Driving Sass . . Day #2 with cart!

So we set out again to hitch Sass to the cart, today we hooked her with her full bridle on and took turns "driving" her while the other led her.



She was great! We did a little trot without anyone in the cart and she got a little quick, but overall she was fantastic.




Sonny keeps saying, "She's done this before". I'm going with "No, she hasn't", considering that you couldn't even catch her when she arrived home, but I think all our groundwork has paid off!




I still need to get the harness adjusted just right and add some padding for Sass over the breast plate of her harness . . . but we're on our way to having a driving pony! Just in time for snow . . .


Rocky says, "Don't get ANY ideas you two!"

Driving Miss Sassy!

Well almost! We have a cute little pony cart, a cute little pony who needs work and a harness . . . hmmmm! Previously we trained Sass to ground - drive as part of her training for riding, she knows voice commands and will walk-trot-whoa while ground driving. We have also hooked her to a sled and a small travois to get her used to things behind her.


Tonight we introduced her to THE CART . . .



We started out with me ground-driving her and Sonny actually pulling the cart around the paddock so she could see it and hear it, then Sonny walked behind her with the cart in place but not hooked to her at all. She was very good and patient, a few little spooks when the traces touched her, but she settled in quickly.


Then we took her full bridle off and led her in a halter while hooked to the cart. This allowed her to check the cart out and actually see it moving with the reassurance of someone leading her helped gain her confidence. I still need some help getting the adjustments on her harness, but we got it hooked up so it wouldn't bump her at all and she was great. She was very worried at first, but after some scratching and treats she settled in and was great!






Sonny really wanted to sit in the cart so after a few very calm laps he sat in it while Sass ate treats.




A few more sessions and we might be ready to actually drive this pony! We may need a little sleigh for winter.


All our groundwork and positive reinforcement has really paid off with Sassy, she has become much more trusting and took all of today's new experiences in stride. What a long way she's come!

Ouch!

Today Haley had an accident while out trail riding and slipped off a foot bridge. Her leg slid down the side of the bridge and she ended up with a wound on her knee and her sports medicine boot tore as it protected the lower part of her leg from further injury. Haley & her rider are luckily fine, but she will need some wound care over the next few weeks. But this situation brought up a very common question: "Your horse has a wound - what do you do!?" Luckily Haley has a mom for a vet, but not all horses are so lucky! Here are a few quick tips:

• If the wound is bleeding excessively or near a joint, don't try to clean it at all - call your vet! For bleeding, use a clean wrap, cotton or cloth to apply steady even pressure to the area that is bleeding, add layers if needed but don't keep peeking to see if it has stopped, this can disrupt the clot that is trying to form!
  

• 
• For other wounds you may have to gently cleanse the wound or even clip some hair to determine the extent of the injury . . but doing this incorrectly can make treating the wound much more difficult. In general wounds that are very dirty can be cleaned with water from the hose to remove the initial layers of dirt / debris. If the wound is a puncture or appears very deep, use saline to clean it out initially (add to first aid kit = wound wash saline from your local pharmacy).
  

• 

• If the wound is through all layers of skin and/or gaping open, sutures may be needed to help speed the healing process, if you suspect your horse may need sutures, call your vet and do not apply anything to the wound unless they ask you to! Applying any sort of wound cream, spray or ointment can really interfere with suturing. Things like hydrogen peroxide and certain wound powders can actually destroy healthy tissue and prolong the healing process. If anything, apply a small amount of plain sterile lubricant (add to first aid kit = K-Y Jelly) to the wound to help keep it moist and protected. Also applying lubricant prior to clipping will catch the hairs around the wound and they are then easily wiped away after clipping instead of going into the wound.
  

• For superficial or minor wounds (not receiving sutures) applying a wound cream (add to first aid kit = Dermagel, Horsemans's Dream or similar product) may be helpful to prevent infection and keep the tissues moist while they heal. If sutures have been applied, keeping the sutures clean & dry is very important! In some cases your veterinarian may have you apply a wrap to protect the wound. A basic standing wrap (add to first aid kit = telfa pads, thick quilts and standing wraps) is great, make sure that the wrapping material is not sticking to the wound (use a non-stick gauze or telfa pad if needed) and the leg is well padded. In general, you want to avoid using a thin band of tight wrapping material like vetwrap over a wound as this can apply too much pressure.

Accidents happen and knowing what to do and having a first aid kit handy is important! If in doubt call your vet for advice.

Long Ear Fun!

Today we headed out for a new adventure, taking Rocky to a donkey & mule show to benefit Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue (SYALER). This is the great rescue that we adopted Rocky from. Rocky has been truly amazing, he taught Sonny & I the "right" way to train a donkey to trot on a leadrope. Use treats NOT force! Donkeys go absolutely no where if you pull on their heads, so we coaxed and chased and rewarded every forward step and he eventually caught on!




There were donkeys & mules in all shapes in sizes and the folks that came with them were the best! There were even some experienced donkey show people who came that were very nice and helpful to us beginners. One even lent us a crupper to keep Rocky's saddle in place for the leadline class. Having been to many many horseshows, I can tell you this crowd was the nicest bunch of exhibitors you will ever meet!





Rocky was a champ, he is so very mellow you hardly notice him at times until he brays! He was so happy to see all the other long ears and did lots of braying (loudly!). We placed second in showmanship and Emma had a great time and got third in leadline. The costume class was adorable as you can imagine and lots of creativity!



Do you think Emma will notice that her first show was on a donkey - not a pony? I think children and well behaved donkeys are a great combo! Rocky is such an easygoing little guy he took it all in stride and after arriving home, greeted his pony then laid down for a well deserved nap.

July 2010 - Pisgah Trail Adventure . . .

We headed out again end of July with our friend Jerilyn on Tana to explore Pisgah State Park in NH. Bucky was outfitted in his new (slightly ridiculous) burgundy ear nets to combat the deer flies.

We had a great time, mostly walking as the trails were rocky with lots of water crossings. Some of the bridges were a little scary to me (rotting, slippery wood) but Bucky was a trooper and walked right over them after Jerilyn or I got off and tested each one.




Some spots are a little tricky to maneuver with a horse and we had one very scary moment when Bucky's saddle got caught on this gate, but he stayed calm and we managed to squeeze by without any further mishaps.




There were also some trails that were impassable due to large fallen trees and we had to resort to "bushwacking" around them through the forest. Bucky was a champ and led the way through all sorts of terrain. He can be a very bold little horse!




If you're headed out to Pisgah, bring a map and flyspray!

July 2010 - More Trail Adventures . . .

Our next trip the Springfield Reservoir was with Jerilyn and her QH "Tana". This is easily one of my very favorite places to trail ride. The parking lot is easy to turn around in (which is key for a novice trailer driver like myself!) and the trails are beautiful with great footing.




And then there are the beautiful views!



This time I brought Haley, who spooked at the SAME rocks as Bucky. My silly ponies are fine with all sorts of obstacles, tarps, cones, roadwork, but landscaping rocks frighten them both.

Haley was fabulous and a pleasure to ride, she also made fast friends with our trail buddy Tana.



The river is a great part of this trail ride, once down the scary muddy bank, the horses love playing in the water, getting a drink and cooling off. No one enjoys the river as much as Tana though!

June 2010 - Buckskin Adventures!

We found some great riding buddies and headed out for new trail riding adventures this summer.




In June, we met up with Angie & Doc (another buckskin) to explore the surrounding trails. We had a great time riding at the Springfield Reservoir, what gorgeous trails and a big river to cool off in.



Our first time out I took Bucky, although younger & green, he is still the "more experienced" trail horse of my two. So we set out to explore the trails at Springfield with our fearless leader Doc. After a few initial spooks at big scary rocks, Buck settled right in and was a great little trail pony.



Seeing double? Doc is a buckskin Paint who looks like he could be Bucky's twin. The two boys got along very well and are great trail buddies.



For our next adventure I took a different buckskin trail riding in Putney to explore the trails of the Putney School and surrounding area. Angie & Doc were again great leaders for Haley & I to follow. Haley was a trooper, but small streams definitely gave us pause.



Haley did this big hill without any complaints and we even cantered up it on the way home. Haley is well on her way to being a fabulous trail horse too!


Buckskin butts headed home! Unfortunately our riding buddy Angie was in a riding accident and won't be riding for a while - we miss you Angie, heal quickly!

May 2010 - Sassy's first show . . .

This spring Sassy went off to live with Ali and her children for a month so they could ride, Sass could continue her training and they could get ready for a HORSE SHOW! On May 23, 2010 Sassy and Hannah head off to the Cheshire Fairgrounds for their very first show!




After sorting out some trailering issues (someone hates to be ALONE in the trailer, ahem . . .SASSY) and needed some help to keep from climbing the walls of the trailer. But once we arrived the little pony diva was ready to show!




Hannah was a total star and she showed in two leadline classes (equitation & pleasure) and also a leadline trail class. Sassy was obviously much bigger than the actual "minis" at the show, but sure was cute anyhow.




They got two second place ribbons and had a great time! This pony was meant to be a child's pet, she LOVES children and adores Hannah. Ali & I were total "horse show moms and groomed the pony and child within an inch of their lives.