TAS Diary Archives
April 21, 2007
Smokey, the rodeo horse!
Last weekend, Chris smoothed a track round the field for training his trotting horses on. On Monday, he took Coalford Legend round the track in the exercise cart. Smokey (and Johnny) went wild! Obviously, PULLING a cart is not the same as seeing a cart BEING PULLED by another horse! This was quite interesting, since I plan to use the circuit as well for driving. Smokey's reaction indicated to me that harnessing him to the buggy and taking him out with Coaly was NOT a good idea.
By Wednesday night, Smokey and Johnny were grazing quietly while Coaly did his laps.
So, on Thursday night, I dressed Smokey in his long reins and roller and waited for Chris and Coaly to appear. I am SO GLAD I was on the ground - Smokey was up on his back legs, spinning, backing up - twice, I was down to one rein to turn him in a circle. However, by the end of the session, we were able to walk towards the cart as it went past, and follow it calmly in trot. We'll have another session tomorrow, I think.
I managed to find my weight tape for Smokey today, so he's 503kg. This is light. When I bought him as a five year old, five years ago, he was 470kg. Two years ago, he was 600kg, which is grossly overweight. Last year, I managed to keep him around 530kg. He can put on weight in an instant - first whiff of grass and he's away. He looks much better for being thinner and he is much livelier (see above). I also think he's getting more exercise - not just from me, but from Johnny and (especially) Andy. These are active horses and they seem to spend a lot of time walking around the field - actually, Andy trots and canters, so that gets the other two going as well. So Smokey's diet and fitness regime seems to be paying off - I just can't keep up!
Posted by Rosemary at April 21, 2007 7:18 PM
Comments
Thanks, boss. I just need to stop being so woosy.
Posted by: Rosemary at April 22, 2007 5:20 PMMy horse gets very worried when she sees other horses driving at shows. I think she thinks the poor horses are being chased. It is one of the reasons I've held off driving her. If she is in the ring with other driving horses I'm afraid she'll panic.
Posted by: heather at April 22, 2007 7:45 PMHi, I've been lurking for a while - we must pass relatively near you guys as we toddle back and forward between Glasogw and Dundee.
Just wondered if Chris uses a sulky with his horses? And does he race them????
India
Heather, the great thing about horses is that they can usually be desensitised to most things. Otherwise, they'd spend all their time running around and would die of starvation. If you can get hold of the Parelli DVD "Spooky Horses", it's worth a look.
India, Chris does race one of his horses, Coalford Legend, although this will be his last season. He has a young horse called Winning Hand, who will probably make his first outing towards the end of the season. On a daily basis, he uses a wee exercise cart but uses a sulky for racing. Brave man!!
Posted by: Rosemary at April 26, 2007 9:45 PM
ANNOUNCEMENT;;;;
Rosemary and her horse Smokey are now officially(cos I said so) out and about driving 'horse and cart' good style!!!
well done and have a polo mint each on me!!
Posted by: claire at April 21, 2007 8:49 PM