Equines
First drive
Friday 5 January, 2007
Yippee! Smokey and I had our first drive on Tuesday. Claire and I got him set up then she drove him first, being much more experienced than me. Then I had a turn. It wasn't what I expected - it was much bumpier for one thing although that might be due in part to the surface. Smokey was so good. We stayed in walk and in the arena, but he was so cool. The surface is quite deep and wet, so I think it must be quite hard to pull. After we finished, Smokey took the gig back to the shed, along the road and it was obviously much easier for him. Since Smokey didn't look like he was going to explode, Claire had time to take a short video of the big event!Smokey is "put to"
Monday 18 December, 2006
Yesterday was big day for us. Smokey took a big step forward in his driving career and was "put to" the gig for the first time. Last weekend, he saw the gig for the first time, sniffed it, touched it and followed it around. Yesterday, we built on that, again letting him sniff and touch it, then leading and longreining him around it.
He was quite calm about all this, so he was asked to stand while Claire brought the gig behind him and lowered the shafts down. He had a wee look behind but never moved a foot. So we hitched him up to the gig and led him around the arena, in walk, with lots of stops (and a few polo mints) to let him think about what was happening. The only time he lifted his head was when I asked him to turn a wee bit tight and obviously he couldn't bend his body because of the shafts, but he just thought about it and stepped over beautifully to make the turn.
My Bennington
Saturday 9 December, 2006
Here's the first photo of my Bennington. I suppose, strictly speaking, it's Smokey's Bennington.
He saw it for the first time today and was interested but not hugely impressed. He followed it round the arena - my chum, Fiona, was pulling it - and didn't seem too concerned. We also dragged a tyre up the road - Smokey wasn't bothered by the tyre but the other horses spooking in the fields, spooked him.
My Bennington
Sunday 3 December, 2006
Despite the horrible weather. our carriage driving has taken a significant step forward. Today, Dan's Dad and I braved the storm and headed off to Gleneagles Hotel to pick up our carriage!
It's a Bennington two wheeled gig (I think - I need to get to grips with the types of carriages). It's not new, but it will do us through the winter and next summer. Next winter, we'll put it off the road for six weeks or so for a full strip down and renovation. Dan's Dad is really good at these kind of projects and was working his way round it today, muttering things like "hmm, we'll need stainless steel bolts here" and "definitely brass buckles there" and " a nice bit of coachlining will make all the difference".
Working horses
Sunday 5 November, 2006
Well, all is not going quite as planned.
The first set of harness I bought for Smokey was cheap rubbish and went straight back to the supplier. The second set was really nice but too big in the breast collar, although it was OK in the breeching. The third set (same make as the second but a different size) fitted in the collar but was way, way too small in the breeching. So, we 're buying custom made. It's from a company called Libbys, which makes a range of synthetic tack and equipment for horses and dogs. It can take up to three weeks to come but hopefully it will be sooner than that.
Smokey's new clothes 2
Wednesday 18 October, 2006
Well, Smokey got to try on his new harness tonight.
First, he had to have a wash because he was absolutely filthy and I didn't want the harness to get mucky in case it had to go back. I didn't shampoo him, just rinsed him off.
He was very patient while I worked out which bit went where and attached to which other bit. I think the front parts - the breast collar and saddle are fine but the back bit - the crupper and breeching seem a bit big, although the breeching might be better when it has shafts in it. I didn't use the new bridle with the blinkers because I'd like him to be comfortable with the basics without blinkers.
Smokey's new clothes
Monday 16 October, 2006
Smokey's new harness arrived today. Our living room looks like a "house of bondage". I think I know what's what and how it goes together, but we'll find out on Wednesday. I'm a wee bit worried that it might be too big, but Smokey's working hard to fill it. I can't believe how much grass there is - all the horses are pooing pure grass - it's like springtime!!
Anyway, so he doesn't outgrow his new clothes, I've looked out his grazing muzzle. I bought it ages ago and have never used it. We'll see how it goes.
Sparkly Smokey
Monday 9 October, 2006
Now, I'm not one who baths her horse regularly. In fact, I don't bath Smokey much at all, which is why he's probably the dirtiest horse on the yard. That and his sweet itch, which makes him roll - I think the mud must be soothing. I also don't bath him because he winters out without a rug, so he needs the oil in his coat for protection. I DO wash his mane and tail with a soothing insecticidal shampoo during the summer, again for the sweet itch.
However, it was a really nice day today; sunny, warm with a wee breeze and I decided it was time for Smokey's annual bath. He was really mucky and it seemed like a jolly good idea. I think he enjoyed it - he had a good scrub with shampoo and a rubber curry comb, which really worked out the dirt, then a rinse with the hose, a scrape down with the sweat scraper and a rub with a towel. He held his feet up to get his feathers done, then got his mane and tail done with conditioner. All finished, he got his fleece on and we went for a walk up the road to dry him off.
Carriage driving
Monday 9 October, 2006
Dan and I were down in the Lake District this weekend. While there, we took the opportunity to watch some horse driving trials at Holker Hall, near Cartmel, organised by the Scottish Carriage Driving Association. I've had a hankering to learn to drive and teach Smokey to drive and am now sort of progressing that, so I thought it would be good to see some folk in action.
Horse driving trials have three phases - like eventing. There's dressage, cones (the equivalent of show-jumping) and the marathon (the equivalent of the cross country phase). We watched the dressage and the cones on Saturday, but didn't have time to go on the Sunday.
Smokey comes home
Thursday 21 September, 2006
Last Saturday, I brought Smikey home for the first time. He's at a livery yard about three miles away, where he is really settled. However, I thought it woudl be nice to bring him home for at least a couple of hours.
To put you in the picture, I bought a Highland pony with the intention of learning to drive. Many, many years ago I would sometimes see a gentleman with a chestnut pony in a trap and I always thought it would be great to try this. Anyway, I've had Smokey four years now but haven't done anything about it. Until now...
