Horses, Life, A Touch of Geek

Archive for the ‘Tack’ Category

Milton Meets Butt Brakes

Driving Thursday

Stepping Out

Aside from the gorgeous horse and handsome driver, the significant part of this picture is the strap in the back.

When going downhill, the breeching keeps the cart from running up on the horse. Saddlebred harness does not have this. They do not expect to be going up hill and down dale. If breech-less harness goes downhill, say into the ring at Louisville, a person hangs onto the back of the cart to perform the same function. Biggest show of the ASB year and you have drag your help into the ring. But I digress.

Saturday: lesson with breeching. Sunday: schooling, hitching ourselves for the third time, breeching. Afterwards, Greg walked down the short but steep hill that exits the ring and took a few circles in the driveway and on the grass.

Downhill turned out to be the easy part. The uphill caused Milton to ride the struggle bus. To get up a short, gentle grade, Milton dug in like a draft horse dragging the championship weight at a pulling contest. Overdone, yes. First time he’s had pull on his chest. Not up to us to say how it felt.

First breeching. First terrain. First time out of the ring.

Progress. Progress. Progress.
~~~
Well …

Progress far as driving is concerned. Riding, not so much. Milton could be excused for getting upset at a strap goosing him in the butt. Not a bit. We put various driving paraphernalia on him, he considers it, says okay. I put riding paraphernalia on him, here’s what happens:

During his all-terrain adventure on Sunday, a low branch brushed the harness. This is exactly what happened with the saddle. Did he mind the branch pulling on the harness? OF COURSE NOT.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Category:

Combined Driving, Horses, Saddle Seat, Tack

A Bit of Phun

Notes:
Milton’s new bit is a Glory bit.
ASB harness includes a check rein.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Category:

Horses, Humor, Tack

New Equipment: Bit & Pieces

Milton’s new driving bit, to replace the one borrowed from Coach Kate [With Great Bit Comes Great Responsibility] Shorter shanks and a gentler mouthpiece.

More pants. Previous pants [Shopping Spree] were too small. How did I end up with a waistsize bigger than my inseam? In my defense, I like a loose fit. Previous pants did not have enough room for me to leap about the back of a carriage [Derby 2107]. Summer weight EMT pants with cargo pockets.

Yet another strap that goes somewhere on the harness.

Watch mount for carriage.

Storage racks for the tack room at shows. Yes, we have a tack room at driving shows. The stuff. So much stuff.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Category:

Combined Driving, Horses, Tack

New Equipment: Rodney Tests The Vest

Vests for our CDE debut.

Greg gets the short vest since he sits. I get the longer since I stand. Plus I might, someday, possibly, in a fantasy world, use it on cross-country.

Overall, Rodney has done little this summer. Once his ankle was almost deswollen [Dubious Future], he got a small scuff right under the saddle. Thanks Milton. Once that was healed and growing hair, I took him for a brief walk, pictured here.

Afterwards, I found a cut on the inside of this lip. Although small and nowhere near the bit, for a horse who is already hyper-sensitive, it is enough of a pea under the mattress to warrant yet more days off. [Images here, if you want the not very gory details.]

None of this has been serious. All of it has kept Rodney out of work. Do they plan it this way?

As for his trailer issues [Trailer Training], Precious Prince Snowflake Cupcake will load and stand, but is clearly miserable and panics at the first hint of confinement. I’m pondering our next step.

Sigh. Or is the sigh implied when dealing with Rodney?

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Category:

Combined Driving, Eventing, Horse Care, Horses, Tack

USDF Interview: Charles Tota, Dressage Specialty Retailer and Designer

“Behind The Scenes: Charles Tota, Dressage Specialty Retailer and Designer”
USDF Connection
September 2017
United States Dressage Federation

A short interview with the owner of The Dressage Connection.

©2017 United States Dressage Federation. Used by permission. Reproduction prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher.

Previous Posts [Behind The Scenes]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Category:

Dressage, Horses, Tack, Writing

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New Equipment: Intro Cart

Driving Thursday

Milton’s first cart. Our second [Driving Miss M]. It’s a fixer-upper, with price to match. Deliberately. We are still finding out if Milton wants to be a driving horse. If he declines with prejudice, we don’t want to destroy anything fancier.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Category:

Combined Driving, Horses, Tack

Shopping Spree

Saddle Seat & Driving – Mostly Driving – Wednesday

Black cargo pants for the stylin’ navigator, ADS rule book, back-up gloves for the driver

Driving apron

Glasses straps for marathon: his, hers, & unisex replacement

Eventing watch for timing on marathon. Pink to match my gloves.

Combined Driving -> Saddle Seat Driving
I was so happy with my pink gloves [New Equipment] that I bought a pair in black for saddle seat. Amazing grip on the nylon work reins.

Saddle Seat Driving -> Combined Driving
Shopping for carriage whips on the combined driving web sites left me with sticker shock. I don’t know which division these are used for, but the tack trailer at a saddle seat show had them for $12.50. I bought two.

Selfie taken to get long-distance approval before buying.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Category:

Combined Driving, Horses, Saddle Seat, Tack