First Pull
This morning I pulled Zetahra out and threw the harness on her. I had thought about working her yesterday, but by the time I was finished with lessons it was too hot and I had no extra set of hands to help me. Thursday I double-lunged and ground drove her dragging the singletree, which she hardly cares about at this point.
Roxanne was around and after I warmed up Z and dragged the singletree a little I had her take Z's lead and stand at her head while I hitched her to the tire and kept the reins. Roxanne's job: Don't let Z back up, and if she skitters forward encourage her to do a circle rather than going straight.
Once positioned I asked Z to walk on, she leaned into the collar and took a few steps like she'd been doing this all her life, though did slow slightly for the weight of the tire. I asked her up again and she pushed right into it. It was the same old same old, apparently. My goal was five steps. We got a bit more than that and all of them relaxed and unconcerned. We did one circle (she tended to lean towards Roxanne) and stopped for photographic proof.
Since she had stopped a bit forward of the storage stall we took her around again to get the tire closer before calling it a day.
I may have a really nice driving horse in another year. I need to get some poles to dink with as false shafts. I don't know if I'll hitch her before the end of this year, but I think we can just about check off pulling tires. I think do it three or so more times with a header and then try her solo.
Roxanne was around and after I warmed up Z and dragged the singletree a little I had her take Z's lead and stand at her head while I hitched her to the tire and kept the reins. Roxanne's job: Don't let Z back up, and if she skitters forward encourage her to do a circle rather than going straight.
Once positioned I asked Z to walk on, she leaned into the collar and took a few steps like she'd been doing this all her life, though did slow slightly for the weight of the tire. I asked her up again and she pushed right into it. It was the same old same old, apparently. My goal was five steps. We got a bit more than that and all of them relaxed and unconcerned. We did one circle (she tended to lean towards Roxanne) and stopped for photographic proof.
Since she had stopped a bit forward of the storage stall we took her around again to get the tire closer before calling it a day.
I may have a really nice driving horse in another year. I need to get some poles to dink with as false shafts. I don't know if I'll hitch her before the end of this year, but I think we can just about check off pulling tires. I think do it three or so more times with a header and then try her solo.