A few more "firsts"

AR Cirro, Training No Responses »
Dec 132009

I took advantage of the sun this afternoon and put a bit more work on Vinnie’s driving. I dug out the PVC shafts I had made years ago for Paisano and took them to out to the barn. Vinnie got groomed and harnessed up. I put on the cavesson that I’ve been riding and long lining him with. Then I put the full bridle on over that. I don’t have a driving bit for him yet, but I wanted something that wouldn’t pull through his mouth. I had taken the full cheek home, so all I had was a low port Kimberwicke. Since I was mostly going just ask him to carry it, that’s what he wore today. He mouthed it at first, but once we were headed out, there was plenty to take his attention away from playing with the bit.

I got this. What's next?

I got this. What's next?

I took him right out on the roads, ground driving off the cavesson. We went one way down the gravel road, past some people riding a four wheeler ATV, a barking dog and other horses. When we got around the other side of the property we board at, the expression on one horse’s face was priceless! I wish that I had had my camera and another hand to hold it in. It was just like he could NOT believe what Vinnie was wearing. They snorted and ran around. Vinnie’s head went up and his energy built, but he stayed with me quite well. We went a bit further, then turned and headed back.

When we came to the gate, we passed it and went down the other way a bit. All told, we probably walked a bit less than a mile. I practiced halting and standing, as well as asking him to move side to side on the road from whip and rein cues. He did well to the left and a bit stickier to the right. That’s likely because it’s harder for me to reach his left side with my whip. I had my ground whip with a short lash. Next time, I’ll have to remember the one with a longer drop. I really need a proper driving whip.

Doing well.

Doing well.

On our return, I removed the breastplate, traces and driving lines. I walked him into the shafts as they lay on the ground. We practiced standing there without fussing. That is really something that he will need work on to be a good driving pony. After a few time of that, I lifted the shafts and put them in the tugs. They weren’t secured at all, but the end caps kept them in. They would have come loose easily, if there had been any problems. I led him around in the paddock. It’s not too large, so we were circling and doing figure eights. He got a lot of Good Boy praise and pats.


Since he had taken all this so well, I decided to try driving him off the bit. I took off the shafts first. Then we did a few rounds of the barn yard, turning and halting before calling it a day. He wasn’t too keen on this bit and pushed his shoulder through a few turns. We ended on a nice halt that only took a couple of half halts to get. Now I just have to figure out the best driving bit for him. And do more sessions like today. Vinnie is quite willing to what I ask, once he understands what that is. Repetition and practice are what we need now.

The wheels that I ordered for my cart are in. I have all the supplies to paint it. I’ve decided that it will be black. Then I will need to make the seat and back, measure for foam and upholstery material and purchase those. I am not sure what color the seat will be yet. I do hope that the cart will end up being large enough for him. I wonder if it will all be ready by April for the parade in Oakridge. Stay tuned!

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Posted by Simrat at 6:28 pm Tagged with: , , ,

Progress towards making a driving pony

AR Cirro, Training 7 Responses »
Oct 192009

I found that the girth on Paisano’s harness finally fits Vinnie. He must have filled out. In fact, I measured him today and he is 13.1 hands. He HAS grown! I moved the harness over to the new barn and tried it all on Vin, then ground drove him yesterday. Pam came by just as we were finishing up, so she snapped a few photos and took a short video in his paddock.



I also spent a bit of time sanding down the cart. I removed the seat and backrest. That took some use of a small sledge (one of my favorite tools) and a hacksaw, along with drilling out rusted screws. My wonderful husband was able to remove the bolt holding on the singletree too, so now the frame is entirely stripped down. The only downside to the day was that the rust treatment I had saved from painting my trailer would not come out of the can, despite much shaking, swapping out spray tips, soaking them in mineral spirits and anything else I could think of. I might have to use something else. It’s too bad, as this stuff worked really well.

I also stopped in at a local bicycle shop to see about new wheels. All they had were ultralight, single thickness, alloy rim wheels. I think that I need something a bit more sturdy than that. And less expensive! I guess it’s back to the web to search for heavy duty, inexpensive 26″ wheels.

I'll have to make new seat and backrest. These are destroyed.

I'll have to make new seat and backrest. These are destroyed. I want to make the back taller and the seat a little deeper anyway.

And lastly, in preparation, Vinnie had his teeth done today. He had a few points, but otherwise a good bite. I asked how many caps he has left to loose. When Dr. C counted, he found that Vinne has one less tooth than normal in each row! It’s consistent on both sides top and bottom. It does not hurt his mouth or chewing at all. He was just born that way. Paisano’s teeth were done as well, but we didn’t think to count them. I’ll definitely ask about Lily’s when she has them done in December. Spanish Mustangs sometimes have one less rib and a missing or fused lumbar vertebrae. I wonder how many have four less teeth!

Posted by Simrat at 8:56 pm Tagged with: , , , ,

A new project and a contest

Training 13 Responses »
Sep 272009
The Cart

The Cart

I ran into a friend that I hadn’t seen in a long time at the Ann Armour lunging demo a couple of Fridays ago. Afterward, I was lunging Paisano to practice some of what I had learned. We were also chatting. I mentioned that I though he would make a great driving pony. My friend says, “I’ve got a cart that’s been sitting around. Do you want it?” Do I?? Well, YES! I’ve been looking around for an affordable training cart for a few years now. I didn’t want to pay $500 for a cart that I would have to upgrade to do CDEs and entry level carts that would work were anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. I picked it up on Friday. Yea!! Thank you Candee!

After stripping the wheels and seat

After stripping the wheels and seat

It is really pony size, so I will be looking for larger wheels. There are several inches of room in the frame for that. I think that I can go to almost 26″ in diameter, though that may not be needed. I would love to get wooden wheels, but a short search of google didn’t turn up much. I’m also not sure that I want to invest that much in it. Bicycle or motorcycle wheels will work just fine.

I think that I'll get a new singletree to be safe. I just have to get this one off.

I think that I'll get a new singletree to be safe. I just have to get this one off.

The bolt holding the singletree is rusted on, so that may be more of a project to replace. I’ve soaked it in WD40 and will try again in a couple of days.


I will also be reupholstering the seat and may make the back a little taller. I have some birch plywood that will look nice stained and showing in back. I might even consider adding a dash and a spares box under the seat. But before all that, it will be treated for rust and repainted. What color though?? I would love to hear opinions. If you post a color suggestion, please also consider the upholstery color. I welcome ideas!

Future carriage dog?

Future carriage dog?

It will likely be driven most with Vinnie, a dun sabino, who looks like a strawberry roan in the summer. If the shafts fit, I might try Lily some day too. Black, of course, is safe and would fit with anything. My harness is black with stainless hardware. I might also consider a dark mahogany or maybe dark green. Please comment and let me know what you think…


Candee sent along a couple of sacks of harness that she got with it. There were parts of two leather harnesses and two nylon. The leather was too far gone to salvage, but I washed the nylon parts in the washer. Yes, the husband asked what was making all the noise… I had put them in pillow cases, but didn’t tie them shut, so it all came out loose anyway. I tried! It looks like I have everything except the saddle, with doubles of some pieces. Even if I don’t end up using it, at least it’s now free of mold, dirt and cobwebs.

Harness parts that came with it. Some may fit Vinnie for training. My harness may be a tad large for him for now.

Harness parts that came with it. Some may fit Vinnie for training. My harness may be a tad large for him for now.

It was serendipitous to have this just fall into my lap. I guess that the time was not right, when I was looking so hard before. And with Vinnie soon coming down the hill for more work, it’s great timing. I may not get it done in time to try hitching Paisano, but I think that Vinnie will likely do well driving. And I’ll be ready for him! I wonder how he will like my strap of rump bells? Paisano carries them without a care. They are loud and quite fun! Though most of the horses in the stalls next to the arena at my new barn didn’t care too much for them. I might have to save them for road driving. Come to think of it, thy are loud enough to be a good safety warning that we are coming. And they would be very fun for parades!


Can you tell that I am excited about what we can do with this new addition?


Dream State #14 from a Twitter #MailART project

Dream State #14 from a Twitter #MailART project

The CONTEST


If I end up picking a color combination suggest here in the comments, I will send the winner an original piece of artwork, likely a monoprint with hand additions, similar to some pieces that I did recently for a mailArt project, but larger…

It won’t be the image posted here. I’m showing as an example only. This one was mailed out to a member of my twitter group. If you are interested in knowing more about that, here is a link to the Flickr group of pieces received.

Posted by Simrat at 8:03 pm Tagged with: , , ,

Paisano back in harness

Paisano 5 Responses »
Aug 092009



I took my harness out to the barn today and put is on Paisano. It’s been nearly three years since he wore it. He took it all well, even the crupper. I took him in the indoor first and tried his rump bells. They are really loud. (Here’s a video from soon after I got them.) The horses in stalls next to the arena were a little spooked, so I took them off. Paisano could have cared less. He was great! He responded well to voice commands and willingly kept to his trot, doing circles and serpentines. Next we went outside to get some better photos.

The harness needs fine tuning for fit. I would also like to get a new bridle. This one is a bit crudely made. I saw a beautiful Zilco driving bridle at the Driving Essentials booth at the Inavale CDE. I’ll also be shopping for a driving bit for him. And what I really need is a session with a driving trainer and a cart to hitch him. I think that he is very ready!

Posted by Simrat at 8:44 pm Tagged with: ,
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