Check out this dressage test!
Happy April Fools!
Driving Lesson:
I got out to my driving lesson and there were two horses hitched up ~ a team! Two haflinger geldings that are going to Midwest Horse Fair were hitched and waiting. I got to drive a team. Talk about fun! Talk about different!
It is so much different than driving a single in some ways. Keeping the trees lined up and watching where we were going was a lot more difficult than I thought. If one horse gets ahead of the other, you still pull both reins back, even though you want to just pull the one. The horses can be lined up correctly but drifting to one side. Just wild. I felt like such a beginner, only instead of staring at the horses ears I was staring at the tree.
Yet over all it was much easier to drive two that I thought it would be. Only one set of reins, but they criss cross each other, so although I only have one right rein, that one rein splits and each of those reins go to the right side of the horses. For the first time in a long time I was trying to use a leading/ opening rein. I was laughed at a little bit about that and reminded to "keep my hands in the box." Not sure when the last time I was told that! They only stopped once when they weren't supposed to and we never actually hit the electric fence, so that was good too! Although I never got them to "go" on my word, R had to tell them and then they went. I still get a real kick out of "gee" and "haw."
Most of the time I was in an enclosed area, until I had to start doing a lot of maneuvering. That was when we were outside the fence and putting the sled up. I kept trying to hand the reins off, but told that I could do it. And I did! It was a really neat feeling. One of those things that I have always wanted to do but never thought I could.
Now I am wondering if I should get another percheron or mini to make a team. Totally kidding!
Very neat - I've only ever driven a single, and one of my dreams is to someday drive a four-in-hand.
ReplyDeleteOh four-in-hand would be SO cool. I don't know how far you are from the WI boarder, but I think my trainer might have a four-in-hand to give you a lesson if you wanted.
ReplyDeleteMy mother, who loves Texas Thunder, really wants me to do six-in-hand, I just laugh at her. lol
HAHA funny video.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool that you got to drive a team!!! I didn't know the reins split like that. I would have thought there would be four reins. Really cool. Congrats on getting to do something new and fun!