kat is going to compete at any level in competition like this- I need flags!

As I watched the video a few more times, I noticed I wasn't paying (as much) attention to the horses. I was watching the obstacles themselves and all the other stuff around them.  I need flowers! 

I was noticing the little things on the sidelines.  I need cones!

I was picking up the little things that they set out to make the course visually appealing to the spectators.  I need barrels!

Sure there are obstacles to navigate, but there is also the stuff to make it pretty or challenging looking too.  I need bales of hay or straw!

Suddenly my mind was on a mission to build obstacles in our back pasture/arena that could be easily set up or taken down. Things to teach him about navigation- go though, over or around.  I need a bridge!

While one of Kat's first shows coming up is most likely a pleasure class, simply going around the arena in both gaits, both directions, we are working towards a higher goal. My aim is something along the lines of Live Oak. From there- International competition.  Talk about setting your sights on something BIG!  Yes, I am. Why not? 

Realistically? We will go as far as we go. I am not at all disappointed by my pony's efforts. He has already done a lot and come a long way in a short time with little work on my part.  Time is a huge factor in his workouts and whether or not we get them in. I can usually drive him on the weekends, both days either in the morning or evening. The rest of the week- hit or miss at best!  If we fit in 4 workouts in one week, we are really pushing it full steam ahead...  If he were at a training facility for this- he should reasonably be at 4-5 workouts a week as the norm. Such is life.

In one of my trips to the dollar store to see about the fake flowers and pots to put them in for my obstacle course, as I came around the corner- there they were.   Nice, big, red and white signs (with stakes to put them in the ground), signs that stated

 GARAGE SALE 

Since the obstacles follow suit with the jump courses having red and white 'flags' on either side to tell you that you are going the right direction, I figured these would work.  For $2, it is no big deal if they didn't!   Besides- If I drive him down the street and someone has them out, he should be used to them.

I found cones at Wal-Mart in the sporting goods section-> $3.50 for a set of four. Best $7 ever spent. They really brought out the WhhhheeeeEEEEeeee factor in driving. Now we have things to go around, an 'alley' to drive through and the garage sale signs? I stuck them in a couple of gopher holes for now. They are in the center and we walk through there because of them.  The plastic stakes they are on just aren't very durable.  I will find something else to put them on. I may just stick them into the hay bales.  Just have to knock a few down and drag them out there.  We have barrels. We have the wood for a bridge....

The rest?  Might mean another trip to the dollar store.
Or maybe a garage sale.
Just gotta be creative.
Damn the luck!

Finding a starting point

There has been some interest from others here in learning to drive. A couple of people are curious as to how to get started. Obviously you need a horse and at some point a harness and a cart, wagon or buggy.

Getting started though, about all you need is your basic ground driving or long lining equipment. A bridle, long lines or two lunge lines and a surcingle.  So far I have found the surcingles are ranging in price from $20 at Horse.com, or Stateline Tack for a synthetic surcingle to a couple hundred dollars for a nice leather surcingle.  No need to go all out, sparing no expense and buying a harness yet. Wait until it is perfectly clear that your horse IS or is NOT suitable for driving.   Even so, you can find a good harness at a reasonable price. One that will fit properly, hold up to use and last.

I am going to be starting two horses in harness and bringing them along. One being our Arab stallion Pal (the horse in my profile avatar) who has hung out and done a lot of nothing long enough. He is broke to ride, I have ridden him and so has JR.  Pal seems to have this self proclaimed allergy to work and sweat though. He will do what you ask, but makes it clear, he's not thrilled with the idea.  Maybe that will change?  

The other horse I will be bringing along is the OTTB mare. Mommy mare is the one with the bad knee that I posted the pictures of here on the blog.  While she may never make a competitive driving horse (No CDE's in her future!), she may make an elegant pleasure horse and be able to do the simple driving classes, going around the ring a few times.

Most horses with a job are happier. Horses who are trained to do something are typically easier to place or sell- even in a crappy economy.  Think about it. Would you rather spend the money on a horse with no training or one you can do something with and enjoy. If you don't have the time or means to train your own, most people will go with the horse who knows their job.

With our two horses it is going to be an adventure and we will see where it goes. Not every horse is suitable for driving.  These two have a calm demeanor about them. They don't easily spook or get rattled and flip out over little things. Even if something startles them, they just don't go full blown stupid on us.  Despite both of them being horses who typically get a bad rap because of their breed, breeding status or previous career, these two may just be good ambassadors later on for- this is what they CAN do if given a chance.

Since most horses are started in long lines before anyone climbs on their back, you should have a pretty good feel for your horse and how quickly they learn as well as how they react to new things.  With our horses we lunge them before we ride them. Even the old farts who have been there and done that, still get to let it all out on the lunge line before we get on.  The driving horses will be no different.  Trust me, accidents happen quickly and are not fun.

** Shameless self promotion warning....

I have been searching for new recipes and the cooking is really taking off. Join me on my new blog Cheap Chef in my adventures with food. Dinner should taste good but it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg to make it.

Crisis averted! For now...

I have said it many times and it still bears worthy of repeating.  When you are driving a carriage or cart, it becomes a whole different game as far as safety is concerned.  Putting a horse, donkey, mule or pony to a cart brings on a whole new dimension of danger when things go south and it all unravels.  It never happens slowly and if you can avoid it, you do.

If ignorance is bliss, there are times I feel we have gone way past Disneyland. Some people are just too damned ignorant to realize when the rest of us are not only looking out for our own safety but theirs as well! Makes you want to slap them stupid, but it's pointless because they have exceeded all limits in that respect.

Yesterday at the horse park, we encountered one such person.  It has been said on the blogs more than once, that stupidity should be painful. Trust me- IT IS!  Problem is though, the wrong people get hurt and they are the ones who suffer. Those who should feel it, merely suffer a blow to the ego, if that. They caused the wreck and walk away as if nothing happened. No remorse, not a care in the world and rarely even offering an apology.

We took Kat to the park yesterday morning to drive him. Last weekend there were a few people there and our timing was excellent. We were ready to put him to the cart just as they had all finished up and were exiting the arena. We had it to ourselves.  The two women with the three reining horses were there again, the woman with the hunter horse too and another woman with a long ponytail as well. We had all worked around each other and everything was fine.  Nice group, well behaved horses all around and it was pleasant day for everyone.  This weekend? We weren't so lucky.

As I was grooming and tacking up Kat, another trailer pulled in with two paint horses. Then two more horses showed up that had been ridden over, a black horse and a gray.  Let. the. games. begin.......

The two paint horses were tacked and ready in a flash so they headed over to the round pen. It's all public use and first come first serve. No big deal, their one horse was bucking like no tomorrow and they were going to work it out before putting their kid up there.  They took over the round pen, but if they stayed there and kept the horse under control, I have no problem with that. I can respect them for that! I needed to lunge Kat before making him work so I headed into the arena. He has been to shows, done the in hand stuff, and knows he still has to work even though there are other horses around.

The black and gray horses were there for whatever reason. The woman riding the black horse was 'coaching' (if you can call it that) the young boy (about 7-10 y/o) that was riding the gray.  Kat walked off and eventually started to trot. About then the two horses came around the end of the arena and spotted him. The gray panicked and stopped, then tried to turn and run.  The boy got him stopped and turned him around to face Kat as the pony kept on working.  I kept Kat on a shorter line and made him focus on me while he was working. This shorter line also left plenty of room for the other riders to use the arena, go by and stay on or off the rail as they needed.  

Kat was finally done working and ready to put to the cart. Hubby was standing near the gate talking to the two women with the reiners. I led Kat out and stood under a tree to wait and see where everyone else was at in their workouts and if we would be posing any problems bringing the cart in. The two reining horse women had no issue with it. One of them said I had as much right to be there as any of them, but it was easy to tell the gray horse would be an issue. Everyone else in the arena was in agreement on this. Everyone except the woman on the black horse that was with them.

I kept the cart out of the arena because of all the horses to upset- the gray is the last one I wanted to rattle. The kid riding him had little to no control as it was. The Harpy on the black horse was giving him a lesson, but often she was out in front of them, shouting instructions to him behind her and had no way of seeing how things were going.  In her world everything was fine...  

If the gray was having an issue with the pony just being in the arena with him, imagine ramping things up and bringing the cart in there too.  The last thing I wanted was to freak out their horse. The kid would likely get dumped- possibly hurt and their horse freaking out, could freak out mine. I didn't want the kid to get hurt and I just don't need that kind of excitement again. Sorry, but I will pass. Thanks!

It's bad enough that I choose my clothes by what I wouldn't mind losing if the paramedics have to show up to treat me and they cut it off. Seriously, I think of these things... If you're hurt, strapped to a board and they need to treat you, they are cutting through the clothes to do it. So much for that new pair of jeans, the brand name shirt- whatever- they are going to cut it up no matter what you say.  I plan for this. Sick, I know, but what can I say?

As I am standing there with Kat under the tree, Harpy and her student come over by the gate. She instructs the boy to dismount, tie the horse to the rail with the reins, adding how you shouldn't, "but it's ok this time", climb the fence and grab a water bottle out of their bag for them.  She asks me if I will be bringing the cart into the arena? Um, no. Not today, but mostly not as long as YOU two are in there...

Instead I took Kat back to the trailer to put his bridle on and grabbed the long lines. We could still work, just going to be a little different this time.  Had Harpy and her student brought the horses out while they got a drink and took a break, I could have taken Kat in, put him to the cart and driven him some. Common courtesy is non existent for some people though and it wasn't meant to be. 

By the time I brought Kat into the arena in long lines to ground drive him, Harpy and her student were again working in the arena. She shouted instructions behind her and they went from a walk to a canter (or hand gallop rather) then with another shout, a few loud "Ho's" and lots of yanking, pulling and one rein stops later they would be back down to a walk again.  I felt bad for the two horses as she was slamming on the back of the black one and the kid was doing some one rein stops with about one foot or less of rein between his hand and the bit. 

She called out "Yay! I'm glad you came back in." to Kat & I as we entered the arena and declared to everyone in range how happy she was about the decision.  
Yeah, whatever...  
*eyeroll*
I was not there for her entertainment, nor was I there for her approval. 

I got right to work with Kat, asking him to bend and doing our softening work. For the most part he was on a loose rein the whole time. We did a lot of walking and stopping and the woman on the hunter horse said how much she liked him, admired his behavior (for being a stallion) and agreed that Harpy was going to get the kid dumped at some point at the very least.  The woman with the long ponytail said the same thing. She too was glad I had opted to leave the cart behind for the kids sake and safety. "Nevermind me, I would worry more about them."

As we were leaving the park, Harpy and the woman with the paint horses were standing along the rail of the arena talking. The kid on the gray? Harpy was shouting to him to do all sorts of things as they were doing laps around the arena at mach 5. 

I don't blame the boy at all. We were all there at some point, riding without a clue, doing as we were told, trusting our instructors and learning as we went. Some of us didn't have lessons or a coach and learned it all by the seat of our pants as we went along.  Trial and error mixed with a dash of major mistakes, but we survived.  Plenty of us managed to take safety into account and how to look out for ourselves and our horses.  Sometimes this includes watching out for others.

Then there's the people like the Harpy. They think they know what they are doing, but someone is going to get hurt in the process because of their ignorance, lack of knowledge, lack of judgement and lack of common sense.  The rest of us can only do so much to help out, even if that means staying out of the way.  When it all goes wrong- the horse will most likely get blamed. It happens more than any of us would like to admit.  

Enjoy

For those of you who haven't experienced a CDE or Combined Driving Event, I give you a link to a video clip from Live Oak competition down in Ocala, Florida from the end of March.

Live Oak

Here is another one from YouTube.



The elegance of the dressage course, excitement of the marathon and precision of the cones... there's a little bit of something for everyone.